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AMAZING AMSTERDAM
It doesn't matter whether you are a history buff,
a foodie or
an adventure seeker; the Venice of the
North will mesmerise you completely
On
the banks of the rivers IJ and Amstel stands
Amsterdam,
the capital city of the Netherlands.
With
its atmospheric network of canals, brick houses,
port,
commercial bustle and rich culture, the city is
sure
to mesmerise anybody and everybody.
Whether
you are wandering for hours through the
streets
of the city centre or visiting the art museums,
which
are amongst the best in the world, this
“Venice
of the North“ will undoubtedly cast a spell on you.
But
before you embark on your journey, be ready to
make
the most of your feet or if you are staying here for
more
than a day, then remember to hire a bike, for cyclists
and
pedestrians are the kings here. So be it going to the
school,
commuting to work or meeting a client for business,
two-wheeling is the way of life in this city
with easily
accessible
bike rental shops and free ferry rides.
Having
lived in Amsterdam for quite some time,
Chetna
Prakash comes out as the perfect guide for
Amsterdam.
Giving a gist of the city, she says,
“With
its patchwork of crisscrossing canals, super-relaxed
pubs
and cafes, scandalous sex district, and vigorously
bicycling
Dutch everywhere, Amsterdam is one of the
most
fun cities of Europe. If I had to recommend one
European
city you should visit after London and Paris,
Amsterdam
would be it. Get yourself a map.
Once
you have figured the canals on the map and
studied
where the squares lie vis-a-vis the canals,
the
rest is easy-peasy.“
And
if you want, you can also opt for a pre-decided tour,
as
done by Dr.Riaz and Hena Mehdi. “On our way to
Chicago,
we had a stopover of two days at Amsterdam.
We
landed at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, in the
early
morning. The airport is huge and has plenty of
outlets
for entertainment and shopping. We deposited
our
luggage at the airport only and took a local train
to
the heart of Amsterdam. There are many hotels
around
the railway station suited to every pocket.
From
the station we walked down to a hotel and
occupied
a room. Beside our hotel, only there was a
tour
& travel office. We took a package of city.
They
took us to a diamond factory, a village which
was
heavenly. The best thing was that there were
more
cycles on the road than cars that made the
environment
totally pollution-free,“ reminisces
Dr.Mehdi.
Along
with three famous museums, the Van Gogh
Museum,
Rijksmuseum and Heineken Museum,
Amsterdam
has a number of Tulip markets, weekend
flea
markets, bakeries, cheese stores and numerous
beautiful
canals! “Cruising through the canals can be
an
exhilarating experience. In a city that has 165
crisscrossing
canals, it is the best way to get familiarise
with
the place as you can get the best view of Amsterdam
with
its colourful, narrow, tilting townhouses and the
bustling
street life. You don't even need a guide if you
have
the accompanying audio-guide,“ gushes travel
enthusiast
Akashdeep Verma.
It
is the impeccable town planning and numerous eating
options
that attracted Ankit Sareen, a businessman,
to
extend his day trip to two days. “I am a foodie at
heart
and along with the food, there's a sense of time
stopping,
an intimacy of the here and now that leaves
all
your troubles behind, at least until tomorrow.
You
can get that warm, fuzzy feeling in many situations;
but
the easiest place is a traditional brown café.
Named
for their wood panelling and walls stained by
smoke
over the centuries, brown cafés practically have
cosines
on tap, alongside good beer. In fact, you can
have
that feeling at any restaurant after dinner,
when
you're welcome to linger and chat after your
meal
while the candles burn low.“
CITY
OF JOY:
I
was in Amsterdam for a day and walked all over this
beautiful
city on a glorious sunny day. There was a
certain
calmness in this city which was so refreshing.
With
its countless cute bridges over the canals,
the
friendly locals who may not speak your language
but
will help you anyhow, the lakes and art pieces
sprawled
all over, the street artists playing music at
every
corner, the wonderful statues and icons
commemorating
artists, my Amsterdam experience
was
simply awesome!
Amsterdam
is a perfect spot for all kinds of travellers,
including
families who love art or adventure.
--Smriti
Shankar, solo traveller
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Neha Bhatia
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ET23FEB16
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