My holiday among tulips and windmills in the Netherlands.. Trip to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a wonderful city, full of contrasts, with a sense of modesty and control but certainly enough to the limit with breathtaking architecture and I do not have equal in the world. Some compare it to Venice but I think the two cities far apart and the people really the opposite.
I'll try to make small flash of my experience in Amsterdam, ignoring history and monuments, which the guides are filled with news. I state that, as always, my trip is completely do-it-yourself, and then I recovered experiences of other travelers, readers, and many sites including this one (obviously!).
Travel
I flew with Alitalia from Rome. Excellent offer for not being a low cost (99 € per head all inclusive and considering it was Easter ...). I was fairly good air time in both outward and return flights. I must say that the convenience of passenger aircraft is to arrive near the downtown and not thrown into outlying airports. Schiphol Airport is also very welcoming and modern (you will find the details of my personal experience at this airport http://www.trivago.it/schiphol-88070/aeroportostazioneporto/luchthaven-schiphol-159746/opinione-o354818)

To reach the city there is nothing more comfortable than the train. Very frequently (every 15 minutes) takes you to Amsterdam Central Station (Centraal Station) where you can take the underground or simply one of the many tram to reach your final destination.

Hotels
We chose the NH City Centre Amsterdam. It is easily accessible with very few stops by tram nr. 2 or 5 from Central Station. On foot 15 minutes. The hotel is located near two Spui Square, very central canal and rather quiet. Amsterdam is pretty expensive and our double room cost us about 100 € per night. We actually booked another hotel (reservations made on booking.com) of the same chain but a few days before departure we were informed a overbooking. After the initial anger we decided not to take us by the nose and we hired a superior room (substantially larger) and breakfast (it was not originally). Breakfast is quite expensive at the hotel € 12.5 per capita per day and I must say that it was a nice gift.
The rooms are not very big (and we consider that a superior) and the lady in reception gave us even wait to sit down ... in any case the room was comfortable and clean even if I say the space was not much. To see the detailed pictures of the hotel [url = http://www.trivago.it/Amsterdam-46814/hotel/nh-city-centre-Amsterdam-42291/opinione-o357389] Trivago [/ url]

Travel
We have always used public transportation buying tram tickets, even the famous "strippenkart" or strip with pre-purchased races. There is several cuts, we have purchased the 15-strip paying € 7.30. Each trip must be stamped at least two strips (one strip always more than the number of areas that are crossed). Convenient and practical because you can also share with other passengers but surely it was better to buy the subscription. There are from 24/48/72/96 hours and allow to run without stopping for hours from the hour of stamping purchased. They range from 7 € to 18 € and, like the strip, you can take trams and metro (but not trains). Having made two trips outside Amsterdam we enjoyed the train, clean and punctual but MOLTOOOO dear. One is a ten minutes costs 15 € if you buy back the same day and is paid at the same time ... not your economic leg say!
One advice: forget your car because parking is impossible and very expensive (the entire area channel is off limits and other areas have regulations complex and quite salty!).

Food
I never found the food. In particular the Dutch is not very characteristic. The strangest things I've eaten are:
- Stamppot a dish made with mashed potatoes, sausages, bacon and vegetables to choose from sauerkraut, cabbage and some other vegetables. Obviously the cooking juices of the meat is put on mashed potatoes and vegetables are chopped potatoes.
- Erwtensoep or pea soup very thick (really thick I assure you!) Which is also added sausage and bacon (just to be light!).
- Jenever or Dutch gin. Made with juniper berries served iced in a small glass. There are many types: starting from the young (jonge) to the old (oude) where the almond taste is definitely more intense. If you taste them all surely come out staggering from the restaurant! But if you overdo it then try the kopstoot (in Italian the "head"): a deadly combilnazione beer with a dose of jenever. And goodnight ....
Good course, beer (Heineken is the most famous needless to say). To eat you get away with the € 25 if not exaggerated and dinner around 15 € for lunch with unique dishes. Point out a couple of rooms: one is the Haesje Claes in Spuistraat 273-275 (two steps from Spui) Tel 0031.20-6249998 typically Dutch, very good and certainly well known by locals (go early for a Saturday night otherwise you will queue) The second place is not Mexican but Dutch is called Tio Pepe is always in the beginning but Spuistraat 3B, near the train so to speak. It 's really good and is open until late at night. We eat Mexican and truly original as well as the staff for the most part, Mexican.

Outings
See ad hoc stories

 

Climate
We have found the perfect one. Easter was then known not very hot during the day but the temperature remained pleasant evening and obviously needed a sweater for the cool. Little rain, few clouds. We were lucky.

Red Light District
Obviously if you are in Amsterdam you can not make a turn at the red light district of Amsterdam. It 's a neighborhood with a beautiful and harmonious structure fed by the ladies in the windows and rooms that are equivocal or gadgets that have erotic or shows soft and hard core. My personal suggestion is to travel this area during the day (even to admire the beauties) and night when, even though in some dingy breakers, it is characteristic. Did not seem dangerous, but there are guys around posing and gather customers for local porn: if you are afraid or are suggestible types Forget the evening tour.
Last thing: do not photograph the young ladies in the window because they get angry and often out of the room there are patrons who could make problems. Of course you can watch without paying and how long you want.

Do
For those who have not ever done for me is to do:
- Around the channels
- Visit the museum home of Anne Frank
- Visit the flower market
Don'ts
- Rent a bicycle unless experts (be cut!)
- Buy drugs out of bars that are licensed to do so (it's full of plainclothes police)
- Think you can do what you want because so much has been in a free country
If you want more info are available.
Hello
Andrea