GOING ON AFRICAN SAFARI (we are pumped )

[redsfann]

Thanks for all the kind words & suggestions of " What not to wear out in the bush ". Has anyone been to Amsterdam ? We are spending a couple nights before flying to Kenya. I don't drink or smoke weed anymore & I'm not in the market for a prostitute.If it was 1984 they probably would have to drag me out of Amsterdam with those 3 things. We are staying in the City Ctr. & plan on doing a hop on & off touring the museums & canals. Any other suggestions ?

Enjoy the African safari. Its on my bucket list of things to do before I'm worm food. My mom has been on 3 of them, but she is currently in Ireland so I can't ask her for any tips or things to look for while on your trip.
Amsterdam is a great city, you will enjoy it. The Rijksmuseum is not to be missed, and make sure you visit Ann Frank's hiding place as well. While not that large, the Van Gogh museum is worth a visit, too.
Be prepared for cool, wet weather in Amsterdam--In the 10 days I've visited the city over 3 different trips, I saw the sun once. Usually always a slight drizzle and mid 60s for temps--and then you will be in Africa where it will be 100 with intense sunshine every day...
Walk through the red light district as its something that you shouldn't miss if you are in Amsterdam for a day or two. I suggest doing it during the day. While there probably won't be as many ladies in their windows as there would be at night, the number of Jamaican dudes trying to sell you drugs aren't as plentiful, either.
Any chance you have been to Venice or Florence? We leave on June 7th for 8 days in Italy and any suggestions anyone has for places to eat or things to see are most welcome.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[The Mover]

Reds, thanks for the tips while in Amsterdam, Van Gogh & Anne Frank is on our list. I'm sure you have experience taking the train it seems pretty basic but any tips would help.
Never been to Venice but about 5 yrs. ago we went on a Med. Cruise & we stopped in Florence. On the way we stopped in Pisa which was great to finally see the leaning tower. But on the way we passed fields after field of Sunflowers, it was beautiful. Then we hit Florence with not much time so we took a Hop on bus, they have a stop that overlooks Florence we took quite a few pics. Not enough time to hit the museums , would love to go back & really spend some time. I do remember by wife bought a $ 200 purse in Florence that caused us some problems at customs.
Make sure & give us a report when you get back.

 

[redsfann]

Reds, thanks for the tips while in Amsterdam, Van Gogh & Anne Frank is on our list. I'm sure you have experience taking the train it seems pretty basic but any tips would help.
Never been to Venice but about 5 yrs. ago we went on a Med. Cruise & we stopped in Florence. On the way we stopped in Pisa which was great to finally see the leaning tower. But on the way we passed fields after field of Sunflowers, it was beautiful. Then we hit Florence with not much time so we took a Hop on bus, they have a stop that overlooks Florence we took quite a few pics. Not enough time to hit the museums , would love to go back & really spend some time. I do remember by wife bought a $ 200 purse in Florence that caused us some problems at customs.
Make sure & give us a report when you get back.

I'll share some pics and stories with the forum when we get back.
Are you talking about international trains between countries or the tram in Amsterdam?
Regardless, they are quite easy to use. Plenty of signage in English although all timetables are in the 24 hr clock format, so a train leaving at 2 pm will be listed as leaving at 14:00.
We also are stopping in Pisa for a few hours as Pisa is where we will change trains to return to Venice from Florence.
Most train stations have self serve ticket kiosks, all of which have instructions for use in several languages, including English.
The Dutch all speak English and are quite helpful and friendly if you find yourself in need of some help.

 

[The Mover]

I'll share some pics and stories with the forum when we get back.
Are you talking about international trains between countries or the tram in Amsterdam?
Regardless, they are quite easy to use. Plenty of signage in English although all timetables are in the 24 hr clock format, so a train leaving at 2 pm will be listed as leaving at 14:00.
We also are stopping in Pisa for a few hours as Pisa is where we will change trains to return to Venice from Florence.
Most train stations have self serve ticket kiosks, all of which have instructions for use in several languages, including English.
The Dutch all speak English and are quite helpful and friendly if you find yourself in need of some help.

