By request here is a mini review of my trip to Amsterdam (for those who care and those who dont 
)
Thursday I had the whole day off work so after much furious packing and trying to get everything in a small case (I absolutely refused to take a normal sized suitcase for 3 days/3 nights) we were finally off, got the train to London Bridge, then on to Gatwick.
Checked in, we were actually flying with BA who turned out to be rather well organised - the bit where you just put your debit card in to get your tickets out impressed me (easily amused?!) nice bit of grub in the Wetherspoons, then off to catch our flight, there was 6 of us so nice bit of banter on the plane. The 45 min flight also amused me, your literally up, have a drink and some snacks then your back down again!
Anyway we finally arrive in Amsterdam, have to get the train to central station - double decker train, how cool? - arrive at Central Station trying to find our hotel. We were told we could walk but we later found out it was quite a trek so jumped in a cab - 30 euros for all of us and it was only about 10 mins but there you go we did it just for the sake of it and because we were all dying to go freshen up and get back out again. Arrived at the Eden Lancaster Hotel, which was in the Artis part of Amsterdam, not really sure what this means but everything in the area had something to do with Artis, Artis museum, Artis zoo etc etc
Our first night out and we headed off to a english type pub (not my choice but there you go) for a bevvie and we were then told to hit a cafe called Smokeys as its typically tourist. Now I was a bit more interested in going to some of the not so touristy places and so was my other half as he has been to Amsterdam before but trying to get everyone to go there and move around did prove a bit of a mission so off to Smokeys it was. All I can say that followed was a haze of muffins, teas, chilling out, laughing until our faces nearly fell off and somehow managing to do a whole square out the way of where we were meant to be going. The sad thing about it was is we all had a great time laughing and joking, it was literally laughing until we cried but 1 of my girl mates proper freaked out and got majorly paranoid, this then put a bit of a spell on the weekend - she didnt want to go through it again so she did seem a tad bored at times. It was one of those awkward situations where you dont really know what to do - shes not happy yet everyone else is. We all ended up back in one room that night and crashing out.
Friday we went for a mooch around the Red Light District, stopped off for some lunch while consuming more muffins and a gateaux
Then we went to the Erotic s*x museum - rather amusing.
Fri night we had tickets to go see the Klaxons, the venue was a converted church, it was absolutely amazing - where it was a small venue it felt really intimate and I have never been so close to a band before, it was truly brilliant and they rocked the place. Best gig I have ever been to. Have some great videos too of them.
After that it was back to the Red Light District and a stop off at the Moulin Rouge live s*x show - surreal but so so funny.
Saturday, we got up rather late, I blame the cold and the sleepiness feel to Amsterdam
, headed off for some lunch/teas etc. Hopped on one of the canal boats that took us on a bit of a historic tour round Amsterdam, was quite interesting but got a bit boring towards the end. Then in the evening back to Smokeys for a repeat of Thurs night but somehow it didnt quite go that way, we all ended up rather sleepy and chilled out.
Sunday was our last day so out by 11 - even though the boys werent, we actually got the hotel reception to call them and say it was 50 euros extra for them oversleeping
We thought we would hit the zoo as it was only round the corner to the hotel, and it meant we could leave our bags at the hotel and not go too far as our flight wasnt until later in the evening. The zoo was actually one of the best zoos I have ever been to, was quite surprised
After zoo antics and seeing some rather smelly monkeys, we headed off to the station, last pit stop for a tea, then headed home. Got home about 1130 last night so was well and truly tired.
Back to the grind today!
So all in all Amsterdam was a great trip, bit of an eye opener, rather cold but proud of myself for surviving and it was nice to wrap up warm. Really would have liked to explore more and I know my boyfriend felt the same, away from some of the touristy bits and more to the chilled out typical dutch places (if they exist) but apart from that was a great trip, great company, great memories!
)Thursday I had the whole day off work so after much furious packing and trying to get everything in a small case (I absolutely refused to take a normal sized suitcase for 3 days/3 nights
) we were finally off, got the train to London Bridge, then on to Gatwick. Checked in, we were actually flying with BA who turned out to be rather well organised - the bit where you just put your debit card in to get your tickets out impressed me (easily amused?!
) nice bit of grub in the Wetherspoons, then off to catch our flight, there was 6 of us so nice bit of banter on the plane. The 45 min flight also amused me, your literally up, have a drink and some snacks then your back down again!Anyway we finally arrive in Amsterdam, have to get the train to central station - double decker train, how cool? - arrive at Central Station trying to find our hotel. We were told we could walk but we later found out it was quite a trek so jumped in a cab - 30 euros for all of us and it was only about 10 mins but there you go we did it just for the sake of it and because we were all dying to go freshen up and get back out again. Arrived at the Eden Lancaster Hotel, which was in the Artis part of Amsterdam, not really sure what this means but everything in the area had something to do with Artis, Artis museum, Artis zoo etc etc
Our first night out and we headed off to a english type pub (not my choice but there you go) for a bevvie and we were then told to hit a cafe called Smokeys as its typically tourist. Now I was a bit more interested in going to some of the not so touristy places and so was my other half as he has been to Amsterdam before but trying to get everyone to go there and move around did prove a bit of a mission so off to Smokeys it was. All I can say that followed was a haze of muffins, teas, chilling out, laughing until our faces nearly fell off and somehow managing to do a whole square out the way of where we were meant to be going. The sad thing about it was is we all had a great time laughing and joking, it was literally laughing until we cried but 1 of my girl mates proper freaked out and got majorly paranoid, this then put a bit of a spell on the weekend - she didnt want to go through it again so she did seem a tad bored at times. It was one of those awkward situations where you dont really know what to do - shes not happy yet everyone else is. We all ended up back in one room that night and crashing out.
Friday we went for a mooch around the Red Light District, stopped off for some lunch while consuming more muffins and a gateaux
Then we went to the Erotic s*x museum - rather amusing.
Fri night we had tickets to go see the Klaxons, the venue was a converted church, it was absolutely amazing - where it was a small venue it felt really intimate and I have never been so close to a band before, it was truly brilliant and they rocked the place. Best gig I have ever been to. Have some great videos too of them.
After that it was back to the Red Light District and a stop off at the Moulin Rouge live s*x show - surreal but so so funny.
Saturday, we got up rather late, I blame the cold and the sleepiness feel to Amsterdam
, headed off for some lunch/teas etc. Hopped on one of the canal boats that took us on a bit of a historic tour round Amsterdam, was quite interesting but got a bit boring towards the end. Then in the evening back to Smokeys for a repeat of Thurs night but somehow it didnt quite go that way, we all ended up rather sleepy and chilled out.Sunday was our last day so out by 11 - even though the boys werent, we actually got the hotel reception to call them and say it was 50 euros extra for them oversleeping
We thought we would hit the zoo as it was only round the corner to the hotel, and it meant we could leave our bags at the hotel and not go too far as our flight wasnt until later in the evening. The zoo was actually one of the best zoos I have ever been to, was quite surprised
After zoo antics and seeing some rather smelly monkeys, we headed off to the station, last pit stop for a tea, then headed home. Got home about 1130 last night so was well and truly tired.
Back to the grind today!
So all in all Amsterdam was a great trip, bit of an eye opener, rather cold but proud of myself for surviving and it was nice to wrap up warm. Really would have liked to explore more and I know my boyfriend felt the same, away from some of the touristy bits and more to the chilled out typical dutch places (if they exist) but apart from that was a great trip, great company, great memories!