Bloggers in Amsterdam

Interview with Trent from PinkisthenewBlog.com

Was this your first time in Amsterdam?
1.  Yes this was my first trip to Amsterdam.

What did you think about The Netherlands before you got over there?
2. I'm not sure what my perceptions of the Netherlands were before my trip. I guess I always considered Amsterdam a wild and crazy town.

Did your perceptions change once you were there?
3. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Amsterdam is a surprisingly quiet and normal city. Even walking in the Red Light District seemed nice and normal.

What are the first things you did when you got there?
4. The first thing I did upon arrival was head into town to find a power plug adapter. I brought along 3 adapters and none of them were 3-prong and I needed one of these to power my computer. Everyone I encountered on my quest was very helpful.

Did you use a bike to get around? (If so, how was it?)
5. I did not get the chance to bike around and I still regret not doing so.

How did you like the hotel?
6. I stayed at the Lloyd Hotel and loved it! Each room was unique from the others. It is a very cool hotel. Rachel (from Scenestars) managed to score the coolest room ... her bed fit about 12 people comfortably.

Did you get to hang out with any other bloggers? What did you do?
7. I did get to hang out with a few other bloggers but spent most of my time with Rachel (from Scenestars) and David (from Jossip).  It was on this trip that David and I first met and subsequently came to grow quite fond of one another.

8. We did the usual touristy stuff but I think my favorite things were the Van Gough Museum and the candle light canal ride.

Did you have any great food?
9. All the food was great, my one regret was that I never got to eat at Febo.

How was the weather?
10. The weather was okay, it did get a bit chilly and it rained a few times but we were having such a great time it never detracted from our fun.

Did your readers know that you were going to A'dam? Did they give you
any good recommendations about things to do?
11. I did mention on my blog that I was going on the trip and I got tons of great recommendations. I was lucky enough to meet a few PITNB readers while in Amsterdam.  If I were to give out recommendations I would merely say to take your time and you'll find your own way.

How were the Dutch?
12. The Dutch were very welcoming, I was never mistreated in any way for being an American. Everyone was always so friendly.

How was the experience?
13. The whole experience was so much fun. Since this was my first trip to Europe I was hoping for a fun experience and this trip did not disappoint. Amsterdam is a great city and I can't wait to go back.

Interview with Finslippy

• How easy was it to find your hotel?

Although Melissa, my Dad and I were in a jetlagged haze, we managed to find the hotel without a problem.

• What's the first thing you did when you got to Amsterdam?

After we dropped off our things at the hotel, we went out for a walk, narrowly avoiding certain death from all the bicyclists whizzing past. Then we went to the Cafe Americain for coffee and bitterballen.

• Did you get to rent a bike and see the city that way?

I didn't do this, no. I'm not a, well, courageous person by nature and bicycling around the city seemed to require an amount of nerve that I just don't have. I live in NYC and I didn't think much could frighten me, before I encountered the crazy bicyclists of Amsterdam.

• If so, how was it?
• How'd you like the hotel?

The hotel was amazing. In fact, it was way too nice--I didn't want to leave, ever. I could have spent the entire trip in the bathtub.

• Did the weather affect your trip in any way.

It was, I have to say, much colder than I had anticipated. And the cold was exacerbated by the dampness and the wind whipping off the canals. I was less amenable to the idea of going for long walks than I normally am. I also whined a lot. I was a joy to be around.

• What did you think about Amsterdam before the trip?

I had a vague impression of it being a tulip-y land.

• Did your feelings about A'dam change because of the trip?

It was more beautiful than I had expected, and the food was better. I had Indonesian food that I will never, ever forget.

• How were the Dutch?

Mostly quite friendly, although restaurant service was surprisingly standoffish. If you started a conversation, though, things quickly warmed up.

• Did anyone give you a hard time about being American?

Not that I know of!

• How did your readers react when they learned about your trip?

There was a lot less grumbling than I had expected--mostly there were pleasant expressions of envy. I didn't receive even a single piece of hate mail.

• Did you have any great meals?

The Indonesian food was great. I had some poffertjes that I can still remember, but the sugar shock afterward was a bit hard to take. And the coffee! I don't think it's possible to get a bad cup of coffee in Amsterdam.

• Are there any tweaks that you'd recommend to the Dutch Tourism Board if they did something like this again?

Do it in the spring. And organize it so that groups of bloggers are going at the same time.

• Do you have any recommendations about things that first timers should definitely do?

I would hit all the major museums, and try to get to know some Amsterdammers. The few I met made me wish I had tried harder to meet more.

• Anything else you want to add...

I think that just about covers it. Thanks, Justin!

Interview with Amanda from Pandagon

1.  was it easy to find your hotel?

It was pretty simple, though we did take a cab from the airport.

2. did you get a chance to rent a bike and see the city that way?

Yes.

3. if so, what was your experience riding a MacBike?

Loved it, found it to be a great way to get around.

4. how was your internet connection?

Worked well for me the entire time.

5. was your hotel room up to your standards of 5-star?

Yes, it was quite comfortable.

6. did the weather affect your trip in any way (good/bad)

We were lucky and it only rained one day while we were there.  That
made it pretty easy to get around without problems.

7. did your feelings about amsterdam change positively because of this trip?