Sorry, I meant the Tram I see that it goes into Central Station & it looks like approx. 1/2 mi. walk to get to hotel IBIS Amsterdam Centre on Stationspleim. Does that sound right ?

 

[redsfann]

Sorry, I meant the Tram I see that it goes into Central Station & it looks like approx. 1/2 mi. walk to get to hotel IBIS Amsterdam Centre on Stationspleim. Does that sound right ?

That hotel is almost directly behind the Centraal station if I remember right--but its been 11 yrs since I've been to Amsterdam so don't quote me on this. Even if its not right there, I'm pretty sure its not too far from the train station.
And yes, the tram is very easy to use---you will want to take it to the Anne Frank house as that is quite a ways away from the area of town that your hotel is in
The Red Light district is also very close to both the train station and your hotel--within a few block walk---wish I could remember the name of the Irish Pub directly across the square from the train station--may not be there any longer but if it is, stop in for a true Irish pub experience and a pint of Guinness. If that one isn't there any longer, there are several others in town that are decent for a pint and some pub grub if you are looking for that sort of thing while in Amsterdam.
Another thing you might want to check out is a tour of the Heineken brewery. They no longer brew at the site and they have converted it into a museum. Its basically a 30 minute commercial for Heineken, but you get to drink a few in the tasting room after the tour.
Whoa!! Glad I googled it--- their website tells me its quite a different experience from the last time I was there---then it was a 1 guilder donation to get in--about 13 US cents at the time--now its 18 Euro!! or about 25 USD a person--and when I was there last it was all you could drink for 30 minutes after the tour, with the servers making sure your glass was always full unless you waved them away.
Plenty to see and do in Amsterdam, enjoy yourselves and I look forward to seeing the pics and reading about your experiences on the African safari.....:toast:

 

[The Mover]

Reds thank you for taking the time & sharing your knowledge of Amsterdam. Enjoy your trip to Venice & Florence.

 

[redsfann]

Reds thank you for taking the time & sharing your knowledge of Amsterdam. Enjoy your trip to Venice & Florence.

:0008


My pleasure, The Mover.

 

[pug]

My wife and I went on a safari a few years ago but we went to Uganda. We flew from Detroit through Amsterdam, just like you are doing. It was a great trip. However, the luxurious "hotels" , if you can call them that, would be average at best in the U.S. Many are just luxurious tents. The roads were the worst I've ever seen. Also, more than half of the visitors from the U.S. get sick sometime during the trip. Still, the wildlife is incredible. It is an experience you will never forget. If you can, try and take a day trip to Bwindi National Park in Uganda to see the mountain gorillas. Getting within inches of wild gorillas is just amazing!

 

[fatdaddycool]

Personally, I wouldn't waste the money to see the Anne Frank house. It's a tiny room with a chair in it. Holy shIt. Both my mother and I were laughing about that very thing earlier today. An absolute money grab and total waste of time in my opinion. It's not enlightening, there's nothing particularly memorable to see. It looks like it's been set up to look old.
My suggestion would be to stay smoking weed again.

Hope this helps,
FDC

 

[The Mover]

My wife and I went on a safari a few years ago but we went to Uganda. We flew from Detroit through Amsterdam, just like you are doing. It was a great trip. However, the luxurious "hotels" , if you can call them that, would be average at best in the U.S. Many are just luxurious tents. The roads were the worst I've ever seen. Also, more than half of the visitors from the U.S. get sick sometime during the trip. Still, the wildlife is incredible. It is an experience you will never forget. If you can, try and take a day trip to Bwindi National Park in Uganda to see the mountain gorillas. Getting within inches of wild gorillas is just amazing!

Thanks Pug. I'm not expecting 5 star accommodations in the camps. We are only traveling in Kenya & Tanzania & we are going in a day early to visit the orphaned baby elephant sanctuary. We start with the ( 1) Samburu Game Reserve,( 2) Sweetwaters, ( 3) Maasai Mara / Northern Serengeti , ( 4) Amboseli National Park, ( 5) Ngorongoro Crater Conservation, ( 6)Tarangire National Park, ( 7) Arusha.

We plan on being really careful to avoid any illness.

