willjay & Robyn's 420 adventure
Posted: Mon 10th Jun 2013 11:29 pm
Day One (Wed, 17 April) TRAVEL DAY
We're off to Newark International Airport, our friend, Rocky, at the wheel. It's over a three hour drive, so we stopped halfway in Tannersville, PA for breakfast at the Tannersville Diner. What can I say about their food?... It's mediocre diner food, but more importantly, they have a bathroom.
We arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare - it's the "hurry up and wait" game - then we find out that the flight has been delayed due to a good tail wind. The plane can't land at Schiphol until our gate time, so they intentionally pushed the departure time back a half hour, so we don't arrive in Amsterdam too early.
When we finally board we find that we're sitting in Row 36, in two seats on the left in the back of the plane (2-3-2 configuration), and we soon realize that the plane is not filling to capacity. There are several rows of seats in the middle that are empty, so BJ asks the flight attendant if he can switch seats. Of course, as soon as he makes his move, the rest of the empty rows quickly filled up.
Finally... we're off to Amsterdam... only 50 minutes past departure time.
Day Two (Thurs, 18 April) AMSTERDAM
The plane touched down two minutes before our scheduled arrival time: 7:25 am. (I guess they were spot-on with their tail wind estimates) Within a half hour we were through passport & customs, had our luggage, and were on the train to Amsterdam. Let me just say that Schiphol Airport is a pleasure to travel through.
We arrived at Amsterdam Centraal and walked across the Stationplein to the GVB, where we bought our 3-day tram pass (€16.50 ea). We boarded the 13/17 tram to the Westermarkt and arrived at the Hotel Nadia by 9:00 am, where we were offered a complimentary drink (coffee/tea/water/juice/soda).
This is our third stay at the Hotel Nadia (€115/night, 6% discount w/ cash, breakfast included) so it felt like we were coming home when we were greeted by the staff. We like Room #412, mostly for its covered balcony overlooking the Westermarkt, the Keizergracht and the Raadhuisstraat. It's a tiny, Amsterdam-sized hotel room, on the 4th floor (78 steps!), but they supply all the amenities that we need, including someone to schlep our bags up & down those stairs, a mini fridge, coffee/tea service and fresh cut flowers.
Our room won't be ready until after 14:00, so we're off to start exploring and get over jet lag. Spring just doesn't want to come this year, so we are bundled in our scarves, hats and gloves as we trammed down to the Dam and walked about, checking out the Palace and National Monument. We proceeded down the Damstraat, taking in all the familiar sights and sounds of the awakening city; shop owners preparing for the day's customers; bicyclists coming and going in all directions; sweet smells wafting from the bakeries; church bells tolling in the distance. It felt good to be back in Amsterdam.
We stopped at the Bluebird Coffeeshop on Sint Antioniesbreestraat, which is our traditional first stop - our way of getting over jet lag. BJ ordered up one of those fancy coffees with the cookie on the side and I had my Strawberry Looza, which I've longed for since our last trip to Amsterdam. Looza has got to have the best fruit drinks that I've ever tasted.
We walked through the Waterlooplein Flea Market, which was still setting up for the day, then meandered through the streets and alleyways until we landed at the Amsterdam Historical Museum. We purchased our Museumkaarts (€49.90 ea), but didn't feel like touring through the museum right now since we've been several times before, and the sun was shining outside. BTW, I think the National Museumkaart is one of the best deals that the Netherlands has to offer. The €49,90 that we spent bought us €89,25 in museum entrances, and we saw several museums that we wouldn't have visited otherwise.
We continued our wander, breathing in the cool, crisp air, until we ended up at the Ons Lieve Heer op Solder /Our Lord in the Attic (Museumkaart), perhaps one of our favorite little museums in Amsterdam. The last time we were here, in 2011, they had just started renovations, and the church was pretty much gutted. Today, the church was painted back to its historical colors, some of the fixtures had been replaced, and a crew was onsite from the UK laying down woven rush floor matting. We spoke with a young man who was apprenticing with the group, http://www.rushmatters.com, who informed us that they use the old method of harvesting the rush, drying it, and then weaving it into various products, including floor matting.
