Amster-damned!

Lift-off

To help console an old friend through a tough time, I did what I do best, and booked us a spontaneous trip to Amsterdam (I can hardly call myself spontaneous much these days – as I try to keep as busy as possible to distract myself from a failing love life!) But – a 2 month wait, wasn’t long to look forward to….

A long weekend away was just what I needed too! It must be engagement season, friends and family making that once in a lifetime commitment. It was just drawing more attention to the fact that suffering the;  as Bridget Jones quoted “fears of dying alone and being found three weeks later half-eaten by an Alsatian” is NOT an option.

 We jetted off, leaving the luxury of  BA’s
Terminal 5 (unfortunately not first 
class),in the early hours of one Friday 
morning…. To the land of Tulips!

Scenery

Despite Amsterdam’s famous sites of the Red Light District, it does have to be one of the most beautiful and scenic cities I have been to. Don’t get me wrong, the ladies are very beautiful, possibly even the one whose style was inspired by Jodie Marsh – but not the scenery I was heading for. These girls can charge up to €80 a time, I also charge by the hourly rate (in the professional context), but I will be lucky to see even 10% of mine.... who's really getting screwed? 

I've sourced my own window, should I need it.... 

We took a boat trip to see the Seven Bridges of Reguliersgracht, which is one of the most photographed sights in Amsterdam . The Reguliersgracht is illuminated at night and really captures the beauty of this canal – unfortunately, I was not fortunate enough to witness this up close!
 But I did manage to capture my own little moment past the Reguliersgracht (once waking from a little nap due to being up for 24 hours!)

 

We managed to fit in a spot of shopping -for the H&M lovers, you are not lost for choice. We managed to map at least six H&M’s within a one mile radius.

Night-life

The nightlife is amazing, so many bars to choose from, even for those with the most tired eyes will be perked up by the atmosphere. We spent two evenings in Amsterdam, partying to the late hours of the early morning! Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, were great areas for us, perhaps a little commercialised, but the atmosphere and music was just what we wanted.

Club Rain on Rembrandtplein was a great classy atmosphere, fantastic music – I honestly could have stayed here all night. On request the DJ kindly gave us his contact details to send us his set list – I was in my drunken element! Drinks are surprisingly not too pricey either.

Escape, one of Amsterdam’s big clubs – was the place to go to continue your night until morning – great music, variety of VIP, lounge and bar areas to choose from. Platform podiums for the masses to do battle to mount for the privilege of now dancing like someone out of an Impulse advert. Thankfully, there were a few gentlemen around to aid our peril, and draw some space around us to dance.
 I managed to meet a southern English boy. Apparently, when I have had one too many, I lose all comprehension of judging a person’s age. I feel I must state that he was of a consensual age. However, despite him being a very lovely boy, the only thing I felt myself offering him at the end of the night, was whether I could take him home for milk and cookies?
 

Next time, I would love to meet someone with local knowledge to show me round the hidden gems of the city.

Amsterdam – it took me a week to recover from you….. but that may just be my age catching up with me…. Until next time.