New Hotels 4 U

Hotel Bookings

NewHotels4U is a new concept for a Hotel Bookings site, designed to orient the visitor during their hotel booking quest, because most travelers won’t know the city of their destination or which area of their destination is better for the purpose of their tip, we will try to manually describe each city and each city area.

Bookings can be placed online at any time through our booking engine, where we will look for the best prices in more than 90,000 hotels around the world.

These are the cities we have described so far:

• Hotels in Madrid
• Hotels in London
• Hotels in Paris

ATHENS

Athens, cosmopolitan city, a mixture of different cultures and peoples that through the ages left their mark. The visit to Athens alone is a reason for the trip to Greece. In GrecoTour recommend a stay of two or three days minimum, enough to visit those places of great interest to highlight down as the greatest beauty of this country, both in places such as archaeological sites are located outside Athens.

Being the total Greek population of approximately eleven million people, about four million living in and around Athens. By making it a very active city. This activity, movement and bustle can get to stifle the tourists thinking of going to find peace and tranquility in Greece. But in the heart of this city are hiding a number of places that are required for your visit.
For these visits we give them a set of ideas and patterns from which you can choose and plan your time, depending also on whatever your tastes. These are relatively close to each other since, although Athens is very wide between us move the triangle formed by Omonia Square, Syntagma Square and Plaka district under the Acropolis.
The majority of our hotel selection is the heart of Athens that can move so easily. The distances are thus could walk away easily in pleasant walks and thus avoid the bus, the troley, subway or taxi.

Athens

Travel Guide to Athens (Best of Athens in 3 days)

First is obliged to visit the Acropolis of Athens, the most important archaeological site from all over Greece. On a slight hill may contemplate the famous Parthenon, the Erection which was the most sacred temple of the ancient Temple of Athena, Nike, the Propylaea, the Odeon of Herod Penthouse, the ancient theater of Dionissos, etc … All this within this archaeological site with a single entry. They can also visit the small but interesting museum of the Acropolis from the stress that the sculpture of Moscóforo and one of the authentic Caryatids (columns shaped woman), etc …
In this same area, we advise to know the neighborhood of Plaka and Monastiraki. These are the two neighborhoods located at the foot of the Acropolis. By day you can visit the many shops with Greek products more varied, souvenirs, etc … and visit the Monastiraki flea market. Will find their streets with the lantern Lisícrates.
At night, they can walk until you find among the many typical taverns, some with show or take a bottle of Greek wine in the many corners in view of the illuminated Parthenon.
On the other side of the hill, also interested in visiting the Areopagus, the enclosures of the Ancient Agora, or market, which includes the Temple of Efestos, the Library of Hadrian, or Filopapo Hill of the Muses. A short ride away is another archaeological site, the cemetery Keramidas.
Close to Plaka, should visit the Arch of Hadrian and the Temple of Zeus Olympico. Very close too, is the Syntagma Square, where he will visit the Greek Parliament, the tomb to the unknown soldier and his famous changing of the guard of Evzones, especially Sundays at eleven o’clock. We can continue the visit to the National Park and visit the interior of this great park, lung of Athens, called Zapion. If they decide to walk a little, can follow the visit to the Olympic Stadium.
In the central street of Panepistimiu, we will find the most beautiful neoclassical buildings of the city, which are the National Library, the University and the Academy of Arts.
The National Archaeological Museum is another splendid neo-classical building that has important archaeological finds from all over Greece. Would be to appoint many beauties so we leave it to you that whoever discovered the wonders inside it housed. Other notable museums are the Byzantine Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art Gallery National Museum of Traditional Arts, the Benaki Museum, etc …
Other visits is interesting to know any of the Orthodox Christian Churches to be found in your walks, for the startling differences and curiosities found that with the Catholic Christian religion, not only in the architecture of their temples, but in the customs and habits Orthodox Christians. Highlights the churches of Agia Caterini, Agia Triada, Agii Apostoli, Agii Teodori, Agios Elefteris, Agios Ioannis theologist, Kapnikarea and Metamorphosis.
In the afternoon, you can visit the neighborhood of Kolonaki, the neighborhood of trendy shops and business center of Athens. Its center on the Platia (square) Kolonakiu, is a good place for a coffee or a glass Fraper night in one of the curious cafes and pubs of this square, while we observe the movement of people who pass through this square. Is located near the funicular railway that leads to the summit of the Hill Likavitos. The best time to go is a couple of hours before sunset and enjoy the spectacle and sights of Athens falls while the sun and enlighten opposite the Acropolis. You can enter the small chapel that crown this hill.

TWO-DAY TRIP TO ATHENS (story of a trip)

Two days is not enough time to visit Athens, of course, but we already knew the. Rhodes returned and, as we had to call at the Eleftherios Venizelos airport, we decided to seize the opportunity and spend a couple of days enjoying the city. Thus, when in the afternoon of February 28, 2007 landed our Olympic Airlines flight, we headed to the airport station to take the subway that should lead us to Syntagma Square, which is the heart of Athens.

The subway makes this journey in less than 40 minutes, but we had to wait nearly so until the convoy was launched (it seems that, at least at this time of year, only one convoy leaves every half hour; the information had was different, so there is the fact that as skippers to notice).

The Acropolis, the view from room 519 of Hotel Electra PalaceUn little later than planned, but happy to be back in this charming city (there are those who say that Athens is a city ugly, I think we have seen an Athens other than that We have seen us), we arrive at Syntagma Square, bustling as ever. From there, walk a few minutes to our hotel, the Electra Palace, located in the lower district of Plaka. As we were going to be just two days, we had decided to throw the house through the window, and we had booked a room with a view to the Acropolis. The hotel is nice and comfortable, though not cheap. The surcharge for the view is worth the stay if it will be a day or two. For a longer stay, the views are suitable only for millionaires budgets.

Despite the delay, we had time to get out into the street before the dusk. We walked for up to the Plaka Mitropoleos plaza, which is the Orthodox Cathedral, called Megali Mitropolia, but also the small metropolis or Mikri Mitropolia, a tiny and lovely Byzantine church of the XII century. Then we continued until the church Kapnikarea, whose origins date back to the eleventh century, and it remains beautiful despite the pollution that has blackened and appears to request a cleaning screams. Our next goal was the Agora and, more specifically, the Tower of the Winds. The compound, naturally, was already closed, but we were able to watch and photograph our wide from behind the fence. Then we continue walking toward Monastiraki (the old Turkish quarter). Despite the fact that at that time was already cold, the streets and terraces of the bars were full of people. And no wonder, because it’s really a wonderful walk through these streets buzzing around the Agora, or sitting on a terrace watching the Teseion, with the nearby Acropolis rising almost 100 meters above our heads. We finished the tour, which had already become a walk at night, traveling the last leg of Ermou Street, which borders the ancient cemetery of Keramik. Afterwards, we returned to Plaka, and in its upper part (at the foot of the Acropolis), we dined at the Monastiraki fell tardeun nice and pleasant restaurant that had a large wood fire in the fireplace of the dining room, but not before having to get around to a few characters who are committed to us the wonders of their respective establishments (if typical specialties, that if live music …). Our restaurant is filled, and that we were mid-week. Most customers were Greeks.

The following day tours of new Plaka and climbed to the Acropolis. We were able to contemplate the Erecteion and the Parthenon without strain: benefits of travel in low season. We also visited the Acropolis Museum, where they can be protected by a glass, four of the six original caryatids Erecteion (which is in the temple are copies).

After traveling the ancient Agora until Teseion or temple of Theseus, the best preserved of Athens and one of the best preserved Greek temples in the world. It is a Doric temple of the V century BC, built on a hill overlooking the agora. Was transformed into a Christian church in the Byzantine era. Perhaps this is due to their conservation.

Exit the Agora and continue until Keramik. Paseamos between the tombs of the ancient cemetery, adorned with statues and stelae, until it came time to close (two in the afternoon) and we missed a lot without contemplations.

After eating something at the Monastiraki Square, we visited the Roman Agora, and we could get closer to the Tower of the Winds Aérides or touching up by hand. It is an octagonal building of the first century BC that served as support for a clock that shows the hydraulics and, in each of its eight sides, a winged figure. These characters symbolize the eight winds in Athens, hence the name of the tower.