Well, I'd heard great things about it, and what I heard was confirmed.

8.  were the dutch friendly to you?

Very.

9. did anyone give you a hard time for being American?

A couple of people did, especially when they found out I was from
Texas.  But it wasn't anything rude, just teasing.

10. how did your readers react to your posts from Amsterdam?

They enjoyed them, especially since my traveling companions were other
bloggers they knew.

11. did you have any delicious meals?

I liked the cheese the best.

12. lots of people say the Dutch beer is sub-par, did you find it that way?

No, it reminded me of the German microbrews in my area of Texas.

13.  were there any little details that you would recommend to the
Dutch Tourism Board for the next group that comes out here?

The weather was nice while we were there, but I think that was a
stroke of luck.  Next group you might want to schedule more into the
spring time.

Interview with Brian Flemming

> Alright, here goes:
> Was this your first trip to Amsterdam?

Yes.

> What did you think about Holland before getting there?

I think I perceived it in the same way I do other European countries I have visited, but even more liberal and tolerant.

> Did your perceptions change once you were there?

It was colder than I expected.

> What are the first things you did when you got there?

Got a space heater for my hotel room. Then walked around just checking out the city.

> Did you use a bike to get around? (If so, how was it?)

No. It was too cold for this native Californian to comfortably do that. I used public transportation and found it very good (esp. compared to Los Angeles, where I live).

> How did you like the hotel?

Very nice. Good breakfast.

> Did you get to hang out with any other bloggers? What did you do?

Yes. Walked around, visited the museums, toured the Anne Frank House, went to cafes and restaurants.

> Did you have any great food?

Yes. Most of it was quite good. I never got around to eating a herring sandwich, which I regret.

> How was the weather?

I don't know if I mentioned this, but it was damn cold.

> Did your readers know that you were going to A'dam? Did they give you any good recommendations about things to do?

Most suggestions were drug-related.

> Do you have any recommendations for people going over?

Yes--don't go in winter if you're a wimp like me. But I would recommend going. It's a great city.

> How were the Dutch?

Very friendly. And they all spoke English. And as advertised, the Dutch I met were easygoing, tolerant people.

> Did anyone give you a hard time about being American?

Not to my face. Much different experience than London, where the disdain for Americans is pretty open.

> How was the experience?

It was great.

Interview with Steph & Alek from Oh la la Paris

:: How easy was to find the hotel?
Krasnopolski is in the very heart of the city and 10 min walk from the central station. We must say that we were pleasantly surprised how convenient the transportation system is.

:: What is the first thing you did when you got to Amsterdam?
We went for a walk on the canals.

:: Did you get to rent a bike and the city that way ?
We did not rent bikes but did get the chance to risk our life on it ( http://www.ohlalaparis.com/ohlalaparis/2006/02/amsterdam.html )... It takes some time to get used to it, but we suggest not to share the bike (always get your own), as being 2 on the same one is a challenge...

:: Did the weather effect your trip in any way?
It was really cold, but that's not a big deal when you are dressed well

:: What did you think about the Amsterdam before the trip?
We did not have a positive image even though all people we know kept telling us that it is a great place.

:: Did your feelings about A'dam change because of the trip?
Oh YES. We have discovered one of the most exciting cities on earth. There is so much to see, experience, and live, that one week was too short... We will definitely go back really soon.

:: How were the Duch?
Sexy, and amazingly friendly  The service is great too.

:: How did you readers react when they learned about your trip?
We have received hundreds of e-mails with suggestions whet to see and do. We have made our plan for the week from all those e-mails... Now we are getting e-mails with questions where to go...lol but we keep posting info on the site about the trip...

:: Did you have any great meals?
There are all kinds of food and restaurants, but we did particularly like the Envie (see the link http://www.manchic.com/manchic/2006/02/envy_one_of_the.html ). Great design, innovative food, nice crowed, ...

:: Do you have any recommendations about things that first timers should definitely do?
We will keep our Amsterdam Page on the site updated with all the tips and recommendations.
Link: http://www.ohlalaparis.com/ohlalaparis/ohlala_amsterdam/

Interview with Ezra Klein

Ezra
5.03
Hey

Justin
5.05
Hi Ezra, how's it going?

Ezra
5.05
good, how're you?
5.05
how'd you know it me?

Justin
5.05
hehe
5.05
i'm great! thank you.

Ezra
5.05
glad to hear it

Justin
5.06
so... would you like me to jump right into it?

Ezra
5.07
let's do it

Justin
5.07
let's see... what's the first thing you did when you got to amsterdam?

Ezra
5.08
slept
5.08
soundly
5.09
after that, though, I just wandered.  It was windy day, with intermittent rain, and I just strolled through the streets, ostensibly trying to locate breakfast, but really just enjoying the architecture and winding alleyways

Justin
5.09
so you got to the hotel in alright? comfy sleep?
5.10
oh yes, dutch weather!
5.10
did the weather effect your trip?

Ezra
5.11
I was worried it would, I even went out and got a raincoat before arriving.  But Amsterdam politiely rejected its own weather forecast and, save for the first and last days, offered fine climate.  And that's coming from a Californian.
5.11
got there fine, gorgeous hotel, great sleep.