 

[The Mover]

Personally, I wouldn't waste the money to see the Anne Frank house. It's a tiny room with a chair in it. Holy shIt. Both my mother and I were laughing about that very thing earlier today. An absolute money grab and total waste of time in my opinion. It's not enlightening, there's nothing particularly memorable to see. It looks like it's been set up to look old.
My suggestion would be to stay smoking weed again.

Hope this helps,
FDC

FDC thanks will save the $$$ on Anne Frank & spend it at the coffee ( weed ) shop.

 

[pug]

The baby elephants are so cool. Watching them play is really neat. We went to a chimp sanctuary on Ngamba island. It was great. The experiences you will have will be unforgettable. I will always remember boating through a ton of hippos. I also remember driving over a hill and looking down and seeing a ton of giraffes at the bottom of it. Super cool. There is nothing like driving down a road and having elephants coming out of the brush on the shoulder of the road. Have fun!

 

[redsfann]

Personally, I wouldn't waste the money to see the Anne Frank house. It's a tiny room with a chair in it. Holy shIt. Both my mother and I were laughing about that very thing earlier today. An absolute money grab and total waste of time in my opinion. It's not enlightening, there's nothing particularly memorable to see. It looks like it's been set up to look old.
My suggestion would be to stay smoking weed again.

Hope this helps,
FDC

yes, its small. And if you have actually been there, you know there are a few more things than a chair in an empty room. Anne Frank and her family were hiding from the Nazis there; not sure that is something to be laughing at or about, but, hey, to each their own.
Might as well skip all the museums and historical sites and just sit in the Bulldog all day and get stoned.

 

[fatdaddycool]

yes, its small. And if you have actually been there, you know there are a few more things than a chair in an empty room. Anne Frank and her famor ily were hiding from the Nazis there; not sure that is something to be laughing at or about, but, hey, to each their own.
Might as well skip al.the museums and historical sites and just sit in the Bulldog all day and get stoned.

Dude, give me a break. What the hell does an attic have to do with ayou museum? I was laughing at the forty euro entry price. I never said a thing about the holocaust, Nazis, Jews, or any of that. The fact of the matter is that Anne Frank's hiding place has zero historical significance other than a simple curiosity. She did nothing to alter or change the course of history during that time. She didn't liberate any camps, didn't lead a revolution or start a movement. She hid in a room while people died by the millions. So what. . She hid and wrote a book. That's not historical. Not sure why you brought the attitude but that's fine. It doesn't make the Anne Frank house any less of a tourist trap or any more than a minor matter of curiosity.

Hope this helps,
FDC

 

[MadJack]

Dude, give me a break. What the hell does an attic have to do with ayou museum? I was laughing at the forty euro entry price. I never said a thing about the holocaust, Nazis, Jews, or any of that. The fact of the matter is that Anne Frank's hiding place has zero historical significance other than a simple curiosity. She did nothing to alter or change the course of history during that time. She didn't liberate any camps, didn't lead a revolution or start a movement. She hid in a room while people died by the millions. So what. . She hid and wrote a book. That's not historical. Not sure why you brought the attitude but that's fine. It doesn't make the Anne Frank house any less of a tourist trap or any more than a minor matter of curiosity.

Hope this helps,
FDC

 

[redsfann]

Dude, give me a break. What the hell does an attic have to do with ayou museum? I was laughing at the forty euro entry price. I never said a thing about the holocaust, Nazis, Jews, or any of that. The fact of the matter is that Anne Frank's hiding place has zero historical significance other than a simple curiosity. She did nothing to alter or change the course of history during that time. She didn't liberate any camps, didn't lead a revolution or start a movement. She hid in a room while people died by the millions. So what. . She hid and wrote a book. That's not historical. Not sure why you brought the attitude but that's fine. It doesn't make the Anne Frank house any less of a tourist trap or any more than a minor matter of curiosity.

