AMSTERDAM

I had long dreamed of a trip to Amsterdam. I leave on an Alitalia plane from Milan Linate. Return ticket price 210 euros. I had left Milan with an unbelievable heat, certain that in Amsterdam I would find decidedly more bearable temperatures anyway. Schiphol appears to me more beautiful than the guides had described, I find it decidedly very modern, elegant and with many refreshment points in the arrivals area. After having a hamburger at Mc Donald's, I go down with my suitcase to the floor below and take the train that takes me to Amsterdam in 20 mnt. The trains in Holland are beautiful and evocative, coloured yellow with ample and elegant interiors.

Once at Centraal station, I get on the Metro and arrive at Gaasperplas at the Tulip Inn Riverside hotel which however I would advise against only because it is too far from the city centre, but located in an area full of greenery and tranquillity. Even though I reach the hotel late in the evening, I decide to go out anyway and enjoy my first night in Amsterdam, visiting the very famous Dam Square and the red-light district, full of many restaurants and pubs and the girls in the windows inviting you in. The following days are a succession of emotions. I visit the national history museum, the royal palace, the Begijnhof, Muntplein with the Munttoren, Rembrandt Square, the Vondelpark and the rock café, the old church, Anne Frank's house, the Rijksmuseum, the sex museum, and I take the boat tour along the canals.

One of the 5 days I dedicate to an excursion out of the city to Zaanse Schans, ( a heavenly place, full of windmills: if you feel like dreaming come here. ), but also Volendam and Marken with a 30,00 euro ticket bought at an agency on the Damrak. Amsterdam however is not a big city and therefore can be visited in less than 5 days. Take an umbrella with you even in summer because a sunny day can turn into a typically autumn day. I bought one in a shop on the Kalverstraat for 5,00 euros. As for eating there is an embarrassment of choice. the restaurants are countless and there are many Italian ones. The Argentinian ones are special, where they make really good steaks, but I also recommend the rock café for frighteningly huge hamburgers.

The strippenkarte for travelling on tram, metro and bus is no longer on sale, replaced instead by a single ticket valid 1 hour on all public transport at the price of 2,60 euros