Later, after having rested at the hotel, we began our journey through the modern city. Down to Syntagma Square, which is the former royal palace, then turned in Parliament. Also there is the famous Hotel Grande Bretagne, where we stayed in our previous visit to Athens (who has not ever desired to stay in a hotel that is part of the history of a country?). Then walk on the Avenue of the University (Panepistimio) which highlighted the great nineteenth-century neoclassical buildings: the Academy, the University and the National Library. These buildings are impressive (especially with night lighting). We arrived at Omonia Square, and from there back in the direction of our hotel.

The next day should be to our departure. We devoted the morning to go Plaka, Monastiraki and Ermou street to say goodbye to the city and, incidentally, do some shopping. We finished the morning eating something on a terrace of the square Mitropoleos, seated in front of the Megali Mitropolia and Mikri Mitropolia, and we ran to the hotel to collect luggage and call a taxi to go to the airport (in the hotel had assured us that despite to the problems of traffic, was the fastest that the taxi meter).

In any Travel has to be some problem (in what would become, if not, the adventure travel?) And, until then, we had not had any. So the gods moved threads for Iberia, after a couple of hours to have us at the gate without giving us an explanation (which he did lose the nerves more than one of the frustrated passengers), finally cancel our flight. The next morning, having slept a few hours at the Sofitel is in the same airport, we were able to board finally headed to Spain.

Andorra la Vella

Andorra la Vella is the capital of the principality of Andorra and the people most important of the Andorran valleys.

Form the fifth parish of Andorra and is located under the mountain of Enclar. At the heart of a beautiful valley and ubérrimo and off the city stands the Pico de Can Ramonet. The word Vella had formerly the meaning of the term came from the city and Vela. Andorra la Vella is, therefore, the city and Andorra Andorra is not old as has been wrongly claiming. The word Vella applied to the capital of the principality’s task is to differentiate it from the rest of the country.

The urban structure of Andorra la Vella retains many medieval traits that contrast with the modernity of its various business establishments.

The Andorran capital is the highest town in Europe is located at 1029 m altitude and strategic situation since the currency was occupied by the suggestive landscape of the vast plain watered by the waters of the Valira, close to the point where they join the flows of the three most important rivers in Andorra.

The personality of urban and human Andorra la Vella has been sediments over several centuries of independence and evolution, coupled with the cosmopolitanism that characterized the life of the capital, have emerged with unique features the face of the Andorran capital.

The Avenue of Meritxell is the main artery of Andorra la Vella and is characterized by its great commercial vitality. Along the same appear without solution of continuity, the most disparate businesses, with the windows rebosando articles from various countries from machines or shoot up to snuff Philippine cigar and cigarette lighters from the most prestigious brands in the world, passing through optical and electronic devices, radios, televisions, liquor, wine …, luxury boutiques that are described in the latest fashion clothing, restaurants, cafes and hotels.

The Avenue of Meritxell is an incitement for tourists, before whose eyes appear all that can stimulate your taste and push the purchase. The animation of this artery Andorran no lapses at any time of day. Its sidewalks are always full of people watching the shop windows or walking delayed. The haste is something that has no place in the Avenue of Meritxell.

In the neighborhood of Pui found most of the major agencies and institutions of the principality.

A very suggestive is the lovely Piazza del Bisbe Benlloch. But the truth is that the whole capital city seduced by his attractive, with its awe-inspiring corners, streets and squares typical of impregnated and the possibility to see the city from any angle impressive majesty of the mountains with snow almost always Decking the summits, the heavenly green valley that sits on the Andorra la Vella or the rumor and relentless passage of the waters of the river …

All of the capital is really a unique monument. However, there are some concrete monuments that deserve a mention for its spatial and artistic and historical importance for the projection that they have on the lives of citizens. These include the so-called Casa de la Vall, located at the end of a street that starts in the Plaza del Bisbe Benlloch. It is an old house Pairal (Solariega), which was privately owned until 1580, and since then step to belong to the Council of the Valleys. The building has the look of ancient fortress. Has been restored, but retains its medieval architectural profile. Inside the Casa de la Vall stressed the Chamber’s General Council, the mini-museum and the cuisine. Another interesting monuments is Chapel Ermengol Sant, who communicates with the hall councils. It also offers interesting and the church of Sant Esteve.
To see in Andorra la Vella?
Exhibition Hall of the Government of Andorra

Exhibition Hall of the Government of Andorra in this space dedicated to exhibitions of art have exposed international artists representing different movements, as Adami, Alechinsky, Brossa, Picasso, Chagall, Dietmar, Di Rosa, Gordillo, Gorky, Oppenheim, Tabuchi, Tàpies , Vasarely, Vieira da Silva, among others. In the exhibition hall guided tours are conducted with the purpose to inform the general public in a manner understandable forms and aspects of art. Treating the work of different artists on an individual allows in-depth knowledge of the author, in the creative process and the artistic movements more representative of our time.
Casa de la Vall

In the year 1419 is ratified interparroquial an organization that is the embryo of the Earth Council, then called the General Council of the Valleys Andorran. La Casa de la Vall is the headquarters of this body which is the Parliament. This is a symbolic building for its historical significance.

The house was built in 1580, according to the date specified in the keystone of the entrance door. Busquets belonged to the family and was purchased in the year 1702, the General Council. The building is quadrangular plan and interior spaces are divided into three corridor, following the typology of the noble Catalan farmhouses. Social instability of the end of the sixteenth century and the constraints of social distinction explain the existence of the various elements of defense (tronera, tower and Matacanes).

In 1962, the house was submitting to a thorough restoration during which he withdrew the exterior plastering and adds a new tronera, symmetric to the original. In the main facade, above the entrance to the building, the coat stays current Andorra, placed in 1763. On one side is the old coat, after the fourteenth century

In the gardens is the pigeon tower, a baptismal font from the church of Sant Julià de Lòria and a cross End of La Massana. You can also see various sculptures and souvenir of the Josep Viladomat, dedicated to the New Reform 1866, the Italian sculptor Luigi Terruggi, which commemorates the 7th anniversary of the signing of the first Pariatge, and most recently, of Emili Armengol, as a witness for the proclamation of the Constitution in 1993.
Sant Esteve

It is a building that houses a part of what was the Roman temple. The rest of the work is the result of modifications and expansions, the most important of which were made in the twentieth century. In 1940, the modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch did the project to remodel the bell tower and the current side entrance. On the inside front we find a beam of a canopy suspended from the twelfth century and two altarpieces, one dedicated to St. Lucia from the seventeenth century, and the other to San Juan Bautista, the eighteenth century.
Robot Suspended - Paul van Hoeydonk

Robot Suspended - Paul van Hoeydonk The Belgian Paul van Hoeydonk got one of his works-fallen-astronaut to travel in the Apollo 15 and was deposited on the surface of the moon. Closer, Andorra, in a fully urban environment, a stone’s throw from the seat of government, inside the building Casadet Prada, the artist offers us an impressive robot made from pieces of bronze, such as machinery scrapped, hung on our heads insignificant.

Amsterdam Travel Guide

The magical city of Amsterdam combines its extensive canals and numerous bridges with the original architecture of the XVI and XVII concentrated in a small area. The works of famous artists like Rembrandt and Van Gogh can be seen in the museums of Amsterdam and walking the city Amsterdam offers us the living history of one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Europe.

Amsterdam is a city open and tolerant, combines a strong culture with people of simple habits. This City preserves and offers its history, has a standing offer of varied entertainment and makes its easier visiting with an efficient urban transport system. Here everything is close and it is common to see the princesses local travel by bicycle. Enjoy your visit into a long walk navigating the canals and discover magical secrets of the city that made water a precious resource.

Amsterdam in figures:
Population: 735,000 inhabitants.
Local Time: CET (GMT +1 hour)
Code telephone: +20. Geographical position: 52 ? 22 ‘N, 4 ? 54′ E Language: Dutch.
Country: The Netherlands (Holland)

Discover Amsterdam:

You must include in their tasting tours of some of the local delicacies: the apple pie, fried potatoes, pancakes giants in various flavors, marinated herring and not forgetting the wide range of beers and Geneva that are served in bars original the years 1600.

