I’m excited because I’m heading to Amsterdam for 5 weeks (taking a language course at the UvA).
The bad: I’m leaving here in just 2 weeks, but yesterday (!) after months of touching base and preparation the people I thought were going to put me up remembered that they will be on holiday and became uncomfortable with having guests in the flat when they aren’t in town. For Amsterdam that’s late notice for finding a place to stay. Ah, well. I hope I don’t end up sleeping in an appliance box on Leidseplein. E-mailed some flat placement services and cheap hotels-- ugh. What a pain. But what can one expect? – can’t be too demanding of altruism.
The good: Yay! Amsterdam! I’m taking over an “expendible” english 3-speed bike that I found in the trash and fixed up, so if it disappears into the heroin circuit I can feel like a philanthropist. Anyone have any recommendations on good things to do/see off the beaten path-- I’ve already done most of the usual attractions-- museums, tourist schmaltz, etc., so out-of-the way, hidden, or just favorite quirky spots would be good (like I haven’t been to the monkey park or the gay-rastafrian-coffee-house). Favorite pubs, resturaunts, or coffee shops?
Woo hoo!
if you don’t mind, I will just mooch off of this thread like a friggin’ parasite, as I am recently doing research on the ‘day to day’ life of amsterdamianiters.
I’m jealous! have a good time!
jarbaby
Now’s not a good time for me to elaborate, but bump this sucker after the weekend and I’ll give you the skinny on the best places in Amsterdam.
BTW, can’t the UvA help you out with housing? They must have a department for international students.
Found something! Give these people a call, they might be able to help you out.
http://www.uva.nl/english/education/practical/office.html
Ah, thanks Coldie; however, the U already had given me some housing application stuff, and I think they must be trying to make some money off of it as the costs seem a tad high-- the hotel options they arrange aren’t the cheapest and I don’t want to share an apartment with random other students, the other option they give. Waking up at 2 in the morning before an exam because roommate has never been in an interesting town and can’t tell the difference between a work-week and Christmas on Ibiza doesn’t appeal to me.
Ah well, something will work out though-- I have a couple of options. Thanks for thinking about leads, though.
Bumping this myself-- ex-tourists, what were your favorite spots? I’m not asking for super-elite-esoteric hideaways-- just basically anything aside from Anne Frank/Rijksmuseum/Sex Museum/Bulldog/Heineken. How about surrounding towns?
I found a place-- Bed and Breakfast guys made me a deal-- 3000 fl. for the 5 weeks, which is cheaper than a month’s rent in my town. So the evil is taken care of. Then I broke my Palm Pilot. . .
Sniffle. You ex-amsterdoper-convention goers are of no use. Coldfire, it’s after the weekend now. . .
God, 6 posts and 4 of them are mine. I would like to apologize to anyone that’s listening.