Justin
5.12
oh nice, it actually snowed one day when i was there.
5.12
that definitely threw me for a loop.

Ezra
5.12
the hotel was nearly my favorite part, actually

Justin
5.12
what hotel was it?

Ezra
5.12
they had a bottom cafe that looked out the World War II memorial square.  Sitting there with a coffee service and a book was incredible.
5.12
Grand Krasnapolsky

Justin
5.13
oh yeah, that's a great location too.
5.14
what did you end up doing -- museums, wandering around...?
5.14
when you weren't having coffee, of course

Ezra
5.15
a lot of wandering around.  Met up with some ex-pats, went for some long bike rides
5.15
didn't do much in the way of museums, but the Van Gogh center is as impressive and comprehensive as everyone said.
5.15
but then, i'm not a sightseer particularly
5.15
I like to wander, to relax in comfortable environs, to sit on a bench, or beach, and read.

Justin
5.15
did you get one of the macbikes?

Ezra
5.17
I did -- worked great.  Clever, duel-part locking system, too.

Justin
5.18
i think that's one of my favorite parts of amsterdam, everyone biking everywhere.

Ezra
5.18
definitely.  Just watch out for the tram grroves.

Justin
5.19
was this your first time in amsterdam?

Ezra
5.20
yeah, first time in Europe at all

Justin
5.20
oh wow
5.20
did it measure up to your expectations?

Ezra
5.22
I'm not certain what my expectations were.  It was certainly grey and blustery and cobble-stoned and compact and charming.  It felt, to me, like a European city should, which means it neatly fit into whatever cultural expectations I had of the places.

Justin
5.24
how were the dutch?
5.25
did you get to meet any, or did you end up talking mostly with expats?

Ezra
5.25
no, we got to meet a variety of dutch, and they were quite nice.
5.26
can't say we hung out that much though.  They seemed like folks anywhere, and they spoke good English, further keeping me from categorizing them differently.

Justin
5.26
very true, they all seem to speak perfect english.
5.28
any recommendations or suggestions to people going over to a'dam for their first time?

Ezra
5.29
yeah -- buy a lot of cheese.  It's remarkably cheap and exactly as delicious as you've been led to believe.  That I didn't bring more back is my great regret from the trip.

Justin
5.31
haha, great!
5.31
(what's your favorite kind?)

Ezra
5.32
a truly impossible question that I wouldn't even attempt to answer.  I'm too much of a novice to have a favorite.

Justin
5.32
heh, alright.
5.32
thanks for your time ezra!

Ezra
5.33
no prob, thank you Justin

Interview with Majikthise

• How easy was it to find your hotel?
Very easy. Sebastian gave me very clear directions. I walked from the airport to the Krasnapolsky.  It took about 10-15 minutes.

• What's the first thing you did when you got to Amsterdam?
I met up with Ezra Klein. We went for coffee in the Krasnapolsky cafe. We were very impressed by the elaborate coffee service with the little sweets and the beautiful china. Outstanding coffee, too.

• Did you get to rent a bike and see the city that way?
I did. I was a little skeptical about bike riding at first. I have to confess that I'd never ridden a bike in street traffic before. However, I rapidly got the hang of it.

• If so, how was it?
It was great. I would recommend the bike option to anyone visiting Amsterdam.

• How'd you like the hotel?
The hotel was beautiful. My view of Dam Square was absolutely stunning.

• Did the weather affect your trip in any way.
Some days it was a little cold and damp. I would advise future visitors to bring scarves, gloves, and hats for a winter visit. But the weather didn't prevent us from getting out and seeing the city.

• What did you think about Amsterdam before the trip?
I had always wanted to go to Amsterdam, partly because of its reputation as a very tolerant and liberal city, and partly because I knew a lot of people who'd really enjoyed their visits.

• Did your feelings about A'dam change because of the trip?
I'm even more enthusiastic about Amsterdam now that I've seen it for myself. I didn't realize what a hip, vibrant contemporary art scene Amsterdam has.

• How were the Dutch?
Very friendly, very straightforward. Cosmopolitan. Fun.

• Did anyone give you a hard time about being American?
We had some good debates about American politics with our Dutch polyblogger friends, but no one gave me a hard time.

• How did your readers react when they learned about your trip?
Everyone was very enthusiastic and supportive. Several readers gave me tips about the city. I was surprised how many Dutch readers I have, including several bloggers who I met during my trip.

• Did you have any great meals?
The food was uniformly good. Probably the best meal I had was when we went to the open-air market and got cheeses, fresh fruits, and breads. A bunch of our new Dutch friends joined us in Ezra's hotel room. We watched the Olympic figuring skating and at cheese and laughed a lot at the ugly costumes. It was a great evening.

• Are there any tweaks that you'd recommend to the Dutch Tourism Board if they did something like this again?
It would be great if they got local Dutch bloggers involved. We arranged a get together with local progressive bloggers at the Treehouse bookstore. Actually Sandra of http://progressivegoldbeta.blogspot.com/ and Martin of http://www.cloggie.org/wissewords/index.php did all the work. We just showed up and had a great time talking about progressive blogging, the American Democratic party, and other interesting stuff.