Museums are an important visit in Amsterdam, you can start with knowledge of the treasures of the Rijksmuseum, make an appointment with the brilliant Vincent Van Gogh at the Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and then with works by Cezanne, Monet, Picasso, Chagall and other no less important. Museums in Amsterdam are more than fifty million and is calculated by the tourists who visit each year.

Citizens of Amsterdam are often provided what is necessary in many markets, which in some days of the week, are installed on their streets. They are colorful, original, there are good prices and great variety of items, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, flowers, antiques, new clothes and second-hand, tables, books. They are a party where no shortage of musicians and artists. Visit them with his camera in hand.

And if it’s night, leaving to tour Amsterdam and will find very good bars and restaurants and listen to good music or dancing. There’s something for all tastes, karaoke, salsa, tango, disco. Meet people fun and go back to the hotel in time for breakfast.
Coffeeshops
Coffeeshop Amsterdam

Anyone over 18 can buy up to 5 grams of marijuana or hashish on the premises known as “Coffee shops” which are under the legal control and tax the Dutch government. The drug called “hard” are banned and heavily penalize those who traffic. Pictures of coffee shops.

Hotels in Amsterdam
Hotels in Amsterdam

Our reservation service for hotels in Amsterdam is a selection that includes 310 comforts that you can select and book online. The service has no extra costs or fees, the reservation system 24 / 7. Bookings directly shelters.

Flights to Amsterdam.

What to see in Amsterdam
27 October, 2008

Let’s suppose that you plan to travel to Amsterdam in this city and spend two or three days, which is planning a typical weekend trip.
With so few days’ visit is very complicated hit with the recommendations and not because as you can imagine in Amsterdam there is much to do but especially because what you want to see in Amsterdam may have nothing in common with the preferences of others.

Many who travel to Amsterdam to do some recreational purposes related to the consumption of substances that can not find in your country or at least not with the variety and quality as can be found in Amsterdam. Quite possibly this group of people you do not stop too interested in museums or find shops devoted to selling flowers that have given so much fame to Holland. This group certainly will be interested to buy and consume another type of grass.

Another significant group is being formed by hikers who find sex in the red light district carrying out many of his fantasies. This neighborhood also offers an interesting architecture while many of its visitors seem to only have eyes for the ladies shop windows with attentive to the passage of any tourist.

There are those who visit Amsterdam in search of its museums, which has a large number of art and collections of great value and interest. Often frequent visits to the Van Gogh Museum which usually attract even those who are not great lovers of painting, is perhaps because of the fame achieved by this painter, which contributed to its radical nature and his mentally deranged final loss of ear including . Those who delve a bit more on the art of painting also often visit the museum dedicated to Rembrandt, and for the most enthusiastic art there is always a moment (although that time is a morning or an afternoon full) to visit the Rijksmuseum, a haven for those who consider art as their salvation.

But, aside from all these fanatics of the grass, sex and art, what they see normal people in Amsterdam?. That’s a good question and the best answer is that ordinary people are dedicated to seeing a bit of sex, art and grass, that is a little bit of everything.
Therefore if you raise a visit of two or three days to Amsterdam and is a “normal” I can advise is that:

- Take a walk through the Red Light District and discover all its exoticism. There is no need to seek the services of those kind ladies who look in the windows, and which is not advisable to photograph, the neighborhood also will offer other attractions.

- A visit to the neighborhood of Amsterdam Zuid (North Amsterdam) could also be a good plan to spend a morning or an afternoon. You’ll have to cross the IJ ferry and once in this district will discover a city quite different from the one left behind across the IJ. The views are quite good.

- It is fudamental traveled throughout the area of the Jordaan and the belt of western channels. Perhaps this is one of the most visited areas by tourists who have called “normal”. In this area you will find wide range of Amsterdam from the headquarters of Greenpeace passing by the house of Anne Frank’s house or at Theatermuseum Descartes.

- Last but not least, and is appealing a visit to the neighborhood of museums next to Vondelpark. In the same park can visit the Filmmuseum, and the surroundings you will find the Stedelijk Museum, the Van Gogh museum, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam tram museum, and so on.
Trips & Tours
The cinema in Amsterdam - Hall Kriterion
1 October, 2008

In Amsterdam you can find other theaters than those that are common in Spain, which currently are almost always located in shopping malls. It is not that Amtesdarm have a different mentality in relation to the act of going to the movies and sit in front of a screen, because the situation is so little game that a part of the movie, the seats and the screen may vary slightly more that scene rather be differences in the architecture and construction of streets and buildings that at least throughout the area of the channels prevented from appearing on stage these big malls, like so many hotels have installed in several adjacent houses, something that would be unthinkable in Spain.

In Amsterdam it is clear that no space left over and everything has to be harnessed. So it is with the Kriterion room where you can see all the new movies.
This room was an old hall diamond Carved which has now been transformed into a movie theater and cafe.
Throughout the day there are projections of several films that are repeated throughout the week or month, depending on the box-office success they have. On the web Kriterion of this room you can see your billboard.
Where is the room Kriterion?
In the area known as Plantage, not far from the center of Amsterdam, in its eastern part. More accurately, the room is in Roeterstraat, 170.
Not far from there lies the Artis Zoo and the Hortus Botanicus.
If you have repaired the small detail of the language and wondered if seeing a movie in Dutch may be something nice, do not worry, this country respected the talks original and only added subtitles.
Leisure and entertainment
Centraal Station, train and metro station of Amsterdam
7 July, 2008

As a general rule most of the tourists who come to Amsterdam pass, sooner or later, by Centraal Station. If, for example, has just arrived at Schiphol airport as it is normal to take a train up this season but has more means of transport to get from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.
Centraal Station in Amsterdam
In any case to find the station in the center of Amsterdam, namely in the area that every tourist visits, for example if you decide to use the metro station of Amsterdam destination is always going to be on his return Centraal Station since due to the many channels of subway lines in this city are quite limited though it may be very useful if for example you want to move to the outskirts of Amsterdam.
Cetraal Station is also the main terminal for buses and trams, that is, that will have no choice but to visit this season.

When you arrive at any of the train stations of Holland will have the opportunity to buy tickets at vending machines or on a desk to the public. These machines are not complicated to understand but, just in case, there is nothing better than to try to meet with the stark reality and without much time to lose. So here’s an online demo of these machines where you can buy your tickets: ticket vending machines.

For more information on pricing, trains and tours can visit the website of the NS. Additional information about the services of the stations travel: shops, restaurants, slogans of luggage, parking bicycles, and so on.
Travel and Transport
Newspapers in Amsterdam
1 July, 2008

The problem that we face with the press which is published in Amsterdam is the language. Of course it is not very useful any crash course in Dutch, so unless the information that we can be clear with the photographs accompanying the texts we will get little more clear.
But if we consulted the press via the Internet have online translators we can be of enormous help. For example, the translator of Google will allow to translate pages from automatic way to Dutch to Spanish.

If you wondered what now may want to read the news referring to Amsterdam could reply by telling him that his trip can be seriously affected by a multitude of events that you need not know but if you could do if there were plans to read the press, for example in transport strikes, you want to visit museums closed for repairs, a persistent bad weather that has no immediate prospect of switch, however … It is true that usually does not have to have any really serious problem that affects their journey, agree, but watching the latest news published, in which employ no more than five minutes, will serve to confirm that there is actually nothing that might hinder his trip to Amsterdam.
As if that was of interest here is a list of newspapers that are published in Amsterdam or have this city as the main reference:
- De Volkskrant, with numerous news. It allows you to see its print edition via the Internet, but you can not read it unless they subscribe to the newspaper. It is a progressive newspaper.
- De Telegraaf, is one of the major newspapers that publish large numbers of online news daily. Conservative guidance. It also has print edition for viewing on the Internet (so you can read it only subscribers).
- Metro, you can view your pages in pdf format. Amsterdam has its own local version of this publication.
- Shark, is not a journal but a publication geared to reporting on events of interest and provide useful information for tourists.
- Trouw, with news of Amsterdam and Holland.
- Parool, the majority of pages devoted to news from Amsterdam. Smoothly online.
- Schuttevaer, is a newspaper devoted exclusively to navigation in inland areas, as in Amsterdam, and in coastal areas.
Advice
The red light district of Amsterdam
June 26, 2008

This quarter is another of the attractions of Amsterdam that attracts tourists but their journey has not been initiated for the sole or primary purpose of visit.
There are few areas where prostitution is exercised, in any city in the world, who have completed becoming a tourist center. The most common of these sites is that of uncertainty and the characters somewhat recommended that the frequent end up turning them into little places and recommended that almost always seek to avoid.
Red light district of Amsterdam
The same is not true with the red light district of Amsterdam, probably because it is a neighborhood full of history that has always been attached to the sex trade and we must also recognize that local governments have managed to maintain an acceptable balance between what is permitted and what should be prohibited. Although lately has begun a sort of crusade, which affects both the sex and drugs, which aims to reduce the number of premises where prostitution is exercised at the same time it is putting a stop to the sale of certain products related to psychedelia .
However, the red light district is much more than all of this and that is why it is so common to see almost any time of day to groups of tourists who roam its streets.

