TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

The Lindengracht market is open only during Saturdays situated on the Lindengracht street in the heart of the Jordaan District in Amsterdam. I was actually searching for the famous organic farmers market of Amsterdam, the Noordermarkt, which happens to be in Jordaan as well but since we first landed in Lindengracht and we don’t have the time to do two markets in a day, we settled for this. I am reserving the Boerenmarkt - Noordermarkt for another time. Zelfbediening means Self-Service. Fresh produce on sale in the Lindengracht market. Fruits from free trade and globalisation: Oranges, Pineapples and Melons. Little boy waiting for his mother by the bike with a wheelbarrow in front - this is very typical Dutch, kids and goods are loaded into it at the same time. Next foto is the omnipresent cheese vendor. My girl friend asked me if the Dutchman ever gets jealous because we’ve just been out for a day and we’ve already had 2 encounters where I had to do a photo shoot with some ...

I would be lying if I say that Amsterdam is not my favorite city. She is far different, unique is the right word, compared to other cosmopolitan and historical cities. I especially love her dark, mysterious and leaning buildings and I never tire of seeing them standing tall on the canals. They, for me are more captivating than the luxurious buildings in Paris. The medieval Amsterdam quarter is the oldest part of the city. This old area stretches from Centraal Station to the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, the Damrak in the center and the Wallen, which is also called the Red Light District. As you may be aware of, it’s not advisable to flip out your camera in public in the Red Light District, the hookers there are paparazzi shy. If you take a foto of them their no mercy bulldog bouncers will on a fly pounce on your sorry neck. Thus being warned, I only have fotos of other places. Nevertheless, my girl friends were pretty amused with the smorgasbord of sexy ladies available that night, the thro...

The spinster’s semi-monastic private community is a secret little place, an inner court stashed nicely in the center of Amsterdam’s medieval quarter away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Begijnhof is not always easy to find but there are two entrances; one is in the Spui square--this is the brown arched door and the other one is on the side street from the corner of Spui (by Esprit Café). Walk a bit further down the alley until you reach an intersection and you see an arched brick gate. The begijnhof is open daily from 8AM to 7PM. When visiting here make sure to keep voices down as you are treading on private residential grounds. On the left foto is the main entrance of the Begijnhof. Middle foto is a garden near the Spui entrance with a sculpture of a Begijn, not sure who she is, could be the famous Begijn Cornelia Arents. Right foto is the entrance from Spui square. Most of the town houses here are built during the 17th and 18th centuries. Tourists and non-residents ...

I have been busy during the weekend entertaining friends visiting from Japan. We checked-in into a hotel in Amsterdam Centrum near the Dam square which is a strategic location as it is very convenient from here to walk to the different quarters of Amsterdam. I found this ceramic tile on the wall of the dames toilet in a cafe in Rembrandtplein, Amsterdam. It says, “Hoe meer ik gedronken heb, hoe beter jij eruit ziet” — The more I drank, the better (or prettier) you look! LOL We were forced to take refuge in this cafe when hail and wet snow threatened our just blow dried hair. I know, GIRLS =) Visit Period: February 2010 Destination: Amsterdam Centrum Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)