• Do you have any recommendations about things that first timers should definitely do?
The ARTIS zoo, the Resistance Museum

Interview - Danielle Friedland - celebritybabyblog

tony: Hey Danielle, first things first, was it easy to find your hotel?

Danielle Friedland: It was easy finding our hotel because we took a
taxi.  The location of our hotel was great because it was centrally
located and near a lot of trams.

tony: One of the best things that I found was riding a bike around,
did you get a chance to rent a bike and see the city that way?

Danielle Friedland: We didn't rent a bike because we had our 4 month
old daughter with us and she was too young to ride with us.

tony: As a blogger im curious, how was your Internet connection?

Danielle Friedland: Our internet connection was very fast.

tony:  Back to the hotel, was your room up to your standards of 5-star?

Danielle Friedland: The hotel was nice but I wouldn't say it was 5
star.  It was more on par
with a Hilton or a Sheraton in the US.

tony: When I got there it was pretty cold. Did the weather affect your
trip in any way?

Danielle Friedland: The weather wasn't as bad as we thought it would
be.  It only rained once. The rest of the time it was grey but not
that cold.

tony: Did your feelings about Amsterdam change positively because of this trip?

Danielle Friedland: We always wanted to visit Amsterdam but we might
not have made a trip there for a while unless we included it in a
visit to other nearby countries.

tony: How about the locals? Were the Dutch friendly to you?

Danielle Friedland: People were very friendly to us.

tony: I had gotten some warnings to pretend I was Canadian, which i
promptly rejected, did anyone give you a hard time for being American?

Danielle Friedland: No way.

tony: how did your readers react to your posts from Amsterdam?

Danielle Friedland: I only mentioned it once but people were positive
and said they had fond
memories of Amsterdam.

tony: Because of your husband i bet you had some sweet meals.

Danielle Friedland: Yes but my husband can go into that more (Food
Section Josh Friedland)

tony: Do you drink beer? People say the Dutch beer is sub-par, did you
find it that way?

Danielle Friedland: We went to a beer bar and had a "flight" of Dutch
beers and liked them a lot.

tony: were there any little details that you would recommend to the Dutch
Tourism Board for the next group that comes out here?

Danielle Friedland: Provide a longer iAmsterdam card.

thanks so much Danielle!!

Interview with Adam from sliceny.com

Adam
AIM
12.11
Justin: Are you there?

Justin (Autoreply)
AIM
12.11
there's a limit to every limit.

Adam
AIM
12.11
It's Adam from Slice
12.11
sorry I've been incommunicado about the IMterview
12.11
I'll block out some time at work tomorrow to chat with you

Justin
AIM
12.26
hi adam
12.26
that's alright, i was just trying to wrap them up these past few days
12.26
i'm beat though -- i've been up since six this morning
12.27
if you im me tomorrow we should be able to breeze through it
12.27
if that sounds good

Adam
AIM
12.28
Yeah. That sounds great
12.29
I'll be doing it from work, probably around noon or so
12.29
or whatever works for you

Justin
AIM
12.29
awesome!
12.29
i should be there

Adam
AIM
12.29
good deal

Justin
AIM
12.29
or here
12.29
or wherever i am
12.29
great! talk to you tomorrow then

Adam
AIM
12.34
justin

Justin
AIM
12.34
hi adam!
12.34
how's it going?

Adam
AIM
12.34
pretty good
12.34
how 'bout you?

Justin
AIM
12.35
great thanks
12.35
so, ready to get started?

Adam
AIM
12.36
yeah

Justin
AIM
12.37
so was this your first time in amsterdam?

Adam
AIM
12.38
This was my first time in Amsterdam. In fact, I'd never been to Europe before this trip

Justin
AIM
12.38
oh wow

Adam
AIM
12.38
yeah

Justin
AIM
12.38
how did it measure up?
12.38
what you were thinking before and then once you actually got there.

Adam
AIM
12.39
It was perfect for someone like me, who had never been to Europe. Before the trip, I was afraid I'd get lost, get befuddled by the language barrier, or get guff from the locals for being an American

Justin
AIM
12.40
so you didn't get too lost then??

Adam
AIM
12.40
On the contrary, EVERYONE spoke English, it was easy to get around the Canal Belt, and everyone was friendly
12.41
It also felt very much like home for me, since the tightly packed buildings were reminiscent of New York City

Justin
AIM
12.42
yeah, i thought that it was really easy to get around too
12.42
well, new york used to be new amsterdam, right?
12.42
not that that really means anything... i guess that was a looong time ago.

Adam
AIM
12.42
Yep. And you can really see the similarities. Tightly packed buildings, cobblestone streets (which, I guess, only exist in parts of NYC anymore), and similar architecture
12.43
It was a long time ago, but in the older parts of NYC, I think you can still see a Dutch influence
12.43
And when I walked around this area: http://www.flickr.com/photos/slice/103861264/in/set-72057594071369870/

Justin
AIM
12.44
oh yeah, definitely

Adam
AIM
12.44
It's a waterfront area, though you can't see it in the picture, it reminded me of the Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood of Red Hook, which has old brick warehouses with the big, black shutters

Justin
AIM
12.46
did you do a lot of walking around then?
12.46
i saw on your blog that you were sampling all of the best dutch food... FEBO and so on.