This neighborhood is located in the heart of Amsterdam, if you want to visit just have to walk from the Plaza Damm Damstraat walking the streets to get to the red light district.
As drugs and sex have been frequently linked, perhaps because both issues have had to endure numerous prohibitions, the first thing that will be welcome to give it the red light district is the Hash Marihuana Hemp Museum, which will surely be dear to those thinking of visiting Amsterdam stop by any of its coffee shops. In this museum you can get information about marijuana, hashish and cannabis.

You will not have to walk far to get to Amsterdam Tattoo Museum which is located in the street name impronunciable Oudezijds Achterburgwal, at number 130. In this museum you’ll find plenty of images of tattoos and an interesting journey through history.
Deepening something more in the red light district arrived at the Casa Rosso theater that presents live performances by sex. Is on the same street from the museum dedicated to tattoos and marijuana, in the numbers 106-108. The entrance to the shows is not expensive, at about 25 euros, however, we must take it very clear what is going to be at its very domestically by this is not the most appropriate place for a family visit.
We continue walking through the red light district and then to leave behind the Erotic Museum, at number 54 in the same street name impronunciable, we can see on the left bank of the many churches in this area. This is far from Oude Kerk that draws attention with its impressive bell tower topped by a crown imperial. It is worth going into this church to see its magnificent choir stalls and organ.
At the same shore where the Oude Kerk church can visit the museum Amstelkring. What looks like a house over the area actually saved in its interior a clandestine Catholic church. The museum is interesting because when entering the house we moved to past centuries and were surprised with this church built in the attic that despite being in a very small space is impressive.
If after all this he opened the appetite so you can do is cross from shore to go to Chinatown. There are numerous restaurants that offer low-priced menus.
Curiosities of Amsterdam
The attractions of Amsterdam for tourists
June 23, 2008

Are many and varied reasons that can move a person to travel to Amsterdam. There are those who are lovers of history they want to know more about this city and the characters who have gone through it from William of Orange to Anne Frank, some to be art lovers do not want to spend more time without visiting the museums where conserban jewels of the painting masters such as Rembrandt or Van Gogh, there are those who feel attracted by a city full of canals, and even those who travel to Amsterdam because it is one of the world capitals of the sale of diamonds, we must also recognize that the red light district attracts a good number of tourists seeking sex.
Coffee Shops in Amsterdam
But there are many other tourists who do not place any of the above as a fundamental reason for his trip. Amsterdam is well known to all of the above but among younger people is renowned for its coffee shops and the liberal environment in relation to certain drugs that are unknown in the rest of Europe.

The coffee shops, who has no references to them, it would be good to clarify that cafeterias are not where they can buy coffee beans but if you can have a coffee or even a full breakfast or you can also take other beverages, however it which identifies these businesses is the sale of marijuana and hashish.
Greenhouse
It is one of the most striking coffee shops for their decoration and best assortment of marijuana and hashish. It is also engaged in the production of seeds that have a global reputation for its high quality.
Paradox
A part of what we all seek in this venue may find great fruit shakes and coffee. By also highlight its vegetarian food. The kitchen is open from 10 am to 3 pm.
The other side
The sign that this difference is that local customers have preferably as a gay audience.
Homegrow Fantasy
You will find exhibitions of paintings by art closely related to psychedelia. Moreover, if desired may sell seeds.
Curiosities of Amsterdam
Hotels in Amsterdam, tips and recommendations
June 19, 2008

If we compare hotels in Amsterdam with those of any other Spanish city can find that the differences are remarkable.
Firstly the prices are often significantly higher in Amsterdam. If in many Spanish cities is possible to find room in a hotel two or three stars for 50 or 60 euros, in Amsterdam the figures were left behind years ago.
Hotels in the city of Amsterdam
That may be the first surprise they are in a matter of accommodation but it will not be the only one.
A recommendation that we can give you is that despite the price does not try to look too cheap accommodations because then the surprises might be even less pleasant.
In Spain we are accustomed to the number of star hotels guide us on the quality of these establishments, however, in Amsterdam the number of stars seems to be more related to the services with quality. This means that it is possible to find two-star hotels with better apareciencia that four-star hotels.
So a council that will be really useful is to connect to the web sites of each hotel to see photos of the rooms. Also look for information on dates of reforms.

The hotel’s location is another very important factor when it comes to deciding on one. Nobody would argue that the hotels are located in the extraradio may be cheaper but lost time on public transport and besides these are not free. It is therefore preferable to opt for a downtown hotel, or no longer willing to pay too much to stay in one of the small nearby cities, this option is ideal for those who pose excursions in and around Amsterdam.

Finally it would also be advisable to forget the type of hotel you can find in Spanish cities because they usually do not find in Amsterdam. In this city the problem of space is very strong and that many hotels have been formed from the union of houses. The rooms with dimensions liliputianas are nothing abnormal.

Some hotels cheaper allow customers to smoke marijuana. If you are staying in one of them knows what will be the predominant flavor in the hotel.

Finally he mentioned that more affordable housing, as prices of around 20 or 30 euros, can also be found in Amsterdam but will be treated in 100% of shelters in which we must share a room with 15 or 20 unknown. This surely is very exciting for someone 20 years but can be very annoying for someone 40.
Accommodation in Amsterdam
Eating cheese in Holland (excursions from Amsterdam)
June 11, 2008

Holland is one of the countries where most cheese is consumed. This fondness for the Dutch to flourish has contributed to a thriving industry producing high quality cheese.
Two of these cheeses are typical Dutch Edam and Gouda.

Edam cheese is not possible for him by that name sounds but certain to be seen in more than one occasion these cheeses that are like balls of red. The cheese is compact yellow paste that is far enough from our cheeses like manchego, but you can get used to it quickly because it is not too strong a cheese.
For fans of the big cheese is a good idea to visit the small town of Edam which is within walking distance of Amsterdam. The market for cheese is celebrated in this city during the months of July and August, each Wednesday.
Gouda cheese that originated in the city of the same name and is produced by heating the pasteurized milk cow. These cheeses are also yellowish paste, but unlike the Edam cheese has many more eyes, the result of the warming of its mass in the process of elaboration. In the market you can find cheeses of different sizes, from mini to gouda cheese giants of 30 pounds. If you decide to visit the city of Gouda you will want to stop by the market’s cheese which is held on Thursdays during July and August.
Trips & Tours
Markets in the streets of Amsterdam
6 June, 2008

When you travel to Amsterdam with little money is not very pleasant to get out of the routes of the museums or the most typical and that the budget does not provide for too many joys. In addition Amsterdam is a city not particularly cheap, especially if we think that compared to any inhabitant of the city we have to pay air travel and room at the hotel.
Markets in Amsterdam
But when the economy allows it to buy sport and we find pleasurable, we can visit some of the most interesting markets in Amsterdam where we can find from the exotic plants that never saw even the best cheeses in the country.
The flower market is usually the taste of all but the plants are not his biggest fans. Although you can visit all year during the spring months are the best because there are many plants that are in bloom.
The biggest market of all is Albert Cuypmarkt, Saphatipark close to the park, where you can find such shops Edam or Gouda cheese at a good price. The variety is great and the enormous temptation when you visit this place with the intention of buying anything prior. It is advisable to take a first stroll around the market and in the end decide what to buy.
Noordermarkt and Westerstraat two markets are located in close proximity Jordaan. In these markets you can find used clothing at very low prices. Only stay open one day a week, on Monday.
The market becomes Noordermarkt Saturday in the Boerenmarkt where you can buy organic foods or organic, meaning that if you want to know the taste of apples or lettuce without hundreds of fertilizer and plant protection products can be a walk in fasting by the market.
From Monday to Saturday you can visit the Waterloo market that is near the Muziektheater and the Hortus Botanicus. It is a market where you can find everything from used clothes, music cds and vinyl, crafts typical of Holland, used books, and so on.
Shops in Amsterdam
Ban the sale of hallucinogenic mushrooms
May 12, 2008

The consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms or fungi has been almost a tradition not only for many Dutch people but also for visitors from cities like Amsterdam. Its sale has been working in shops known as smartshops in which it is also common to find many other related products psychedelia and specifically with the plants that have enteógenas or substances that produce significant changes in mood or directly induce alucionaciones.