Afterwards, we went down the canal and around the corner to the Oude Kerk (Museumkaart), and found that their renovations had been completed. We could finally view Saskia's grave stone.
It was now 12:30 and we had made our way over to Utopia Coffeeshop on the NZ Voorburgwaal, and met up with some friends who were also in town. Oh good... another Strawberry Looza for me. Afterwards, we trammed back to the Westermarkt and stopped at the Albert Hein (conveniently located across from the tram stop, and just down the street from our hotel), to stock up our little refrigerator. Then back to the hotel by 14:00, where our luggage, and fresh cut flowers, were waiting for us in our room. We napped and showered and were back out again by 19:00, on the prowl for some dinner.
Since we were dealing with jet lag, and still a bit punchy, and didn't want to make any important decisions, like where to eat, we opted for something familiar... the Leidseplein and Rancho Argentina Steak House. I don't often eat beef, but I do enjoy their rib eye. In fact, it was rib eye for both of us. And when two dudes from the States, but stationed in Afghanistan, came in, sat down next to us, and "eyed" up what we were eating, it was rib eye for them too.
After a hearty meal, we trammed back to the Dam and mooched around until we ended up on the Nieuwe Markt, so we decided to stop in at the Jolly Joker, and return the hospitality that they showed to us on a previous trip - they had helped us find our houseboat after we were given bad directions. Although it wasn't the same dude behind the counter that had helped us, he appreciated our gesture of thanks. Now here's where the karma comes in - when you do something nice it comes back to you - two young women came into the Jolly Joker while we were sitting there, who turned out to be from two small towns in Pennsylvania, maybe 15-20 miles from our home town. Now how cool was that?!
We ended our first day in Amsterdam by strolling back down the Damstraat, and picking up some goodies from Rene's Pastries to take back to our hotel room. I'd have to say, it was a pretty good day!
Blue bird- Nepal Cream & IGGY Pot, Utopia- Haze ?, Jolly Joker- White Widow & Temple Ball
We're off to Newark International Airport, our friend, Rocky, at the wheel. It's over a three hour drive, so we stopped halfway in Tannersville, PA for breakfast at the Tannersville Diner. What can I say about their food?... It's mediocre diner food, but more importantly, they have a bathroom.
We arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare - it's the "hurry up and wait" game - then we find out that the flight has been delayed due to a good tail wind. The plane can't land at Schiphol until our gate time, so they intentionally pushed the departure time back a half hour, so we don't arrive in Amsterdam too early.
When we finally board we find that we're sitting in Row 36, in two seats on the left in the back of the plane (2-3-2 configuration), and we soon realize that the plane is not filling to capacity. There are several rows of seats in the middle that are empty, so BJ asks the flight attendant if he can switch seats. Of course, as soon as he makes his move, the rest of the empty rows quickly filled up.
Finally... we're off to Amsterdam... only 50 minutes past departure time.
Day Two (Thurs, 18 April) AMSTERDAM
The plane touched down two minutes before our scheduled arrival time: 7:25 am. (I guess they were spot-on with their tail wind estimates) Within a half hour we were through passport & customs, had our luggage, and were on the train to Amsterdam. Let me just say that Schiphol Airport is a pleasure to travel through.
We arrived at Amsterdam Centraal and walked across the Stationplein to the GVB, where we bought our 3-day tram pass (€16.50 ea). We boarded the 13/17 tram to the Westermarkt and arrived at the Hotel Nadia by 9:00 am, where we were offered a complimentary drink (coffee/tea/water/juice/soda).
This is our third stay at the Hotel Nadia (€115/night, 6% discount w/ cash, breakfast included) so it felt like we were coming home when we were greeted by the staff. We like Room #412, mostly for its covered balcony overlooking the Westermarkt, the Keizergracht and the Raadhuisstraat. It's a tiny, Amsterdam-sized hotel room, on the 4th floor (78 steps!), but they supply all the amenities that we need, including someone to schlep our bags up & down those stairs, a mini fridge, coffee/tea service and fresh cut flowers.
