Looking for an affordable vacation? Try XXX
Jul 31, 2017 22:01:04 GMT -5
Marsha Lynn and Rich Schmidt like this
Post by Greg on Jul 31, 2017 22:01:04 GMT -5
The XXX is not what you think. It's a historic symbol for Amsterdam. I went there in January as a tourist because it was very affordable and I absolutely loved it. Can't wait to go back.
If you go for a few days, like we did, this is what I recommend:
Take the Hop On Hop Off bus and boat tours
These will give you a great overview of the city and you can go back to what you find interesting.
Visit the Old Church (Oude Kerk). This is where Jacob Arminius started his ministry and preached things that were against Calvinism. So this is an important place for Nazarenes and Methodists.
The church is in the very center of the Red Light district. But if you go about noon there are no prostitutes and the area is rather nice.
Visit the Van Gogh museum. There are no skip the line tickets, no matter what they tell you. You'll stand in line outside for about an hour but it is well worth it. Get the audio tour headset thing and pick the shorter one. It will still take you about 2 hours but it is amazing. Best museum I've ever been to.
If you like Bansky or Warhol, then go to the nearby MOCO museum.
Don't go to the Stedelijk Museum. It's modern art and meant to offend you and it will.
Go to the Anne Frank House. Again, no skip the line tickets. You have to buy your tickets there the day before, and the earlier the better.
If I did one trip outside of Amsterdam it would be to Zaanse Schans, it's 20 minutes from Amsterdam. It's a canal with about 5 windmills next to each other. They are about 250 years old and in great working condition. Take the tour to go inside of them and see how they work.
The rest of them time I would just walk around the downtown area because there are a ton of canals and bridges and old buildings. Everything is beautiful.
Be careful about the bike riders. There are many more bikes than cars. They hit people all the time and always have the right of way. They follow no rules.
We were told, "if you hear a bell, run like h#ll." That was good advice.
Everyone speaks excellent English and are much taller than me. The cheese is amazing, bring a lot home.
If you go for a few days, like we did, this is what I recommend:
Take the Hop On Hop Off bus and boat tours
These will give you a great overview of the city and you can go back to what you find interesting.
Visit the Old Church (Oude Kerk). This is where Jacob Arminius started his ministry and preached things that were against Calvinism. So this is an important place for Nazarenes and Methodists.
The church is in the very center of the Red Light district. But if you go about noon there are no prostitutes and the area is rather nice.
Visit the Van Gogh museum. There are no skip the line tickets, no matter what they tell you. You'll stand in line outside for about an hour but it is well worth it. Get the audio tour headset thing and pick the shorter one. It will still take you about 2 hours but it is amazing. Best museum I've ever been to.
If you like Bansky or Warhol, then go to the nearby MOCO museum.
Don't go to the Stedelijk Museum. It's modern art and meant to offend you and it will.
Go to the Anne Frank House. Again, no skip the line tickets. You have to buy your tickets there the day before, and the earlier the better.
If I did one trip outside of Amsterdam it would be to Zaanse Schans, it's 20 minutes from Amsterdam. It's a canal with about 5 windmills next to each other. They are about 250 years old and in great working condition. Take the tour to go inside of them and see how they work.
The rest of them time I would just walk around the downtown area because there are a ton of canals and bridges and old buildings. Everything is beautiful.
Be careful about the bike riders. There are many more bikes than cars. They hit people all the time and always have the right of way. They follow no rules.
We were told, "if you hear a bell, run like h#ll." That was good advice.
Everyone speaks excellent English and are much taller than me. The cheese is amazing, bring a lot home.
