i’m thrilled that you all feel the same way about amsterdam. i assure you there is much much more to this city than coffee shops and red lighted windows. here is a detailed description of last sunday’s wander. From now on when I take photos of my walks I will give you a detailed description like this one so you can make a note for the next time you visit…
So, the photos below were taken on my favourite walk: I start at utrechtstraat which is a strip of fabulous restaurants, cafes, homeware stores, music stores and delis. I then wander up towards rembrandts plein (‘plein’ means ‘square’). Then I continue up over the bridge of the amstel until I reach the beautiful staalstraat (‘straat’ means ‘street’) bridge, seen in one of the photos below. Once here I turn right onto staalstraat which is full of gorgeous design shops including droog which is one of amsterdam’s destination design stores. Even though this is such a little street you could spend hours wandering between the stores. At the end of this street is one of my all time favourite amsterdam cafes: Puccini’s. The menu is fresh and delicious and no matter what time of day you wander this way, you must indulge in a puccini hot chocolate. I will not say anything more about this hot chocolate except that you must. Puccini’s also has a chocolate boutique just a few doors up so you can take home some gifts (for yourself).
So, after my chocolate comotose I turn left along the canal and this is where you will find all those quaint and quirky painted doors I featured in Part One. It’s along here that I change my path to discover new streets, so you just keep meandering and see what you discover along the canal, but keep to your left as you walk on ahead and you will make your way to Nieuwmarkt which is another big square and marks the end of this walk but the beginning of another favourite Pia walk (which I will share with you next time). But don’t leave just yet as right in front of you is In De Waag, an incredible medieval looking building turned restaurant which was once the Amsterdam ‘gatehouse’. Inside are beautiful beamed high ceilings, the whole restaurant lighted with candles. It is magical. Here I indulge (again! always with the indulging) in a glass of champagne and a little plate of Dutch bitterballen – I think these are some of the best in town. They also serve delicious cheese croquettes. You must arrive before 5pm though as the bar section closes to make room for dinner guests. I suggest you aim to arrive here at around 2-3pm as they change the candles in the huge chandeliers and that is quite a sight. You can also sit outside In De Waag when it is a sunny day. Bliss.
I hope these little ‘wander guides’ come in handy for some of you, do let me know! I have heaps up my sleeve I could share including wanders in Paris, Vancouver, and Sydney, as well as Amsterdam (oh and a little town in North Italy that I would love to share with you soon) if you like the idea of this let me know and I will add more.
Next Up: a funny little thing…