Adam
AIM
12.46
Hah!
12.47
I did a TON of walking
12.47
I took the streetcar a few times, just for the heck of it, but I really like to get my bearings by walking
12.48
I'd usually walk out to a destination in the morning and return by streetcar in the evening

Justin
AIM
12.48
what were your destinations?
12.48
anything really fun?

Adam
AIM
12.49
It took about two days for me to pick out landmarks and know where to make turns. "Left at the Red Light District FEBO." "Sharp right at the Dam" ...
12.52
I had a good time at the museums. Hit all the biggies. Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Stedelijk CS, Netherlands Maritime Museum

Justin
AIM
12.52
the maritime museum?
12.52
i've been to the other ones, but hadn't even heard of the maritime museum -- how was that?

Adam
AIM
12.55
oh
12.55
It's the Scheepvaartsmuseum in Dutch
12.55
It was out by NEMO
12.56
It's packed with models of ships and journals and details Dutch trading with their colonies back in the day
12.56
New Amsterdam, East Indies, etc.
12.57
There's such a rich history of seafaring in the Netherlands and Amsterdam that I felt I needed to see the Scheepvaartsmuseum to take in some of it

Justin
AIM
12.57
very true
12.58
sounds like a fun museum, just imagining it
12.58
did you get up to any other interesting things? anything that you'd want to recommend to other visitors?

Adam
AIM
1.00
I also loved the Museum Amstelkring ("Our Lord in the Attic"), the Catholic church hiddeen in a house's attic

Justin
AIM
1.01
oh wow
1.01
from back when the netherlands was a protestant country

Adam
AIM
1.03
yeah. exactly
1.03
Strange parallels between that and the Anne Frank House, though the Anne Frank House was much more sobering
1.05
whereas Museum Amstelkring was brightly lit, airy, and, though hidden, still had a celebratory nature to it
1.05
I pretty much stuck to museums and walking around neighborhoods, eating in cafes and FEBOs and what not
1.06
A 20-year-old college student would have been disappointed in me

Justin
AIM
1.06
heh

Adam
AIM
1.06
Though I did try some coffeehops
1.06
coffeeshops

Justin
AIM
1.06
were they what you expected?

Adam
AIM
1.07
It took me a while to get over the stigma of buying pot openly from somone. I got really nervous the first time, and looked for the most easygoing coffeeshop I could find
1.08
I was afraid I'd do something wrong, ask for hash or weed in the wrong way, and get kicked out
1.08
Like the way you get kicked out of a head shop for asking for a bong instead of a "water pipe."

Justin
AIM
1.08
haha
1.08
they didn't kick you out though?

Adam
AIM
1.09
But then I told myself, "The people inside are ALL STONED." They're not going to care one way or another what I do or say
1.09
So then I went in and got some Northern Lights
1.09
heh
1.09
Afterward I felt confident about visiting other coffeeshops
1.10
I didn't visit any prostitutes, though
1.10
I did do the typical tourist thing and walk through the Red Light District and gawk

Justin
AIM
1.10
yeah, everyone gawks
1.10
i don't think i've ever seen anyone actually go in/come out though

Adam
AIM
1.10
I'm surprised how many middle aged American people were cruising through there gawking
1.11
I saw a couple Johns go in and out
1.11
At odd times, though, like 5 p.m., 6 p.m.
1.11
Maybe it's easier to go inconspicuously before it gets crowded
1.12
The contrasts were stark, too, between the Oude Kirk (place of worship) and the little prostitute windows directly across the (narrow) street from it

Justin
AIM
1.13
yes, that's really true
1.13
it's such a strange idea, that there is a church in the center of the redlight district
1.13
but i guess it makes sense, in some odd way?

Adam
AIM
1.14
And the fact that there'd be prostitute windows sandwiching a house in which you could clearly see a family with a toddler toddling about the ground floor!
1.14
It does make sense in a strange way that there'd be a church in the middle of the Red Light
Adam disconnected
1.14
Adam connected
1.14

Adam
AIM
1.14
oops
1.14
sorry about that
1.15
my AIM crashes randomly

Justin
AIM
1.15
oh, that's alright

Adam
AIM
1.15
I don't know if many people went to Java Eiland, but that was really cool

Justin
AIM
1.15
(if you're on a mac, use adium... it's a lot better)
1.15
java eiland?
1.15
what was that?

Adam
AIM
1.15
I am Mac. I'll see if I can install it. We're pretty restricted as far as installs go on our work machines
1.15
Java Eiland
1.17
oh ...
1.17
It's really cool
1.18
There's that set of islands out in the middle of IJ Harbor east of the city
1.19
I think Java Island used to be used for ships to dock at for unloading and such

Justin
AIM
1.19
oooooh yeah

Adam
AIM
1.19
But now, it's a tightly packed architectural gem

Justin
AIM
1.19
i think that i may have rode my bike down there

Adam
AIM
1.19
Some really striking houses

Justin
AIM
1.19
yeah, it was really pretty

Adam
AIM
1.20
They actually created new canals on the island by cutting through its short width about four times
1.20
Yeah
1.20
I like how the master planner for Java Island called for different architects to develop 22-meter sections

Justin
AIM
1.21
man, from febo to the redlight district to the harbor

Adam
AIM
1.22
Oh. FEBO was great

Justin
AIM
1.22
sounds like a great time
1.22
febo? really?