But at root of a number of unfortunate events that were related to the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms is the Dutch government decided to ban the sale of mushrooms, both fresh and dried.
Actually these mushrooms that contain substances such as psilocybin is not that we have begun to be more dangerous or harmful, none of this, because it can be more dangerous to our health abusing certain drugs that are sold in pharmacies who ingest these mushrooms. Nor is that the increase in incidents has been alarming. Maybe the explanation is a change of course in the Dutch mentality, or more specifically, those who govern at present.
What is sought is that tourists who come to Amsterdam, and in general to the Netherlands, both on weekends and on holidays throughout the year, not too fit with the profile of consumidir of cannabis (on sale in coffee shops ) Who also want to try hallucinogenic mushrooms. In fact this change of attitude to the drug sector has also led to the sexual plot. In Amsterdam has proposed reducing the dismensiones known as the red light district.
It is to imagine that before these cuts “playful” will be taken to invest in other attractions for tourists.
Curiosities of Amsterdam
Traveling from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam
15 February, 2008

With so many people traveling the world would not be uncommon to start running guides on how to get out of places for travelers, but not on destinations, for example, how to get out of some airports or train stations.
Cheap flights to Amsterdam
Recently, hundreds of thousands of Chinese were serious problems in returning to their homes after a period of vacation is that in China and will be as rare holiday when they were taken to organize a total chaos in the means of transport.
In Holland everything is better organized and they are accustomed to receiving millions of tourists and Schiphol Airport is one of the main entrance doors, especially for those traveling to Amsterdam.
Schiphol Airport is really too big and no choice but think that has to be that way because they get a huge amount of pasarejos. Because of their size a lot of people ends up lost or at least takes longer than expected and wanted to leave the airport. This is also not a problem in itself because it can exploit to contemplate the architecture of the place, though I imagine that this is not your desire.
Some poorly designed assume that if it is complicated to leave the airport Schiphol is the interest that the airport shops do business, and often business with those prices!. Imagine that your plane arrives at 3 pm and takes you half an hour trying to figure out how to get to Amsterdam. Do not be taken with some fresh coffee? Will refuse to pay three or four times more than it would be reasonable as it begins to fade by tiredness?.
As our interest is to get out of the airport (and not at any price) we will see what options we have:
- An option convenient, fast and cheap (what more can you ask for!) Is to travel to Amsterdam Central Station by train. The indications at the airport are clear and that depending on where you are trying to seek one of the entrances to the lower area of the airport to catch the train. Every fifteen minutes can take a train so if you sum up this time waiting with what it takes to reach the Central Station the total does not add more than 35 minutes, in addition to the price of your airline ticket to Amsterdam did not join more than 4 euros with your train ticket.
- The taxi is another option. Without doubt the most comfortable but also the most expensive. Note that the option is to travel by taxi or private travel share, in the latter charge less but will have to share a taxi with other travelers. Prices for travel can be shared around 30 euros and in the private travel can be double that amount.
- The bus is another of the potential it has. Many hotels available to its customers bus (this would have to ask when you reserve) but also has buses of the KLM line that anyone can take them even if you have not traveled in this carrier.
Travel and Transport
Bagels & Beans in Amsterdam
25 January, 2008
In Amsterdam you can find many of these establishments are a variation of the typical cafeteria and the possibility of incorporating a light meal. That at least is the purpose of bagels that are a kind of threads that are bread Stuffed with different ingredients. For if you are interested in the bagels are usually a few loaves something bigger than the classic donuts, but without being sweet, which is cooked in water before putting it in the oven.
Eat in Amsterdam
At Bagels & Beans can eat those borer stuffed tomato, lettuce, corn, peppers, onions, cucumbers, chicken and various sauces. You can say it is a new variant of modern condensed food and overflowing, something like hamburgers or Döner Kebab, although in its variant of thread.
In favor of Bagels & Beans can also quote prices affordable, especially if we bear in mind that we can be filled with a bagel and coffee. The atmosphere also tends to be pleasant.
Some of their premises are located at: Ferdinand Bolstraat 70, Keizersgracht 504, Haarlemmerdijk 122 Kinkerstraat 110, Raadhuisstraat 18, and so on.
If you want to confirm everything that I say about these establishments would recommend that you visit a photoblog that very often features photographs of some of the Bagels & Beans Amsterdam, its owner Hans Arend de Wit is dedicated daily to walk the streets of Amsterdam photographs without much modesty to anyone who crosses him. His photoblog is extraordinary both for their steadfastness as for their quality. (Hello Hans, I see your blog every day. Extraordinary!)
Restaurants and Bars
Thermos saunas for gay
14 January, 2008

Saunas for gays
Amsterdam has been for many years an ideal place to claim sexual throughout Europe. The neighborhood now seems to be red in decline, as it will remove many of its premises, was an exponent of sexual and although this market can not be said that the successful tour of Amsterdam has been in this kind of complaints if it is Admittedly, the attraction that woke this city in many of its visitors was related to the forbidden: the sex trade and coffee shops where marijuana and other substances were permitted. Also in the coffee shops has reached its time as a root of some unfortunate incidents have been banned by tourists such as the sale of psychedelic mushrooms.
Thermos saunas have an offer aimed at gay and also do so with a clear sexual content as they have porno films or private cabins. More focused on the service itself offers a sauna jacuzzi, sauna, hot dry or wet. They have massage service.
The two saunas Thermos are:
Thermos Daysauna located in Raamstraat, 33.
Thermos Night Sauna located in Kerkstraat, 58-60.
Leisure and entertainment
Security on trips to Amsterdam
June 24, 2007

Security in Amsterdam
If you have thought about traveling to Amsterdam very likely’re wondering if this city is safe, especially if you live in one of those Spanish cities that have sadly come to neighborhoods “banned”, those places where you know that you can but do not know how he may leave.
In Amsterdam fortunately crime can be considered to be minimal. This does not mean that you can travel in their completely unconcerned, it would be a mistake, but can travel with more peace of mind.
The important thing however is to keep in mind that if the small thefts are common. For these small thefts not have to be a professional thief, but from a kid from a good family but boring and not very focused until someone who is going through a bad time economically can spoil your vacation robándole camera or your luggage to complete.
For security issues one might say that the best thing is common sense. In Amsterdam, as in any Spanish city, is not advisable to go by showing the portfolio full of euros by the middle of the street or make the case that first comes into the streets to sell from an camera to a bicycle (almost certainly stolen). With the pickpockets whether it should exercise caution in crowded places where they usually act. Do not use so the trip in his classic book pocket, there are better solutions to the interior portfolios as clothes, money camouflaged inside a compartment in a belt, etc., which will be very useful. Carries in his pocket just a few euros.
Referring to the security not only have to be careful with those who might want to steal, it may be even more important what is known as road safety.
When visiting a new city, in some strange way, we can encontrarno with situations that might endanger our security personnel simply because of the lack of custom. For example, bicycles in the bike lanes can be a real danger. In Amsterdam there are bicycle lanes throughout the city and if you are not accustomed to their city (as is likely) it is possible that more than one occasion comes to mind without looking cross before going to happen if one of the huge number of bicycles city.
Incidentally, if you rent a bike is not ever forget to put the lock every time you leave it anywhere.
Triple A last tip: always carry a card on top of the hotel where he was staying in Amsterdam, in this hotel seeks to leave the objects of more value within a safe and if you had the bad luck that you have stolen report it to a Commissioner But police do not have much hope in recovering stolen it. Why it is important to be cautious and not so ludicrous to risk all the money that is carried on the trip or the objects of most value.
You do not ruin your vacation, have fun but be prudent and sensible.
Advice
Hotels in Amsterdam
June 20, 2007