Our room won't be ready until after 14:00, so we're off to start exploring and get over jet lag. Spring just doesn't want to come this year, so we are bundled in our scarves, hats and gloves as we trammed down to the Dam and walked about, checking out the Palace and National Monument. We proceeded down the Damstraat, taking in all the familiar sights and sounds of the awakening city; shop owners preparing for the day's customers; bicyclists coming and going in all directions; sweet smells wafting from the bakeries; church bells tolling in the distance. It felt good to be back in Amsterdam.
We stopped at the Bluebird Coffeeshop on Sint Antioniesbreestraat, which is our traditional first stop - our way of getting over jet lag. BJ ordered up one of those fancy coffees with the cookie on the side and I had my Strawberry Looza, which I've longed for since our last trip to Amsterdam. Looza has got to have the best fruit drinks that I've ever tasted.
We walked through the Waterlooplein Flea Market, which was still setting up for the day, then meandered through the streets and alleyways until we landed at the Amsterdam Historical Museum. We purchased our Museumkaarts (€49.90 ea), but didn't feel like touring through the museum right now since we've been several times before, and the sun was shining outside. BTW, I think the National Museumkaart is one of the best deals that the Netherlands has to offer. The €49,90 that we spent bought us €89,25 in museum entrances, and we saw several museums that we wouldn't have visited otherwise.
We continued our wander, breathing in the cool, crisp air, until we ended up at the Ons Lieve Heer op Solder /Our Lord in the Attic (Museumkaart), perhaps one of our favorite little museums in Amsterdam. The last time we were here, in 2011, they had just started renovations, and the church was pretty much gutted. Today, the church was painted back to its historical colors, some of the fixtures had been replaced, and a crew was onsite from the UK laying down woven rush floor matting. We spoke with a young man who was apprenticing with the group, http://www.rushmatters.com, who informed us that they use the old method of harvesting the rush, drying it, and then weaving it into various products, including floor matting.
Afterwards, we went down the canal and around the corner to the Oude Kerk (Museumkaart), and found that their renovations had been completed. We could finally view Saskia's grave stone.
It was now 12:30 and we had made our way over to Utopia Coffeeshop on the NZ Voorburgwaal, and met up with some friends who were also in town. Oh good... another Strawberry Looza for me. Afterwards, we trammed back to the Westermarkt and stopped at the Albert Hein (conveniently located across from the tram stop, and just down the street from our hotel), to stock up our little refrigerator. Then back to the hotel by 14:00, where our luggage, and fresh cut flowers, were waiting for us in our room. We napped and showered and were back out again by 19:00, on the prowl for some dinner.
Since we were dealing with jet lag, and still a bit punchy, and didn't want to make any important decisions, like where to eat, we opted for something familiar... the Leidseplein and Rancho Argentina Steak House. I don't often eat beef, but I do enjoy their rib eye. In fact, it was rib eye for both of us. And when two dudes from the States, but stationed in Afghanistan, came in, sat down next to us, and "eyed" up what we were eating, it was rib eye for them too.
After a hearty meal, we trammed back to the Dam and mooched around until we ended up on the Nieuwe Markt, so we decided to stop in at the Jolly Joker, and return the hospitality that they showed to us on a previous trip - they had helped us find our houseboat after we were given bad directions. Although it wasn't the same dude behind the counter that had helped us, he appreciated our gesture of thanks. Now here's where the karma comes in - when you do something nice it comes back to you - two young women came into the Jolly Joker while we were sitting there, who turned out to be from two small towns in Pennsylvania, maybe 15-20 miles from our home town. Now how cool was that?!
We ended our first day in Amsterdam by strolling back down the Damstraat, and picking up some goodies from Rene's Pastries to take back to our hotel room. I'd have to say, it was a pretty good day!
Blue bird- Nepal Cream & IGGY Pot, Utopia- Haze ?, Jolly Joker- White Widow & Temple Ball
Brilliant, cheers