DK Travel : Amsterdam

Amsterdam has an appeal that is absolutely unique. It’s a vibrant place, a treasure-trove of extraordinary artistic riches, and the living embodiment of 900 years of history, during which it rose to become the centre of a huge global empire. After a period of decline, it matured into today’s relaxed and tolerant modern metropolis. Elegant and serene, Amsterdam also has its seamy side, and this too is part of its character, as much as its famous network of canals. Whatever you are looking for, this small city packs a big punch.

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Puccini Bombini

Possibly the most delicious chocolates in the world. Flavours range from the finest interpretations of classics to the odd-sounding but out of this world Lemongrass. Your wallet will be lighter but your taste buds in heaven.
Puccini Bomboni

When I was in Belgium, a local told me the best chocolate he'd ever had was actually in Amsterdam, at Puccini. It took me ages to find the place - I didn't have my Amsterdam DK guide yet! - but when I did, it was well worth the search. The quality of the chocolate is outstanding, and the selection is incredibly varied. The shop was lovely and the service was very patient, considering how long I spent trying to decide on my selections. The Puccini truffles I tried were all fantastic, and the blocks of dark chocolate studded with dried cherries were perfect travel food, but the best thing I had there was a tamarind truffle - outstanding. This shop is well worth a visit.
SAS Radisson Krakow

A cut above the rest with superb customer service and a great location
Sauna Deco

A flashback to 20's Paris in the heart of Amsterdam.

The interior of Sauna Deco is made from the brass and stained glass art deco fittings of Paris's original 'Au Bon Marche' department store.

Like being transported back to the twenties (naked!), this is something truly unique.

Upon entering you are given a towel and a locker key, then left to roam. There are various steam and spa rooms as well as warm and cold plunge pools, foot baths and, my favourite, the outdoor sitting areas.

Take your time, lie on the loungers, doze, sit outside with your skin steaming. Read, enjoy some fruit salad and tea from the bar or maybe go for a relaxing treatment. This is not an experience to be rushed.

My top tip is to go there between 12noon and 3pm for the early discounted price of 16euros. Full day spa packages are also available.

Enjoy.
Siberië

Nice little coffee shop on Brouwersgracht, relaxed atmosphere good staff, nice treats. Also has local artist work hanging. Coming up on October 12th, "The Inauguration of Conscious States " The first exposition of artist A.Valentine. Talented artist, definitely worth a look! They also have a live STREAMING WEBCAM online, so you can even check out the place before you go! heres the cam-http://www.coffeeshopsiberie.nl/eng/siberiecam.html

check them out!
Sichuan Food

Excellent small restaurant on a street with lots of good restaurants - medium priced. The platter of starters is a good choice to split between two people.
StayOkay Amsterdam - Vondelpark

A cheap, kind of cheerful hostel right on the edge of Vondelpark near Leidsplein. Modern lounge and really great value bar/restaurant, with both small and large (up to 20 bed) dorms.
The Amsterdam Woods

The Amsterdam Woods, the largest of Amsterdam's many parks, covers 2,210 acres and is a few miles south of the city. One hundred thirty seven kilometers (85 mi) of footpaths and 51 km (32 mi) of bicycle paths traverse 50 bridges—many designed in the early-20th-century Amsterdam School style with characteristic redbrick and sculpted stone detailing. The area was planted and constructed from 1934 onward, as a make-work project for 20,000 unemployed people during the Depression. A remarkable feat of engineering, the park was dug out so that it lies about 4 meters (13 feet) below sea level. There are wide recreational fields, a boating lake, the Olympic Bosbaan rowing course plus stadium, and numerous playgrounds and water play areas for toddlers. A popular family attraction is an eco-aware goat farm with a playground and lunchroom, a sunny terrace, and lots of chickens hopping about between the goats. Your kids can feed other kids—the four-legged kind—goat's milk from a bottle, and cuddle bleating babies in the barn. The soft ice cream is made entirely of goat's milk (which does not contain lactose) and homemade goat cheese is on sale. It takes about thirty minutes by bike from the Vondelpark.

Coming out of the southern exit of Vondelpark, take a left onto the Amstelveenseweg and follow this busy road under the highway on the bicycle path until you reach the Van Nijenrodeweg. Turn right into the woods, following signs for the Bosbaan, over old train tracks, past the information posts to the beginning of the Bosbaan rowing course. Buses 170 and 172 are a rapid transfer from the Leidseplein to the Van Nijenrodeweg. You can rent bikes at the entrance of the Amsterdamse Bos from June through August 020/644-5473. Maps and signposting are plentiful throughout the park. For example, follow the signs to the Grote Vijver (Big Pond) to hire kayaks and pedal boats from April through September 020/645-7831. Navigate to the Bosmuseum (Koenenkade 56. 020/676-2152) to learn about natural history and the management of the woods, open daily 10-5. If you didn't pack your own lunch, the Boerderij Meerzicht (Koenenkade 56. 020/679-2744. www.boerderijmeerzicht.nl) is a traditional Dutch pancake house with a petting zoo and playground for the kids. For the goat farm, follow the blue signs past Boerderij Meerzicht to Geitenboerderij "De Ridammerhoeve" (Nieuwe Meerlaan 4. 020/645-5034. www.geitenboerderij.nl)
The Capsule Hotel

They bob up and down on a canal like something from a low-budget sci-fi film: two luminous-orange flying saucers set against a backdrop of stark Dutch architecture. The Capsule Hotel is made up of two “refunctioned” escape capsules from an off-shore oil rig.

The interiors have been changed as little as possible – original instructions, both in English and Dutch, for using signal flares and tying knots adorn the walls; designated holes provide a sure-hold for plastic beakers, while reinforced portholes would keep even the roughest seas at bay. Another larger hole, once a more basic version of the chemical toilet supplied today, has been “refunctioned” into a mini-library that contains a few city guides and maps. The simple seat, which runs around the inner wall of the capsule, can be lifted to reveal storage space. Once used for rescue blankets, it has been “refunctioned” into a wardrobe for guests.

An old fisherman’s net, found and “refunctioned” has been fitted with sheepskin rugs – et voilà – it’s now a bed. It’s surprisingly firm and more stable than a hammock and provides room for two (well-acquainted) individuals. And a karaoke machine provides the entertainment - happily, there aren’t any neighbours to complain about the noise.

To be truthful, the capsule isn’t very comfortable. It’s not polished, neither is it luxurious, nor very glamorous at all. But it is authentic, playful and utterly inspiring.
The flower market

You have to rise early and arrive by car ( 6am) to see this amazing site, things get going from 4 am when the traders participate in the famous dutch auction (ie backwards- high price to lowest), millions of flowers are shipped in from all over the world and sold by auction, staff travel around on electrified trolleys at amazing speed in all directions ( it looks like a scene from metropolis) and the sold flowers are sent in batches overhead to the lorries to be sent around europe. The colours and smell is lovely and the level of organisation stupifying!