Beauty & Fashion Food & Dining Staycations & Vacations The GOppets

#GOlobe30tting Day 14 Amsterdam, Netherlands

Day 14

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Umagang kay ganda. Kap woke us up earlier than usual so we can get an early train ride to Amsterdam. Nag-nag-nag the whole morning through to get us going. Only to wait in the bus stop because he was too barat to shell out an extra 20 euro (equivalent to 1k php only ok!!) for a big taxi that can fit all 5 of us + our maletas. 😛

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Our maletas have suffered enough trauma & abuse to last them a lifetime, trololol. Ngarag na ang gulong at puro gasgas na ang katawan. Palitan pa kaya ng Rimowa yan paguwi namin? ;))

He searched online for an Uber on a non-prime time & found out he can get a 10 euro fee only for an Uber to the station. Times 2 eh di 20 lang, masaya sya. Ang problema, Uber was unavailable in the morning at the time we needed it, eh ayaw din nya kumuha ng big taxi kasi 40 euro flat rate nga for all 5 of us as opposed to Uber na 20 euro na for TWO, but on a non-prime time.

Ending namin late na sa train, wala pang taxi, wala ring bus. Sayang lang ang iginising namin ng maaga at kamamadali nang dahil sa kabaratan nya. @_@ With all our maletas scattered on the sidewalk, malapit pang masira ang mga gulong dahil nga puro cobbled stone ang daanan.

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In fairness, where & when it counts the most, laking silbi ni Kap & Babyson. I kept musing out loud, paano kaya kinaya ni Jin (loves to eat) mag-isa? I’m all for woman empowerment but this is really cray! Multiple up & down the steps ALL OVER the train station carrying heavy luggages, hindi sila maleta-friendly! The girls said: Mom, I don’t think Jin travels economy the way we do hehe.

Nakangisi pa si Kap kasi nakatipid daw kami sa pamasahe since we were able to use the prepaid card he bought the other day but we forgot to tap! @_@

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Kap is so hella Pinoy! @_@ We didn’t get to tap the single use card on our first day in Belgium so he was very happy we got to use it this morning on our ride to the train station. The pink one is for the 24-hour Hop-on-hop-off ride.

Anyway, as always, all’s well that ends well. Yun lang the hassle & kunsumisyon, but it’s not an adventure (with Kap) without it. 😉 2.5 hour train ride from Brussels to Amsterdam: 5k php/5 pax.

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The kids are used to Kap & his ways. Normal na para sa manila ang kabaratan ng tatay nila. Ako lang yata ang laging naninibago hehe.

It seems we are not destined for Amsterdam though. First, we had to cut short our trip by 1 day because Ate has to go back to Manila earlier for her MBA summer transition class. Then our train met an accident of some sort –nakasagasa daw, so we were further delayed en route. Wala na, yung balak naming half day tour at least naunsyami na. 😛 Kinabukasan kasi we have to leave early again for London. 😛

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We were shocked to find out someone jumped in front of our train, but it seemed like a regular occurrence to them. They said “oh don’t worry this happens all the time.” My gulay! So here we are, 2-hour stopover kasi may mga CSI, then we had to transfer & board another train. Kaya yan, chocolates & blogging pampa-kalma sa akin! ;P

Finally reached Amsterdam at 3pm, got out of the apartment at 4pm, and soaked in whatever we could. Babalik nalang talaga uli, God willing. Ganyan talaga ang buhay, not everything goes according to plan. It’s a good life lesson for the kids to experience while Kap & I are still here to guide them in the game of life.

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Amsterdam is the capital and most populous municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. A’dam has a population of 840,486 within the city proper, 1,337,743 in the urban area, and 2,431,000 in the Amsterdam metropolitan area. The city is located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country, and is also North Holland’s largest city.

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Amsterdam’s name derives from Amstelredamme, indicative of the city’s origin as a dam of the river Amstel. Originating as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age (17th century), a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading centre for finance and diamonds

Haarlem

Haarlem is a city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland situated at the northern edge of the Randstad, one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe. Haarlem had a population of 155,758 in 2014. It is a 15-minute train ride from Amsterdam, and many residents commute to the country’s capital for work.