Adam
AIM
1.22
To someone from the Netherlands, it probably sounds about as stupid as getting excited about McDonald's

Justin
AIM
1.22
the little doors are really amazing though
1.22
automated food

Adam
AIM
1.23
But it's perfect for late-night benders when you need something greasy to quiet your stomach
1.23
And the automated doors are fun
1.23
Deep-fried crispy goodness
1.23
the krokette is truly a Dutch national treasure

Justin
AIM
1.23
heh -- and perfect for your blogs
1.24
yes, krokettes are really something else

Adam
AIM
1.24
Yah. I want to find a recipe for the kasesouffle
1.24
so far they've all been in Dutch
1.24
I need an English translation!

Justin
AIM
1.24
heh, i'll have to see if sebastian can help us out

Adam
AIM
1.24
Deep-fried cheesy goodness may even beat the krokette
1.25
As far as pizza goes, though, it's obviously not a stop on a pizzalover's itinerary
1.25
Too-thick slices, with little or no sauce, topped with a thick blanket of young gouda.
1.25
Bleh

Justin
AIM
1.26
bleh
1.26
i really like dutch cheese on its own
1.26
but maybe not on pizza

Adam
AIM
1.26
I did find a place called New York Pizza that wasn't so bad
1.27
True. And all the great cheesesellers and such and great bread there ... you almost don't miss pizza
1.27
... Almost

Justin
AIM
1.27
was it anything like ny pizza?

Adam
AIM
1.27
It was close. it had the thickness down, used mozzarella, and actually had pepperoni instead of salami, but the sauce was too sweet
1.27
Still, I'd have to say it beat Domino's

Justin
AIM
1.28
heh, good

Adam
AIM
1.28
So it'd probably satisfy most Americans on a pizza jones
1.28
Oh!
1.29
I loved how on KLM
1.29
on the way back somehow I got World Business Class

Justin
AIM
1.29
oh wow
1.29
lucky duck

Adam
AIM
1.29
and they give out little Delftware houses to WBC and Royal Class travelers
1.30
A flight attendant comes out with a tray of little miniature ceramic houses, each one modeled after a real building somewhere in the NL
1.30
they're a numbered series, and like anything else, people collect them

Justin
AIM
1.30
are you starting a collection now?

Adam
AIM
1.31
the businessman sitting next to me had pulled out his little KLM catalog and was looking through his "got it / need it" list
1.31
I'd love to start a collection
1.31
Especially if it meant having to visit Amsterdam and the Netherlands again to get more!

Justin
AIM
1.31
definitely!

Adam
AIM
1.31
(There's your kicker. Heh.)

Justin
AIM
1.32
heh. well, any last thoughts?
1.32
for first time visitors
1.32
or if a'dam does this again?

Adam
AIM
1.35
For first time visitors or if A'dam does this again: Don't worry about a thing there. They all speak English, they're reserved yet friendly, and it's easy to get around, not only in Amsterdam, but using the Intercity transit trains, too. It's a breeze to get from Schiphol Airport to A'dam, and once you're there, you've got some of Europe's tastiest cheeses, best museums, and most freewheelin' nightlife at your doorstep, no matter where you're staying

Justin
AIM
1.36
man, you should be a copywriter!

Adam
AIM
1.36
heh. i'd probably make more money as one
1.36
!

Justin
AIM
1.38
thanks adam

Adam
AIM
1.38
no problem
1.38
thank YOU and the Blogads
1.38
I had a great time

Justin
AIM
1.39
great!

interview with jon armstrong of blurbomat.com

interview with jon armstrong of blurbomat.com

jon armstrong (1:42:00 PM): hey
jon armstrong (1:42:05 PM): just got your email

tony pierce (1:42:10 PM): hey hey hows it going

jon armstrong (1:42:15 PM): going well, you?

tony pierce (1:42:25 PM): just getting over a cold i got at sxsw
tony pierce (1:42:30 PM): glad to be home though

jon armstrong (1:42:38 PM): dude. sxsw was insane. did you stay for the music?

tony pierce (1:42:45 PM): yes
tony pierce (1:42:48 PM): i was there 11 days

jon armstrong (1:42:52 PM): gah!

tony pierce (1:42:54 PM): i know

jon armstrong (1:42:58 PM): hopefully someone else paid for the hotel?

tony pierce (1:43:05 PM): oh yes, it was all on buzznet

jon armstrong (1:43:09 PM): sweet

tony pierce (1:43:20 PM): ok so you wanna talk some holland?

jon armstrong (1:43:43 PM): hit it

tony pierce (1:43:53 PM): first off, how was your flight?

jon armstrong (1:44:53 PM): we had to take a connecting flight from Salt Lake City to Chicago and then from Chicago to Amsterdam. We had a 7am flight from Salt lake
jon armstrong (1:44:57 PM): which was brutal

tony pierce (1:45:09 PM): so you had to be at the airport at like 5am?

jon armstrong (1:45:14 PM): yes.