Hotels in Amsterdam
Unless you have family in Amsterdam, or even keeping it, will need to find a hotel where to stay. Of course there are cheaper options but this time only mention the hotels and that we will have time and the opportunity to also mention the hostels and campsites.
Probably when you travel to Amsterdam will not be difficult to find room in a hotel, however, should take into account that:
- The hotels in Amsterdam tend to be considerably more expensive than those in nearby towns. It is important to bear in mind that it is not always possible to find a hotel according to the characteristics and a price they want, and it does not always possible to find in downtown Amsterdam that is often the desire of the vast majority of tourists. Therefore before opting for a hotel on the outskirts of Amsterdam could consider staying in some nearby towns. Almost certainly will have access to a train or bus, and in 15 or 30 minutes you can reach the center of Amsterdam. And get the hotel you want, in terms of quality, and at a lower price. For example might consult accommodation in Haarlem, Amstelveen, Diemen, Weesp, Zaandam, or Zaanstad Badhoevedorp.
- Many hotels in Amsterdam do not have the amenities you might consider normal response to their category. This is because these hotels have been installed in historic buildings that logically could not be reformed. So before you rent a room in the sixth floor of a hotel, ask if you have an elevator. Remember also the hotels with pool, gardens, … this is not possible in Amsterdam by simple questions of space.
-The prices you can expect it may be relatively expensive compared to some cities in Spain. The areas where you can find cheaper accommodations are in the vicinity of the central station (Centraal Station) and from there to get to Dam Square. Cheap hotels can have a price per double room from 50 to 70 euros. The hotels with an average price you can find around the 80 to 90 euros a double room. The luxury hotels can be found starting at 100 or 120 euros.
- If you travel without having to Asmterdam reserved room was not despair too soon if you spend hours and not find hotel (Amsterdam has about 400 hotels). Go to the nearest tourist information office, already on the train station or airport, and remain there with him may recommend several hotels. Anyway it is advisable that before starting the journey already has his room booked.
Accommodation in Amsterdam
Coffee shops in Amsterdam
June 20, 2007

Marijuana and hashish in Amsterdam coffee shops
Holland is the European country where liberties are players to the point of being part of the character of this town. What would be unthinkable in any city in our country, as the windows of the red light district where prostitutes attract customers, in Amsterdam is accepted leading to one of the most picturesque neighborhoods. The same goes for drugs. In Spain, although from a little over a decade starting to appear in special shops dedicated to marijuana, the situation is much more restrictive in Holland because in our country these shops can not sell hashish while in the coffee shops of Amsterdam is sold and consumed an enormous variety of hashish. In the famous Spanish shops of marijuana seeds came almost at 100% of the cases of Dutch producers such as Dutch Passion, Green House, Sensi Seeds, and so on.
While in Amsterdam can access this type of product, in the event that interest you, this does not mean you can behave without the slightest respect for people that while they accept that freedom can consume hashish do not have to accept also you smoke in any coffee shop or on the street. The sites dedicated to this type of product psychedelics are very well defined and you should not eat them out of what most likely will cause him problems with the Dutch police. Watch when walking along the streets of Amsterdam that there are some signs that warn him that he is not allowed to smoke marijuana or hashish in the street, the fine would be $ 50.
Therefore if your hobby is centered on cannabis, or marijuana, you can feel free to smoke in the coffeshops and demanding the varieties you want as if it were a restaurant.
It is also often sold in special establishments known as smartshops, other herbs, or preparations of several plants, such as salvia divinorum, the Kratom, ayahuasca, as the San Pedro cactus, and even fungi such as Psilocybe cubensis, amanita muscaria , And so on.
Curiosities of Amsterdam
National Museum or Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
June 18, 2007

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
This museum is located, as is supposed evident in the neighborhood known as the museums, on the street Jan Luijkenstraat 1 (it is rare that had been in the red light district or Chinatown). Near the Rijksmuseum has the Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum.
Although usually receives many visitors will not find the same problems as in the museum dedicated to the works of Van Gogh. Anyway if you want to avoid queuing up to buy tickets you can do is buy into any of the websites they sell. One of the most interesting in terms of the offer of Amsterdam is http://www.amsterdamsuitburo.nl/ (you’ll see a search box with the word Trefwoord, type Rijksmuseum to locate it).
The museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm, except on Fridays to extend opening hours until 10 pm.
In the Rijksmuseum, especially if you are a fan art in general, should consider a visit of several hours for two or three days. I know that this is not always possible because the same thing you are going to be in Amsterdam only that number of days. But if you are lucky enough to move into the city a week or two my advice is that you spend three days, but did not complete a morning or an afternoon at a time. This not only lets you do more with the great tranquility museum’s collection but also in the second and third visit may return to see again the works that you would have liked more. This is the best way to enjoy them because if you go one day in a marathon visit in the evening will not know if it has been in the museum watching one of the most famous paintings or everything has been the product of his imagination. It is necessary to look back and see another day. Clearly, if their love for art does not reach much time with the one-day visit may be enough.
Currently the museum is being reformed and part of his collection of funds from the museum can not be seen, so perhaps it is best that you decide after the first visit if you want to return.
In the Rijksmuseum will find great works of art with Dutch paintings as well known (by some) as Rembrandt’s Night watch (consider the visit to the Museum het Rembrandthuis) and other great works of painters such as Vermeer, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Fra Angelico, … even has any work by Goya and several more non-Dutch painters.
But in the Rijksmuseum will not only paintings, the museum’s collection is much broader and incorporates vintage costumes, doll houses, sculptures, a very large collection of Asian art, jewelry, etc..
Museums in Amsterdam
Tips for traveling to Amsterdam: the time
June 17, 2007

The weather in Amsterdam
Often the case when traveling to another country that we are left with the question of what to bring clothes. Will cold, heat, rain?.
In Amsterdam, although it is a city that is the same latitude as other Central European, fortunately you can enjoy a microclimate that reduces the Atlantic are suffering from cold in those other cities.
Clearly, if we compare the average temperatures of Amsterdam with which we have in many Spanish towns the time we seem rather cold. More specifically, in the summer can exceed 20 º C but it would be unusual for the thermometer to reach 30 degrees C. In winter, although the temperature can fall below 0 º C is also not the norm, the average could be put on the 10 º C. For example just this past winter It snowed a few days so we do not expect to see snowfall like the one shown in the photograph.
In the months of spring and autumn temperature does not usually exceed 15 º C.
Therefore unless you are moving into the winter months to Amsterdam is not going to need real clothes Siberian coat, with a Chaquetón, shirt and a good bit more will suffice. Although, if you are a trifle / a abríguese then fine. It is always advisable, that if, even in summer take a long-sleeved shirt because the lower the temperature at dusk is not likely that you please bring short sleeves.
Is essential to bear in mind that in Amsterdam it rains quite frequently so the umbrellas will never be wrong. If you find annoying Take an umbrella or a raincoat impermeable to water, I assure you that you would appreciate.
Consider also that half of rain is not very pleasant to walk in sandals or other footwear that style.
Although it would not be uncommon for many days can be found in a sky filled with clouds is advisable to carry some sunscreen, keep in mind that the lives of tourists is related in 80% of their time with the street. Someday hat or cap also may help.
Advice
Mager Brug bridge over the River Amstel
June 12, 2007

