Amsterdam

Greetings from Amsterdam! -
My co-worker Mylene greets me with a beer in a local pub :)

View album here

This will be a quick post -- watching Grey's Anatomy, we have 2 friends that are in the final 2 episodes! :). Congrats Tim and Brian!

Was working in Amsterdam last week for work -- Joe and Caleb came to meet me for the weekend. UK had a bank holiday which means we have Monday off, woo hoo! Was my first time in Amsterdam -- great to be in a city where you don't hear the sound of traffic if you turn off a main street. Great to sip on a beer while chatting it up with friends and admire the boats as they cruise the canals.

It's a cute little place with a strange relationship with sex and drugs I can't seem to get to grips with. The red light district dominates the center of town, surrounding this amazing church that didn't quite make it (now used as a gallery space). It was strange to be able to walk by prostitutes on display in windows (bedroom behind them), while other tourists were simply taking a stroll down the street because they had already seen 20 other prostitutes on display. Ha.

Anyway, withs some great recommendations from co-workers and Lisa -- we were able to enjoy the food, nightlife, and shopping that Amsterdam had to offer. I also had this strange attraction to fire while I was there. Burned the sleeve of my shirt while reaching for some butter at dinner, then reached into a candle holder thinking it was a bowl of chips another night -- Haha. Sad. Wonder what that means.

Hope you enjoy the photos above and if you ever find yourself going to Amsterdam - Hope this recommended list helps!

/**Recommended List**/
Guide Books --
* Wallpaper City Guide for Amsterdam offers the hip and trendy places to see and be seen
* DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Amsterdam guide is a great summary of the popular tourists sites - map of city included
Restaurants --
* Envy (www.envy.nl) - Prinsengracht 381 (within 9 Streets area). Get the 50 EUR chef's choice menu for some great mini plates of yumminess. Book ahead as waiting for a table here can mean you don't start eating until 9pm. If you do get stuck in that situation, pop over to the bar next door called Van Puffelen for some bitterballen (deep-fried meatballs)
Shopping --
* SPRMRKT - Rozengracht 191-193. A bit far off from any main shopping area but they have a great selection of nitch brands. They carry a great selection of Acne Jeans and Acne Shoes. If unique jewelry is your thing, they have some fabulous trinkets from Scandinavian designers.
Art --
* FOAM Photography Gallery - Keizersgracht 607. Exhibits all genres of photography, world famous photographers and emerging talent. Current exhibit includes a large collection from James Nachtwey - one of most influential and most-published contemporary photographers documenting wars, disasters and their consequences.
Accommodation --
* Prinsenhuis Design Apartments - Didn't get to stay here because Expedia double booked us, but if you want a more relaxed local experience would recommend booking at this apartment complex. Tip: If you are looking for accommodation, try to find one that is located on a street that ends in 'gracht'. That means the street borders a canal :).