tony pierce (1:45:23 PM): yikes

jon armstrong (1:45:27 PM): which means we had to leave our house at 4:30
jon armstrong (1:45:37 PM): which was better than most cities would have been, I suppose
jon armstrong (1:45:41 PM): still. 4:30 is 4:30

tony pierce (1:45:47 PM): totally
tony pierce (1:45:56 PM): had you been to amsterdam before?

jon armstrong (1:46:05 PM): Neither of us had been to Amsterdam before this trip.
jon armstrong (1:46:25 PM): and I had only been to the continent once; Paris in 2000. So this was a first.

tony pierce (1:46:47 PM): wow, so did you know how to get from the airport to the hotel before you landed?

jon armstrong (1:48:23 PM): that was the other crazy thing... we didn't know until like 10pm the night before we left where we were staying. But we got that email and it had instructions for rail travel from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station and then on the trams to our hotel. Pretty straightforward.
jon armstrong (1:48:29 PM): and the rail system there is awesome.

tony pierce (1:48:51 PM): it is, but could you read the ticket machine?
tony pierce (1:48:56 PM): mine was in dutch

jon armstrong (1:49:05 PM): that was crazy. at the airport
jon armstrong (1:50:06 PM): we couldn't find a machine for rail tickets that would take any euro denomination we had, so we ended up having to buy tickets at the counter at the airport (the guidebook said we could buy one from a machine) and it was nearing rush hour, so the counter line was picking up and then the train in was crazy...
jon armstrong (1:50:16 PM): the tram tickets at Centraal station were crazy also
jon armstrong (1:50:35 PM): we couldn't get the machine to read our bills
jon armstrong (1:50:50 PM): and we were tired and cranky and commuters were swarming out of the station
jon armstrong (1:50:52 PM): very surreal
jon armstrong (1:51:05 PM): reminded me of Powell station in San Francisco

tony pierce (1:51:11 PM): hahahaha

jon armstrong (1:51:22 PM): we were dying to get to the hotel to sleep for a bit

tony pierce (1:51:45 PM): once you got to centraal station was it easy to find your hotel with all the construction?

jon armstrong (1:51:52 PM): actually it was.
jon armstrong (1:52:22 PM): our hotel was near the Leidseplein, so it was still in the center of the city, just not right close to the centraal station
jon armstrong (1:52:30 PM): the tram lines were pretty easy to figure out
jon armstrong (1:52:39 PM): although the chaos of rush hour didn't help
jon armstrong (1:52:46 PM): combined with the jetlag
jon armstrong (1:52:53 PM): I think I'd just spring for a cab in the future
jon armstrong (1:53:00 PM): it wasn't THAT expensive
jon armstrong (1:53:10 PM): not like JFK to Manhattan

tony pierce (1:53:20 PM): even LAX to hollywood is $55

jon armstrong (1:53:23 PM): yeah
jon armstrong (1:53:31 PM): would have been about $35 - $40
jon armstrong (1:53:34 PM): and saved some stress

tony pierce (1:53:36 PM): so once you got to your hotel did you guys crash out immediately?

jon armstrong (1:53:42 PM): we did
jon armstrong (1:53:54 PM): our flight got in at 6:45 am, so we were hammered
jon armstrong (1:54:08 PM): we only napped though, and got up and had lunch and stuff
jon armstrong (1:54:13 PM): did a canal boat tour

tony pierce (1:54:29 PM): was it cold out there on the water?

jon armstrong (1:54:50 PM): our boat was covered, and the windows were shut, so despite a rain storm for part of the tour (and sunshine as well) we were pretty warm in the boat.

tony pierce (1:55:00 PM): awesome
tony pierce (1:55:10 PM): did you guys take advantage of the free bike rentals?

jon armstrong (1:55:31 PM): we talked about it, but we decided to walk/tram it
jon armstrong (1:55:39 PM): the weather was too cold to mess with bikes
jon armstrong (1:55:42 PM): at least for us
jon armstrong (1:55:49 PM): I'd have done it if it was summer
jon armstrong (1:55:59 PM): our hotel was very close to the museums

tony pierce (1:56:03 PM): i did it cuz im lazy, but i had to invest in some mittens cuz it was butt cold

jon armstrong (1:56:08 PM): yeah
jon armstrong (1:56:25 PM): we had some cold weather gear, but figured we weren't hardcore enough to bike in the rain
jon armstrong (1:56:44 PM): plus, we love to take photos, and walking let us take a lot of pictures.
jon armstrong (1:56:59 PM): on a bike that would have been more difficult

tony pierce (1:57:03 PM): so the museums - which ones did you go to?

jon armstrong (1:59:15 PM): We went to the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum. We tried to get to the modern one (the stedilyck sp?) but it was being remodeled and they had moved it down on the waterfront by the centraal station. They didn't have any permanent collection on display and they only had a photo exhibit up that looked disturbing, which would have been fine, but better if balanced with a range of modern art.
jon armstrong (1:59:39 PM): so we made the trip, but didn't go in to the modern museum

tony pierce (2:00:01 PM): i thought the van gogh blew away the rijks - what about you?