Mager Brug bridge in Amsterdam
I do not know whether their planned trip to Amsterdam will see the same sites day and night, you may not, you might think that it is best to collect a long list of sites visited, but does it have any meaning? Do you serve something these competitions?.
Remember those people we will talk to you and enjoy your journey only for yourself.
If your walks take you to Amsterdam by Kerkstraat will meet with one of the many bridges that the city has, however it has, within its simplicity a festive air, especially when illuminated at night. Include seeing this bridge, and the whole area of the River Amstel, which the city is another completely different when night falls. The bridge is not the original but a new one that was built after the Second World War and that is that with the hardships of those years there was enough wood in the city and had no choice but to the inhabitants of Amsterdam to use as firewood. The new bridge is still rising by hand.
The journey that I recommend is very short, just a stroll down the street until you reach the bridge Kerkstraat Mager Brug, and then walking down the other side can see if any of the concerts scheduled in the Theater Carré’s interest. Do not confuse this theater with a famous Belgian club also called Carré.
Kerkstraat be found in many art shops and boutiques. If shopping in between Amsterdam is the art or fashion in its various expressions, then they must stop viewing this street.
Some displays of art galleries is in the Galerie in the Kerkstraat, SLEW gallery, or the fashionable shops as Inkasmode.
In Amsterdam there is a permissive environment not only normal but for integration and in relation to matters that in other cities or countries were directly rejected or handled as taboo. For example in this commercial street so you can find such a gay hotel, ie a hotel where visitors are supposed to’m gay and therefore its offer is customized for this population.
Shops in Amsterdam
Buying diamonds in Amsterdam
June 9, 2007

Diamonds in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city where you can find many shops where, if you like and have enough money, you can buy a diamond. I never occurred to me to do something similar but I guess it must have people visiting the city want to take one of these expensive souvenirs. It is also possible that can make the trip solely to buy diamonds and is that not all visitors to Amsterdam looking for new psychedelic and seed Marie Varieties dreamed of, there must be people for everything and everything in this fall for diamonds.
As far as I know the history of Amsterdam with diamonds dates back to the sixteenth century and from there, mainly driven by Jews, began a flourishing (almost like tulips) jewelery trade.
In the early twentieth century went through one of its worst crisis the diamond trade while in the middle of this century was recovered in part.
In Amsterdam there are very good carvers and therefore find really beautiful pieces. If only out of curiosity can visit any of these carvers.
For example you can go up and Paulus Potterstraat in the number 2 to find one of the most famous carvers Coster Diamonds.
Another visit that may interest you is to Gassan Diamonds House, and not just for diamonds but because it will invite to a glass of champagne at the end of the trip between their diamonds, rings, earrings, … I do not know what you look like you but to me I seem very small and very expensive.
A final recommendation is a visit to Amsterdam Diamond Center which is located in the center of Amsterdam, Rokin 1-5 in the street. Near Dam Square and the Royal Palace. If you visit this trade will realize that no matter how small they are the diamonds were not lost either one.

Parc Zoologique de Paris is an exciting place to visit whether you’re a small child or a fully grown adult! The French capital has two zoos, yet Zoo Bois de Vincennes is the official “Zoo de Paris”. Situated in the eastern part of Paris, the zoo can be found within a large, pleasant wooded area where you will find a castle and the botanical garden “Parque Floral” which also has a pretty lake, perfect for renting small boats.

So, leave your central Paris apartments or Paris accommodation and make your way to this lovely place. The zoo is special as it houses more than 200 species of animals. Monkeys leap around the trees, and the Giant Panda is the star of the show. As well as this, over-seven-year-olds can ascend the 65m Grand Rocher – either by lift or by walking up the 352 steps. Furthermore, there are notices at the entrance to the zoo stating feeding times and information about new born animals that you should go and see. One of the rarest residents of the zoo, the Madagascan “Aye-aye” is situated just after the giraffes. Rare due to native superstition, the characteristic long, spindly fingers of the Aye-aye are said to frighten villagers, who view the Aye-aye as a harbinger of evil. Others believe that should one point its long middle finger at you, you would be condemned to death. Some say the appearance of an Aye-aye in a village predicts the death of a villager, and the only way to prevent this is to kill the Aye-aye.

You can get to this exciting zoo by taking the metro to Porte Doree, walking to bois de Vincennes (5mins) then through the park alongside the huge boating lake to the entrance. The zoo is situated at 53 av de St-Maurice, 12th and is open in Summer from 9am-6pm Mon-Sat, 9am-6.30pm Sun and bank hols. During Winter the zoo is open 9am-5pm Mon-Sat and 9am-5.30pm Sun and bank hols.

Known for its “chicness” since forever, Paris bars certainly maintain an air of chicness in its clubs. In the 1960’s Paris was the place to be when it came to nightlife and it provided a fantastic night club scene for the party goers of Paris. Le Bus Palladium in Pigalle is one of these classic, everlasting clubs that has reinvented itself and still caters for the party goers of today.

Now known as “Le Bus”, the club was reinvented in September 2006 and can be found at 6 Rue Pierre Fontaine, 75009 in the centre of this fantastic city. If you are looking for a great night out with your friends, this is certainly a place to visit. The relaunch saw the appearance of old celebrities who used to frequent the place, amongst them, the Beatles.

Another must visit in the French capital is the wonderful party boat “Batofar”. This red beauty is moored opposite 11 quai Fran?ois-Mauriac, 13th and plays mainly hip hop music. Inside you will find a splendid array of international DJs, rappers and alternative music lovers, making this destination a really good night out. What is more, go there after a lovely rest in your apartments in Paris or hotels Paris in Summer, and you’ll find that the terrace is open from 7pm in the summer.

Furthermore, would you believe it, Paris has got a club called… “Lizard Lounge” – the meaning of which is rather negative; “A habitu? of cocktail lounges” but this doesn’t mean the club isn’t good, in fact, just as in the Lizard Lounge in most of the cities of England, this club is literally bouncing with the number of people who go there on a Friday night. After setting off from your central accommodation in Paris, you will find the club at 18 rue du Bourg-Tibourg, 4th, the club opens from 4pm-2am daily. This club is spread over three levels and full to the brim of trendy people and trendy djs. Local disc jockeys play here where they can be found in the basement or DJ bar mixxin’ it up.

The most talked about club in Paris at the moment – it has appeared in numerous magazines, programmes and papers; “Paris Paris” is where the party’s at in 2008 and for the foreseeable future… This really hip club is situated at 5 avenue de l’Op?ra, 1st and open from 11pm-5am Tue-Sat. Unbelievably admission is free but they make up for this by charging roughly €10. Although getting in is easier said than done, once in, you’re immediately part of the electricity of the crowd, who dance to the hip hop and rock crews battling it out with iPods…

Parents who have to travel with kids often look for affordable deals and vacation packages that allow them to save money. There are deals like Kids Stay Free or Kids Fly Free that may prove to be very beneficial for your family vacations. A kids stay free package includes only lodging charges. You may want to check out some other special bargains offered by hotels and airlines to find the one that suits your requirements.

Some of the vacation locations where kids are given free accommodation include Crown Paradise in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Sunset Beach Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Paradise Island Resort in Nassau, Bahamas and many others.

Several travel packages also include kids’ flying and eating charges. Whether you are planning a trip to Europe for two weeks or arranging a weekend getaway to Philadelphia, you will be able to locate excellent family travel packages. Hotel Novotel in Europe is famous for their family deals and weekend travel plans. They also offer free stay for children under 16 years of age. In a few clicks you can not only find the best deal on your family vacations but can also reserve hotel rooms and purchase tickets online.

Airlines, such as Delta, also offer kids stay free packages to many destinations across the globe. These travel packages are mostly offered for popular vacation destinations like Costa Rica, Florida, Panama, Hawaii, Las Vegas, etc.

In addition to kids stay free, you can also find kids stay, play and eat free deals. Some plans offer free packages for kids up to 16 years of age, while others have their own rules and may offer free deals for only children under 10 or 12 years of age. You will have to check the features of a deal before buying it.

If your planning a cruise ship vacation, you may want to check out the Carnival Cruise and other similar cruise lines for bargains on Hawaiian vacations and cruises in Mexico, Caribbean and Alaska. Making your reservations online will allow you to save a great deal of money on your travel plans.

Traveling with kids is no longer considered tiring and wasteful. There are many vacation packages now available through airline and hotel websites which allow parents to find affordable free deals for kids. Whether you are planning a short trip or an entire summer holiday to spend in some beautiful location, there is a family travel package waiting for you.