Hope this helps,
FDC

40 euro? Try 9 euro. And if you don't think Anne Frank has any historical significance then there isn't any thing else to say.

http://www.annefrank.org/en/Museum/Practical-information/Opening-hours-prices-and-location1/

 

[MadJack]

40 euro? Try 9 euro. And if you don't think Anne Frank has any historical significance then there isn't any thing else to say.

http://www.annefrank.org/en/Museum/Practical-information/Opening-hours-prices-and-location1/

:0corn

 

[fatdaddycool]

Okay redsfan why don't you tell me what marks her place in history? Was it because she hid during the holocaust, got caught and died? Is it because she wrote a book? A book that didn't provide any historical or educational experience? What makes her plight any different from the millions of others that were killed? Seriously, please tell me what she did that completely or even partially changed the course of history? She didn't discover the holocaust. Do you have any idea how many people hid, ran, fought back or simply died during the holocaust? Are their lives somehow less significant? Are they "historical"? Fuck no and neither is she.
What is more of a concern is that you would question whether I even went to the worthless piece of shit attic. I did and it was a complete waste of time. Absolutely one of the worst tourist traps I've seen and I've seen many many more than most. I've seen the last supper twice that's historical. The war rooms of Churchill were better than the Anne Frank house. She's only remembered because someone found her diary and got it published. So what, Hulk fucking Hogan wrote a book. That's like saying John McCain is a historical figure because he was a pow. That notion as well as Anne Frank being anything more than a curiosity is ridiculous.
Be that as it may, I'm sorry you disagree but that's hardly a reason to get shitty with me.
If you weren't forced to read her stupid ass book you would never have even heard of her.
Hope this helps?
Fdc

 

[HankWilliamsJr]

Okay redsfan why don't you tell me what marks her place in history? Was it because she hid during the holocaust, got caught and died? Is it because she wrote a book? A book that didn't provide any historical or educational experience? What makes her plight any different from the millions of others that were killed? Seriously, please tell me what she did that completely or even partially changed the course of history? She didn't discover the holocaust. Do you have any idea how many people hid, ran, fought back or simply died during the holocaust? Are their lives somehow less significant? Are they "historical"? Fuck no and neither is she.
What is more of a concern is that you would question whether I even went to the worthless piece of shit attic. I did and it was a complete waste of time. Absolutely one of the worst tourist traps I've seen and I've seen many many more than most. I've seen the last supper twice that's historical. The war rooms of Churchill were better than the Anne Frank house. She's only remembered because someone found her diary and got it published. So what, Hulk fucking Hogan wrote a book. That's like saying John McCain is a historical figure because he was a pow. That notion as well as Anne Frank being anything more than a curiosity is ridiculous.
Be that as it may, I'm sorry you disagree but that's hardly a reason to get shitty with me.
If you weren't forced to read her stupid ass book you would never have even heard of her.
Hope this helps?
Fdc

i agree with you here....who the fuck is ann frank? and who needs book....hank hasnt read a book in years and he is doing just fine. have a good day friend

 

[redsfann]

Okay redsfan why don't you tell me what marks her place in history? Was it because she hid during the holocaust, got caught and died? Is it because she wrote a book? A book that didn't provide any historical or educational experience? What makes her plight any different from the millions of others that were killed? Seriously, please tell me what she did that completely or even partially changed the course of history? She didn't discover the holocaust. Do you have any idea how many people hid, ran, fought back or simply died during the holocaust? Are their lives somehow less significant? Are they "historical"? Fuck no and neither is she.
What is more of a concern is that you would question whether I even went to the worthless piece of shit attic. I did and it was a complete waste of time. Absolutely one of the worst tourist traps I've seen and I've seen many many more than most. I've seen the last supper twice that's historical. The war rooms of Churchill were better than the Anne Frank house. She's only remembered because someone found her diary and got it published. So what, Hulk fucking Hogan wrote a book. That's like saying John McCain is a historical figure because he was a pow. That notion as well as Anne Frank being anything more than a curiosity is ridiculous.
Be that as it may, I'm sorry you disagree but that's hardly a reason to get shitty with me.
If you weren't forced to read her stupid ass book you would never have even heard of her.
Hope this helps?
Fdc

Sure hope for your sake that it's not this easy to push your buttons in real life, dude. Where the fuck did you come up with 40 Euro at, anyway?