Tale of A Weekend Hop: LHR-AMS on BD (TR dedicated to our beloved DC)

[StarG]

Seems like a very nice mini vacation, jjpb3.

[Kyo]

Loving this tummy-stretching TR! Keep it goin!

*awaits hijacker*

[jjpb3]

Mövenpick no longer owns the ice cream division having sold it to Nestle back in 03

That's right. But I think there's a co-branding / co-promotion agreement, because the hotel still promotes the line of frozen foods in its lobbies, and the staff are still trained to refer to them as "our ice cream and yogurts".

[jjpb3]

Weekend Lowlights

1. Our city bus tour



My brother wanted to have a quick intro to the city, so I accompanied him and his friends. But the sights go by so quickly, and there is no coherence in the narration that accompanies the tour. Oh well, at least I can I got to experience the wrong way to be a tourist in a city as compact as Amsterdam.

2. The nighttime canal boat ride





The canal views at night are charming, but many of the buildings look nondescript when they can be identified only by the pattern of window lights. The main reason this was a lowlight, though: the canal boat driver stopped the tour short because one of the stops in the middle of the route (Rijksmuseum) was closest to the bus she would take to go home.

3. BD checkin at AMS

What an utter mess. There were no priority lines or bag drop-off lines, and the SSCI machines, located at the front of the lines, were roped off, meaning pax just with hand luggage could not print BPs and consequently had to wait in the queue.



I was rescued from a long wait by a nice agent from the LH SEN/HON counter, who printed my BD BP on LH stock. If LH can impart their expertise on process efficiency to BD, it would be a big .

4. Passport check at AMS the morning of my departure

I'd never seen Schiphol so chaotic, and there were no special lanes for EU passport holders. I wonder what happened.

[jjpb3]

Weekend Highlights (besides Mövenpick ice cream) - 1

1. Amsterdam street scenes







It’s a city that invites people to take a walk and explore.

2. Flower market

The riot of colors was a nice antidote to damp gray weather.







My brother’s friend wouldn’t take my dare to buy this type of souvenir for her husband :





3. Sometimes resisting temptations to renege on my diet

[jjpb3]

Weekend Highlights (besides Mövenpick ice cream) - 2

4. Strategically caving in to temptations (I): Indonesian food at Long Pura restaurant

Including my first taste of rijstaffel:


The rijstaffel for 2 people, supplemented by the bebek bali and sate tahu, was enough for 4 small Pinoys.


5. Strategically caving in to temptations (II): lunch at De Belhamel restaurant (tummy-stretcher? Here you go, Kyo )





Tranches of beef with Portobello mushrooms, Dutch beans, butter potatoes with a cognac tarragon sauce


Rack of venison with red cabbage and a cranberry sauce (my brother only then understood why I'm a fan of venison [at good restaurants])


Grilled monkfish with Roseval potatoes from the oven and a saffron vinaigrette


Chocolate raspberry cake on the left, I-forget-what-kind-of-crème-brulée on the right (but oh, it was gooood) -- the crème brulée tasting was for mec, really!)

[jjpb3]

6. A chance to see for myself the AMS SKL

It probably doesn't count as much as the lunching and the ice cream , but I've always wanted to see it. It’s really quite small, and can feel crowded with just a few people in it.







But the Lounge Dragon was very friendly, and the toilets are stocked with First Class toothbrush and shaving kits. Yes, the toilets are inside the lounge.

7. Sunshine when I got home

It was a good sign when I woke up from my nap somewhere over England, and the skies looked like this:

Seems like a very nice mini vacation, jjpb3.

Yep, StarG, not too shabby.

THE END

[Kyo]

5. Strategically caving in to temptations (II): lunch at De Belhamel restaurant (tummy-stretcher? Here you go, Kyo )

Truly classy! Well done, my good sir! Front of the class!

[UMD]

I really miss Amsterdam.

1. Amsterdam street scenes

My brother’s friend wouldn’t take my dare to buy this type of souvenir for her husband :

Good thing that your brother's friend was thinking straight. Maybe you should dare her to bring some of those tulip bulbs home instead.


3. Sometimes resisting temptations to renege on my diet

4. Strategically caving in to temptations (I): Indonesian food at Long Pura restaurant

Including my first taste of rijstaffel:

The rijstaffel for 2 people, supplemented by the bebek bali and sate tahu, was enough for 4 small Pinoys.


5. Strategically caving in to temptations (II): lunch at De Belhamel restaurant (tummy-stretcher? Here you go, Kyo )

WOW! I need to get the address for De Belhamel from you. The venison and the monkfish do look delicious.

How did you like the Rijstaffel? The food at Long Pura looks very good as well.

[jjpb3]

WOW! I need to get the address for De Belhamel from you. The venison and the monkfish do look delicious.

How did you like the Rijstaffel? The food at Long Pura looks very good as well.

Brouwersgracht 60. The only reason I knew about it was that a couple of friends (or really, a friend couple) lived in Amsterdam. Haalemstraat is the charming street you can stroll on after your meal.

Absolutely loved the rijstaffel. Service and food at Long Pura are impeccable. I'm sure they'd be even more thrilled to meet people who spoke Bahasa Indonesia.

[mec]

Chocolate raspberry cake on the left, I-forget-what-kind-of-crème-brulée on the right (but oh, it was gooood) -- the crème brulée tasting was for mec, really!)

I so hate you right now!!

[9V-SIA]

Lovely TR.

Enjoyed the street scenes and especially the food porn

Luckily about to have my breakfast.

Pics of food should not be viewed on an empty stomach!!!!

[HUGE AL]

jjpb3, the Indonesian food (some of the best I've had has been in AMS) and the canned cannabis brought back some wonderful memories of one of my favorite cities...LOOOOOOOONG overdue for a visit.

[nickbot]

I so hate you right now!!

Ahh, don't hate him Sir,...knowing jjpb3 he'll have only eaten half I don't think I've met anyone with a higher level of self control

[phaleesy]

jjpb3, good to know that you've had a great time with the family. Thanks for the excellent TR. Nice photos, very symmetrical.

Get going on the guilt, then do your penance later, when you get home.

I always think of you when I embark on a big meal, don't know why!
I'd say to myself, 'sin first, then repent later, jjpb3 would approve.'