Going to the UK and Amsterdam!!!
 

I am so SO EXCITED!! i am being sent to the UK next week for a conference, and al is finalized! I AM SO EXCITED!:jump28ib: i haven't been to europe since i was a kid, even if it is for work, I will have a couple of days to sight see. :)

I am not looking forward to the flight there though (i think its 14 hrs+):2plane: :happyboun .. but first i'll be going to wales, spending the day there, then I travel to birmingham (that's where the conference is). I'll be there for 3 days, then afterwards travel back to wales - where i'll spend a day sight seeing. then off to amsterdam for two days.

Anyone who's been to amsterdam have any suggestions of what i should see??

I just had to share my excitement with someone. I wish i could bring kikko with me :( .. i will def miss the lil guy. i will take lots of pics and def share with you all!!!

:cheersm8:

Lucky you! We visited Amsterdam for 3 days in 2000, and it was the highlight of our two-week European tour. Don't spend too much time in the coffee shops, lol. If you're into history, the Anne Frank Museum is there. It was fascinating. We also went to a beach about 30 minutes away that was pretty cool. We took a city tour and did some kind of paddleboat trip through the canals. Lots of canals in Amsterdam. Cheap beer too. Definitely take pictures. Oh, the red light district is world famous. Maybe it's a guy thing, though, lol. Have fun!

I think that this is a hint for some "Red Light District" pics! :lol tears

HAHAHAHA! Juuust maybe! boys will be boys rights? ;)

The funny things is .. since we're going during PEAK tourist season, so many hotels(within the price range we were looking for .. i'm going with my co-worker too.. ) were booked, the only hotel i could find is IN the Red light District!! haha... but its a good hotel from what I heard... but yes, I will def. take pics :p

I love history and especially architecture. I also read that they have a great Van Gogh exhibit. ... ahh! i'm so excited! :D

How fun! 14hrs is a long flight! I have a friend that moved to the Philippines last summer and she's coming to visit her family and someone told me it's a 17hr flight! :eek: That just seems like it would never end.

I forgot about the Van Gogh exhibit. I didn't go, but we ran into a woman there who raved about it. Make sure your legs are in shape. If you end up in a hotel like ours, you walk in the front door and immediately start climbing two or three or four stories of tight, windy stairs. Strangest thing I ever saw.

The red light district didn't strike me as a bad area of town, especially during tourist season. It's quite crowded. You'll have a blast.

That's so cool. I live 30 min from Birmingham. Hope you'll have a great ''business trip'' and don't forget the pics.

does anyone know how much is a boat tour in amsterdam? I am trying to figure out how much money i should bring ... of course i'll have lots extra for anytime that i can go shopping :p

I had forgotten about the boat tours. There are lots of vendors there in the main harbor that have a variety of offers. We took a half-day tour that was pretty cool. I think I would remember if it was terribly expensive.

:lol tearsI think so, too LOL :)

Hey camly! sorry i never got a chance to reply to ur other post, on why i went to taiwan last last year. it was my college graduation present from my parents. i went for a couple weeks to site see and meet relatives. hehe.

anyways, thats awesome news about ur europe trip! i went to amsterdam a few years ago, and it was soo much fun! definitely check out the anne frank museum. it's the actual building where they hid. although i didnt get a chance, take a canal trip, i hear its lots of fun. if u enjoy this type of thing, go check out a "coffee shop" lol, my friends went to a few and they definitely had an interesting, yet legal, experience haha. well u know, everythings pretty much legal in amsterdam lol. for sure check out the red light district, only dont take any pictures, it's not allowed. i hear people will actually come and take away ur camera.. the time i went, i actually went with a group of girls and one guy hehe. i went to the van gogh exhibit, and it was great! i think its two stories, but i cant remember for sure, since i went to so many musuems in europe that summer. if u have time, u can also rent bikes and tour the surrounding areas in amsterdam. and of course dont forget about the shops! There are tons of nice shops on this one row, like H&M, Zara, etc.

Have fun and be careful with the pickpocketers!!

thanks for the great advice and info!! I am going with a co-worker and he's not so much into the 'coffee shop' scene, mine either buuut .. my opinion is that you're in amsterdam and you GOTTA try it since its legal riight?

I am really really excited about the Van Gogh exhibit, and really hoping to go to Haarlem to see some tulip fields and windmills if we have time after exploring amsterdam.

Oh yea! thanks mike for all your info and advice too! but from waht peanut's mom is saying, I won't be able to get you any red light district pictures! I will try though ;)

well everyone, I am off tonite and will be back on YT in a week!!! and will definitely take LOTS of pics! :)

Cheers!

Camly

Wow, I didn't realize you were leaving so soon! I'm so jealous. You're going to have a blast.

I've been to Amsterdam 3x for work and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this city - truly some of the loveliest people on the planet. Check out hotels here:

http://www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/searc...=1&fini=&fout=

I stayed at one NH on the canal - and it was fantastic. Once, when I was stranded at the airport (thankfully, in this case!) I grabbed a quick reservation at the NH Schiller - on Rembrandt Square - and it was so lovely. Close to everything. And, really affordable too.

The Van Gogh Museum is amazing - so cool to see the paintings in person, when we've seen them reproduced so many times. Bring walking shoes bc the highlight is truly just walking around - it is such a feast for the eyes. The architecture is so charming and unique - the canal is great. Of course, the food and cafes and nightlife. I WANT TO COME!