Paris, known as the city of love, the city of fashion, the city of culture. Paris is and always has been, the city of art too… and it truly lives up to it’s name. Apart from the galleries that we all know and love; Mus?e du Louvre, Mus?e d’Orsay and Mus?e Picasso, for example, Paris is rich in modern art as well, and it is for this reason that it is imperative to look at some of Paris’ modern art when you arrive in Paris for your weekend break, or how ever long your break might be. After getting your accommodation in Paris sorted out, be sure to get your creative cap on and head on down to MAC/VAL.

The perfect place to start on your art quest is at MAC/VAL. This contemporary art museum opened days after the end of the banlieue riots in November 2005, and this museum is a proud display of cultural vitality outside the city centre. You will find many Parisians frequenting this art gallery, admiring its forward thinking and inventive ideas, an achievement in itself as it is difficult to get the Parisian art clique out of the city centre and into the suburbs, where this art museum is located, in the south-eastern suburb of Vitry-sur-Seine.

The MAC/VAL had the ultimate opening night and the launch was an ultra stylish TV advertising campaign that showed serious looking gallery-goers getting splattered with paint and concluded with the slogan Venez prendre l’art (Get a breath of fresh art). The main ideas of the gallery’s organizers is to put an alternative slant on art, to produce new and exciting installations and to make art accessible and appealing to the general public. In order to do this, the gallery chose to make the entrance fee low (€4) which seeks to encourage people who might not usually enter a gallery, to do so.

Some of the examples of recent work in the gallery include installations from the likes of Gilles Barbier, J?sus-Rafael Soto and Christian Boltanski, and the work generally ranges from the 1950’s up to the present day. The most famous of the 110 works in the gallery include Jean Dubuffet’s Chaufferie avec chemin?e (boiler with Chimney). MAC/VAL also organizes temporary exhibitions and has a 150 seat cinema, documentation centre, bookshop and public garden. It’s in-house bar/restaurant La Transversal also has an excellent reputation. So once you’ve got your Paris apartments or your Paris hotels sorted, you’re good to get arty!

No matter what part of the globe you’re from, you’re probably going to be taking a vacation soon. Can you recall how happy you were with how your last vacation pictures turned out?

The irony is that it usually takes just as much time to shoot outstanding vacation pictures as it does mediocre ones.

So, what is required for better vacation photos?

It’s pretty simple, really. Here’s how to take phenomenal vacation photographs in ten easy steps: Take a few seconds before immediately snapping off 5 pictures and ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I want to be in this photo? If so, use a tripod or ask a stranger to take the shot.
2. Would the photo be more effective if taken using a portrait (vertical) perspective rather than a typical landscape (horizontal) perspective?
3. Is there a better angle?
4. Could this photograph improve if a circular polarizing filter was used?
5. If I re-position myself, could I include something in the foreground (or background) that would improve the photo?
6. Would this photograph be much more spectacular if taken at another time of day or night (assuming of course, that you could return then)?
7. Am I about to be bitten by a wild animal? (It may not be photo-related, but if the camera is also eaten, then…)
8. Are all my settings correct (at a minimum, consider: ISO, metering mode, fill flash, and white balance).
9. Do I have the right image in my viewfinder? Think of the view as though you were about to crop the final image. Is there way too much extraneous material in the image (or far too little)? Having up to 20% more in an un-cropped photograph is a good idea, but much more than that could begin to degrade the resolution after the photo is cropped.
10. Would the photograph be better if I had people (or no people) in the shot?

Realize that you probably don’t go on that many vacations per year. Therefore, doesn’t it make a lot more sense to take a few extra seconds before taking your pictures and be happy of your vacation pictures? Otherwise, the same old mediocre alternatives are still available.

Enjoying a food tour through the US Southwest is not a trip for the faint of heart. The Southwest is filled with cuisine that is as simple to prepare as it is flavorful – as full of spicy ingredients as it is filled with the freshest vegetables. If you’re looking for a food tour in the US Southwest, don’t expect to stop in a big Mexican restaurant with thousands of fillings for chimichangas. In fact, don’t limit the Southwest and put it all under one blanket, because you are in for a gustatory surprise.

Southwestern cuisine can actually be broken up into hybrids of different cuisines. Border cuisine, sometimes playfully referred to as South of the Border, may be more similar to your local Mexican restaurant fare, with some burritos flavored mildly to suit a wider range of palates. We also have Tex-Mex cuisine, a blend of Texan and Mexican, heavy on the meats and spices. There is also the fresh, corn-rich American Indian cuisine, the richer and hotter Mexican offerings, and even nueva Latina, a new version of Southwestern pairings that is springing up in upscale places across the Southwestern states.

If you are traveling on a Southwestern Food trip, then you’ll surely pass by the Lone Star State, and get a whiff of huge Texan meats and steaks. You’ll go cross Kansas, where you may sink your teeth into rich corn breads and products. Nothing beats a Kansas vacation. You will traverse Southern California and the Baja, where the burritos are spicy and the tamales are even hotter. You will find yourself in New Mexico and Colorado, even parts of Oklahoma, and you’ll get yourself lots of American Indian cuisine that is as historic as the heritage but plenty flavorful, too!

It is no wonder, then, that the Southwest is traditionally described as the grandmother of all American cuisine, containing the roots of its indigenous cooking. Think about it: even before Jamestown and Plymouth Rock got their first taste of Europe, a whole lot was already cooking in these parts! A culinary tour through the Southwestern United States, therefore, is a trip through history, where you can actually taste the meals that have been around from times past, and are testaments to tales long gone but never forgotten.

So what should you discover? Look for blue, purple, or even red maize, all of which can be prepared into different tasty tacos, among other things. You will also discover a whole lot of spicy, so try for fire-roasted chilies, and other chili dishes that will make your mouth water constantly (and your eyes tear up, too!). You’ll get meat grilled with mesquite, searing the air with flavorful smells. Whether you’re washing it all down with a bottle of South of the Border Tecate, or a glass of European wine, you’ll surely find something to look forward to in the US Southwest.

If you are taking a trip to the US Southwest on a food tour, there are many things that you will need to remember. First, because many of the dishes are spicy, you may need to check if you have any palate or health concerns with spicy foods. For instance, if you have irritable bowel syndrome, then you may need to ease up on the peppers. You will also need to check with your tour planner if the tour covers all the lodging and transportation, while you have to pick up the check when you stop for meals. Don’t forget to read the fine print and discuss questions. Take the necessary precautions, and you can manager your Southwest US Culinary trip into a great getaway.

The AS Rome (Associazione Sportiva Roma) is the football club of the Italian capital Rome.
It was founded in 1927, when the president of the club Fortitudo at that time, Italo Foschi, decided to bring together the three clubs Alba Audace, Roman and Fortitudo, in order to get the championship title. By doing so, the AS Rome was founded. The team of the club is often called “the Giallorossi” (The Yellow-reds) due to the colours of the club and strip.

The club is playing in the A-league, which is the best league for Italian professional football. The only time that they’ve ever has to play in B-league was in 1951, but in 1952 they went straight back up to the A-league. In this league the club managed to win the championship 3 times (1942, 1983 and 2001) and have managed to be runner up at least ten times. Since 2006 they managed to win this position 3 times in a row.

An example of a famous player of the current team is the striker Francesco Totti, but there have also been some very well known people playing for the team in years gone by. One of them was the ancient director of the German national team, Rudi V?ller.

The AS Roma Ultras hass the biggest and oldest fan group of Italy. It has also a lot of tradition. They support the AS Rome as good as they can and they are well known among other football fans. The home matches of the club take place at the Olympistadium in Rome. This was re-opened in 1960 during the Olympic summer games. It has space for approximately 83.000 football fans. It is not however one of the biggest stadiums in the world ( the Gelora-Bung-Karno-Stadion in Jakarta is on ranked 10th place, having 88.306 seats). Nevertheless it is well worth a look.

If you are in Rome and you have the chance to watch a match of AS Rome in the Olympiastadium, you should definitely take the chance! In order to have a perfect stay you should have a look for accommodation (Unterkunft Rom) in advance. If a Hotel in Rom is too expensive you might want to look for an apartment (Ferienwohnung Rom). Here you’ll have a lot of space and you can save some money in comparison to a lot of the hotels in the city. Enjoy your stay and remember to support AS Rome. Have a great time in Rome, and make sure to make the most of your time there.