July 4-July 5, 2016 | Pieterstraat 1Z Haarlem, North Holland 2011 RM

Netherlands | +31 6 46 67 22 11  +31 6 13 54 03 35  +31 6 28 29 67 32
2 nights total ₱ 14,747
Host – Tim De Zeeuw

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So far, of all the apartments we’ve stayed in, this is the one I liked the least. Maybe because I’ve been spoiled with all the bigger-sized housing prior, and also of the drab interiors. Plus it’s a good 20 minutes away from Amsterdam city. But the host is the nicest among all. He even gave us a welcome basket filled with bread & eggs. And was fine with our late check in. For that, I am truly thankful. But I wouldn’t really recommend the place.

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Apartments in Amsterdam are costly so with the budget we gave Ate, she was only able to book us at Haarlem instead of Amsterdam city proper. I advice that for an extra amount which you will pay for transportation anyway, book your stay in Amsterdam city itself in order to be in the center of everything.

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Took in a 1-hour canal guided cruise so we can see (and learn about) everything important in under a day. Saw some houseboats along the way. For the more adventurous peeps, I’d suggest you try renting a houseboat for an authentic Amsterdam-living experience. Your backyard is the canal! \m/

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That’s a houseboat right there with the red window treatment.

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Hindi na umangal si Kap sa canal cruise. 20 euros each (or 1.2k philippine peso more or less) Kasi kung magtitipid pa sya wala na kaming aabutin sa Amsterdam! 😛 CLICK HERE to book your tour.

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Our trip is really a wonderful journey & a learning experience for all. <3

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Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has more than one hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings. They said kissing under a bridge brings lasting & eternal love. Wouldn’t want to disappoint! Kiss kiss! :-*

Lunch came at 6pm, our first real meal of the day. Naawa na siguaro sa amin si Kap, he sprung a surprise & treated us to lunch at Hard Rock Cafe while he went off to buy his shirt hehe.

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Da face! Natauhan na siguro.. nagmumuni-muni. Kap: Pucha yung natipid ko sa taxi kaninang umaga dito lang napunta ah, abonado pa ako! Hahahahaha! ;))

After filling our very empty bellies, kaya na uli mag-lakad at mag-sightseeing!

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Our cute photo bombers, gusto laging kasali! ;))

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Bae found me another shoe-fie op! 🙂

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Van Gogh museum behind us. Because we were pressed for time, we had to pass. Too bad.

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Like Belgium, Amsterdam is also a biking city, Kap & the 2 older kids plan to ride one again tomorrow to explore.

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Beautiful scenery any time of the day. <3

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Click I AMSTERDAM for visitor information.

De Wallen (red light district)

De Wallen is the largest and best known red-light district in Amsterdam and consists of a network of alleys containing approximately three hundred one-room cabins rented by prostitutes who offer their sexual services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights. These “kamers” are the most visible and typical kind of red light district sex work in Amsterdam and are a large tourist attraction.

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Pagdating sa kapilyuhan, like father..

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like son! 😛 Look at dat face! NKKLK! 😐

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Amsterdam’s red light district is a bad bad boy’s playground! Walang bawal, everything has weed as an ingredient -from ice cream, to cookies, to candies. Amsterdam is beautiful but it is definitely not a place I’d like my family to live in. No way Jose.

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At idadamay mo pa talaga ako sa kalokohan mo Honey??

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For mature audiences only. ;P

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What debauchery they do inside, I don’t wanna find out, lol.

Amsterdam is beautiful but I think 2 days is just right. I don’t want the kids exposed to a wicked lifestyle at baka masanay. Tomorrow, we’re sticking to the safer city, Haarlem. ;P

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4 Comments

  • Reply Chel

    My favourite city! I <3 Amsterdam!

    July 29, 2016 at 8:06 am
    • Reply Jane Go

      Truly beautiful & deserving to be! <3

      July 29, 2016 at 6:50 pm
  • Reply Pat

    Wow! Good no one chased you for the last photo! When we were at the RLD, we passed by an ongoing “transaction” … I wanted to stay and watch the process, curious lang, pero scary baka magalit ang mga naghahanap buhay 😉

    August 20, 2016 at 12:45 am
    • Reply Jane Go

      Yes, they do run after people who take their photos! My phone case looks like a book tho so hindi halata hehe.

      August 22, 2016 at 9:44 am

    Leave a Reply to Jane Go Cancel Reply