Endless Travel Escapes

A M S T E R D A M

Amsterdam 2008

The Hotel Pulitzer is located on a canal at the edge of the Jordaan. The hotel itself is a series of canal houses that was transformed into one of Starwoods Luxury Collection Hotels.

The corridors are many and can be confusing at first. Some hallways have only a single room and many lead to other stairs and corridors. There is an elevator located centrally. The rooms themselves are all unique and the beds are so plush, you literally sink into them. The breakfast buffet, usually included in the price of the room, is incredible. It takes up three rooms - one for all the bakery items, one for cereal, fruit, juices, yogurt, and things like that, and the the third room has all the eggs, crepes, waffles, etc. It comes at a hefty price of 27 Euros if not included in the daily room rate. Beware - on week-ends, many locals frequent the breakfast and it can be quite crowded and the staff can appear to be overwhelmed. The Pulitzer bar is probably the worlds best hotel bar. The staff are super friendly and accommodating and the seating is fun. You can sit at the bar or at one of many small round tables or you can sit at my personal favorite - a window seat looking out over the Prinsenstraat Canal.

There is a small Albert Hein Market around the corner from the hotel which I found to be very convenient for small snacks or cokes. The Honor Bar at the Pulitzer is very unforgiving. You touch it, you buy it. Beware.

Dining options in the Jordaan District of Amsterdam are many. There is a Pancake Bakery down the street, 20 minutes walking distance, that is fantastic. We arrived at 6pm and enjoyed a pancake creation that included whip cream, ice cream, caramel, nuts, etc. The server suggested sharing, which we did, and we still left some on the plate. Brown Cafes are a great way to meet people. They're all over Amsterdam and Brown Cafes get their name from their smoke stained walls. Nam Kee features Chinese food. Don't let the drab neon lighting fool you. The food is good, the service is fast, and they're open late.

Coffee Shops in Amsterdam are not a place to get a meal. Amsterdam's reputation as a wild party town is a direct result of its tolerance towards cannabis. The practice is technically illegal and only just tolerated. Local producers are allowed to operate as long as they don't go in for large scale production. Coffee Shops are a place where patrons can sit and smoke all day if they choose. Warmoesstraat, on the fringe of the Red Light District, is lined with coffee shops making it a prime spot for coffee shop crawls.

While on the subject, the Red Light District dates back to the 13th century when sailors returned from long trips desperate for female companionship. The industry is now a $1-billion dollar business in the Netherlands. The health department is very strict with its regulations. There are rules on how hot the water has to be before a prostitute washes her underwear to how long the woman's nails can be. Recent statistics claim that over 60% of these women are foreign, many from eastern Europe and Asia. The women come from all walks of life and for some this is just a second job to earn extra cash. Some are students, some are housewives. It's not unsafe to meander here, especially before dark. It's one of Amsterdam's best known attractions. Some might be repulsed by the sight of women for sale in windows illuminated by red lights; and for others, it's just a fascinating look at the worlds oldest profession.

Shopping in Amsterdam is abundant. There are many shops that line the canal in the Jordaan District. A favorite of mine would be Dian. All the clothing is Italian and reasonably priced. The clerks are very friendly and helpful. The Megazino is a huge designer outlet that sells everything from Armani to Prada at a discount of 30% to 50% off the original price - still way too pricey for me. The Albert Cuyp Market is unofficially referred to as Europe's largest market. From fresh herring to Gouda to silk scarves you'll find it here Mondays thru Saturdays.

Anne Frankhuis is located a block away from the Pulitzer. It is a typical canal house where Anne Frank kept her famous diary. The Frank family lived in near total silence here for 2 years during World War ll before Nazis raided the house and deported the family to concentration camps. Some protective glass panels have been placed over some walls, but little else has changed. About a million visitors a year tour this house so be prepared for long lines. I found the best time to arrive is at about 8:15am. At that time there were about 20 people ahead of me. By 900am, when the doors opened, the line had wrapped around the building.

Boom Chicago is Amsterdam's premier comedy theater and has been going strong for over a decade. The performances are in English and the performers are American.

They have 2 bars and offer a fairly good dinner. You can choose to see the show without purchasing dinner, but those with the dinner package get preferred seating. Good fun!

Amsterdam has long been a favorite city of mine. I like to look at the buildings and the houseboats along the canals. Its a very compact city so you can see a lot in minimal time. Remember to wear comfy shoes and make sure you look both ways when crossing major intersections - bicyclists follow no rules here and travel at alarming speeds!

Chris