Amsterdam in Pictures

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

just another coffeeshop.....knew a guy who worked in there, in fact, the boyfriend of a half-jamaican, half-english colleague(sp?) of mine....she died last year at the age of 46 of breast cancer

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

o.k. last one....getting dark and I'm off home. Back to the angel here.....

Maybe in a few months, when the weather is great again and my camera is fixed, I might add some summer ones. But for now...


(You can always check out Youtube for videos of Queen's Day in Amsterdam and see the craziness of it for yourself. I'll be at the Jamaican restaurant cos they are having a party outside with an ACE soundsystem )

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tuffstuff</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Whats it mean that u get 'council rent', and who qualifies for that? I assume the 200,000 is to buy, whats a rental like over there and how it compares to salaries? Just trying to get an idea of how ppl live. </div></div>

Oh, anyone can qualify for that, within a certain salary. Only takes 10 years on the list to get one, tho
It means the council controls the rent, i.e. no more than a certain amount, max 5% rise per year and no speculation by developers.
It's great cos they're mixed with buyers houses, so no ghetto-isation.....

I pay just over 400 euros a month, if it was on the open market, it would be a minimum of 1000, or even 1500...but by the time I pay all the bills I am 1000 out of pocket....light, gas, electrics, telephone, etc.
For most of us there's more month than money.....

You can buy too, yea, 200 K is the buying price, going up to a few million....but even then you can get tax respite on your mortgage interest.....
they do have cheaper too, a friend bought for under 150 K, but you can barely swing a cat in there....(but it's very cosy and on the water )......


like I say, high taxes here, but lots of goodies to be had from it (everyone has access to health care for a start) social security, i.e. if you don't have a job and your unemployment benefit has run its course, you get a basic minimum to live off (but it's still the pits, living like that, cos you just get poorer every month....), and free schooling if you don't want to pay the minimum they ask, etc. at least in primary school.....that's only 100 euros a year ffs!
secondary is different, cos lots of books to buy, school trips etc. no uniform here of course either.

In fact, if you are on the minimum, and have kids at school, you can apply for and get a new computer and internet connection!!

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

Ah, I'll save you the bother, might as well put it in here....
(by the way, not true the queen never comes to Amsterdam, she was here in the late 90's).....

Dunno what Youtube has done, they have changed their layout and I can't find the url to post as a video, so like this then.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvardZ4o06Q&amp;feature=related

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

found one of the red light district at night. Haven't been out around there in ages.....it's a summer thing anyway....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQFGht5nLys

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

LOL, can't stop..... till I bring my camera away, which will be after the w/e cos there's a good concert coming....

today went to the flower market cos for ages I've wanted to get a Magnolia tree for my balcony, and found the ONE today....
went to Waterstone's bookshop for a magazine beforehand (around the corner), and got quite wobbly to see Anne Frank's Diary in the window with 4 bunches of flowers laid there by the flower stall to my back....(sorry the photo is not in focus....). It's getting that time of year, 5 May is our Liberation Day, always a National Holiday, with Freedom Concerts

But the market was great, full of tourists as usual....

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

the flower market on the Singel canal - cheery and colourful place....

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

great place for a stroll, and buy any kind of plant and flower you want, even a &quot;grow yer own&quot; kit

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

The most amazing plant shops, speciality, etc.

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

LOL, grow your own starter kit....what can you expect in this town?!

which reminds me, an article about the first medical marijuana shop/cafe(?) in California, had the title &quot;Yes we Cannabis&quot;

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

Anyway, have to go back lunchtime tomorrow to pick up the Magnolia....they've put it away for me....

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

The magnolia looks lovely on my balcony....

Today I was in here, I've known her for years, and she told me there were some videos on Youtube. It's a great place.

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BZ3N5nLk_90"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BZ3N5nLk_90" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

On this one you get a better view of the quirky interior, the guy in the baseball cap is her husband who built the whole interior, 3 floors, all wood. And filled to the brim with bric-a-brac

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LCcgbEcDGsw"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LCcgbEcDGsw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

[LusciousJohnson]

Re: Amster-dam!

OMG! starter kits
i've GOT to go to Amsterdam! what hotels do you suggest Marielle. I have to start checking into this asap

[Marielle]

Re: Amster-dam!

Check out this one, on the canal, cosy and small, owned and run by friends of mine (no, I don't get commission! ), but it's usually booked up early (only 8 rooms) so....

(later I'll put in a list of other hotels that are quirky and/or in good locations).

www.hotelbrouwer.nl

[ackeepod]

Re: Amster-dam!

Nice pix and info on Amsterdam ...
lets see a picture of your magnolia tree