jon armstrong (2:00:30 PM): Yeah, we spent more time at Van Gogh. Their collection is pretty amazing
jon armstrong (2:00:33 PM): has such a great range
jon armstrong (2:00:43 PM): stuff that I hadn't seen before, or even heard about
jon armstrong (2:00:54 PM): btw, the modern museum is spelled: Stedelijk
jon armstrong (2:01:13 PM): I knew there (was an l and a j in there somewhere)
jon armstrong (2:01:25 PM): I think the Van Gogh is a real jewel
jon armstrong (2:02:18 PM): but as a humanities major, I studied a lot of classic art stuff and the riijksmuseum was still good. Vermeer and Hals and Rembrandt did some amazing work and it was great to see those works

tony pierce (2:02:31 PM): this time seeing van goghs work made me sad cuz it made me think that the only way to be truly great is to turn insane

jon armstrong (2:02:58 PM): and die

tony pierce (2:03:06 PM): well that part is easier

jon armstrong (2:03:33 PM): Didn't he sell just one painting during his life?

tony pierce (2:03:42 PM): if that - and his brother was an art dealer

jon armstrong (2:03:45 PM): He churned out so many works so quickly
jon armstrong (2:03:53 PM): that was something else that blew me away
jon armstrong (2:04:01 PM): seeing all those different pieces that spanned just a few years

tony pierce (2:04:12 PM): yeah - i kept thinking - who wouldnt buy this?

jon armstrong (2:04:27 PM): we have a hundred years of art to thank for that

tony pierce (2:04:44 PM): ok so you had a great hotel, ive seen your pictures of your views, but the real question is... how was your internet connection?

jon armstrong (2:04:52 PM): haha
jon armstrong (2:05:30 PM): it was pretty good. there were some issues sending mail from our own mailboxes; we couldn't send email (gmail worked, though)
jon armstrong (2:05:47 PM): and like most hotels, you had to sign in on a webpage every time you wanted to do anything

tony pierce (2:05:53 PM): yeah, annoying

jon armstrong (2:06:03 PM): would have been cooler to just be able to open the laptop and go
jon armstrong (2:06:12 PM): but it was plenty fast
jon armstrong (2:06:16 PM): we didn't spend a lot of time online
jon armstrong (2:06:39 PM): except for the night we found out my family had lost our dog
jon armstrong (2:06:57 PM): and then we found him using technology and a smart mother-in-law
jon armstrong (2:07:09 PM): that night was snowy, so we stayed in and worked on photos
jon armstrong (2:07:13 PM): and uploaded to flickr

tony pierce (2:07:32 PM): smart - how did you find the Dutch? were they friendly to you?

jon armstrong (2:07:36 PM): oh yeah
jon armstrong (2:08:22 PM): having been to Paris, and the fact that the States is in an unpopular war, I figured we might be met with some anti-american vibes, but that was not the case. Dutch people were very friendly and talkative and funny as hell.
jon armstrong (2:08:49 PM): We'd try to speak a few words, but once they knew we were American, everybody spoke English
jon armstrong (2:08:52 PM): without an attitude
jon armstrong (2:09:06 PM): it was very nice. I felt spoiled by that gesture alone
jon armstrong (2:09:17 PM): and the cafe/bar people were super friendly as well
jon armstrong (2:09:40 PM): never once did we feel pressured to give up a table or leave so they could bring in more people

tony pierce (2:09:49 PM): lots of people say the Dutch beer is sub-par, did you find it that way?

jon armstrong (2:10:12 PM): I've always liked Grolsch and Heineken, but the majority of beer I had there was Belgian.

tony pierce (2:10:20 PM): ahhh
tony pierce (2:10:25 PM): ok two more questions
tony pierce (2:10:46 PM): how did your readers react to your posts from Amsterdam?

jon armstrong (2:11:28 PM): I thought we might get some flack for taking a free trip, but the readers seemed to love it. The emails and comments were all very positive. Most people thanked me for sharing my photos and our trip with them.

tony pierce (2:11:52 PM): and finally, were there any little details that you would recommend to the Dutch Tourism Board for the next group that comes out here?
tony pierce (2:12:17 PM): *there

jon armstrong (2:15:46 PM): I think the best thing would be to offer trips to people when the weather might be a little more tourist-friendly.
jon armstrong (2:15:55 PM): e.g., warmer
jon armstrong (2:15:57 PM): '

tony pierce (2:16:01 PM): i agree

jon armstrong (2:16:27 PM): I had a great time on the trip, to be sure, but damn, February is cold!

tony pierce (2:16:38 PM): it is, and the cold kept me inside too much

jon armstrong (2:16:44 PM): y
jon armstrong (2:16:49 PM): wanted to be outside taking pictures
jon armstrong (2:16:56 PM): and soaking in the city

tony pierce (2:17:03 PM): exactly
tony pierce (2:17:08 PM): well dude thanks so much for this interview

jon armstrong (2:17:11 PM): Sure

tony pierce (2:17:22 PM): i hope to see you and your lovely wife at the next crazy blogger thing

jon armstrong (2:17:22 PM): if you have any more questions, email them and I'll do my best to answer them
jon armstrong (2:17:27 PM): ha

tony pierce (2:17:28 PM): right on

jon armstrong (2:17:34 PM): take care

tony pierce (2:17:36 PM): you too
tony pierce (2:17:38 PM): !

jon armstrong (2:17:41 PM): l8r