Photos and cauliflower :D
Feb. 12th, 2009 08:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Okay, here are some pics from Amsterdam. None with me in, sorry. I only ever upload photos of myself to Facebook. On the plus side, LJ people know how I really think, so good trade-off? Yes?

Just outside the Anne Frank house. You're not allowed to take photos in there, nor in any museum, nor in the Red Light district, so the most amazing places? I cannae show you.

Well, okay. You can see some chicks in the Red Light district. It was strange but wonderful to see such natural beauty in a quite seedy place. I didn't feel threatened or intimidated in this area, though, which is more than I can say for the damned Pigalle district of Paris.

This was some really funny exhibition in the sex 'museum'. She's more on the scary scale than sexy, though.

So one night, we went to this sushi buffet which was all, ALL YOU CAN EAT!!11. We went in and were presented with a list of rules that ran allllll the way down one side and onto the next page. You were only allowed 25 dishes (we never made it anywhere near that, but we were deeply annoyed at the false marketing) and you had to eat every. single. last. bit that you ordered or you would be charged 2 Euros for every unfinished piece. So, early on, we orded a bowl of edamame each. And these two massive bowls came out. Neither of us could finish them, so we panicked and popped them, hid them underneath each other, behind the menu, under the table, took some to the toilet and flushed them. It was terrifying. I felt like I was five years old and would get my legs slapped, but it was quite funny.

There is just so much in Amsterdam, with just about everything catered for. We were fascinated by this Buddhist temple we ran into, so popped inside to learn about the place and the teachings (the monks were pleased to show people around and answer questions). It was very peaceful and beautiful.

We tried Dutch cuisine as well, in a really nice restaurant. I looooove pickled herring and all that, so this was great.

I found Dutch cuisine very, very similar to northern English. This is so something my dad would cook, except he'd probably not plate it nicely. I really liked it. Made a change from tapas. >:)

It's just a really great city, beautiful, friendly, with tonnes to do.

It even caters to my morbid side. Yay!
I am deadly serious about moving to Amsterdam. I've talked it over with my flatmate and I'm aiming for August, as I need to give my job a year and I should have one last mosquito-ridden summer in Spain. I hope I can stick with it - I'm tiring of Spain and want the comfortable trappings of northern Europe again, but I'm really enjoying my job at the moment and learning a lot. Should one stay just for a job? I dunno.
Also! I read in The Guardian a couple of days ago that cauliflower sales are plummeting, on account of them looking like dalek brains [sic] and tasting like rubber. I myself have had a terrible aversion to them for my entire life, hating their pasty vegetable complexions and their boiled, tired presence in my parents' cooking.
Just outside the Anne Frank house. You're not allowed to take photos in there, nor in any museum, nor in the Red Light district, so the most amazing places? I cannae show you.
Well, okay. You can see some chicks in the Red Light district. It was strange but wonderful to see such natural beauty in a quite seedy place. I didn't feel threatened or intimidated in this area, though, which is more than I can say for the damned Pigalle district of Paris.
This was some really funny exhibition in the sex 'museum'. She's more on the scary scale than sexy, though.
So one night, we went to this sushi buffet which was all, ALL YOU CAN EAT!!11. We went in and were presented with a list of rules that ran allllll the way down one side and onto the next page. You were only allowed 25 dishes (we never made it anywhere near that, but we were deeply annoyed at the false marketing) and you had to eat every. single. last. bit that you ordered or you would be charged 2 Euros for every unfinished piece. So, early on, we orded a bowl of edamame each. And these two massive bowls came out. Neither of us could finish them, so we panicked and popped them, hid them underneath each other, behind the menu, under the table, took some to the toilet and flushed them. It was terrifying. I felt like I was five years old and would get my legs slapped, but it was quite funny.
There is just so much in Amsterdam, with just about everything catered for. We were fascinated by this Buddhist temple we ran into, so popped inside to learn about the place and the teachings (the monks were pleased to show people around and answer questions). It was very peaceful and beautiful.
We tried Dutch cuisine as well, in a really nice restaurant. I looooove pickled herring and all that, so this was great.
I found Dutch cuisine very, very similar to northern English. This is so something my dad would cook, except he'd probably not plate it nicely. I really liked it. Made a change from tapas. >:)
It's just a really great city, beautiful, friendly, with tonnes to do.
It even caters to my morbid side. Yay!
I am deadly serious about moving to Amsterdam. I've talked it over with my flatmate and I'm aiming for August, as I need to give my job a year and I should have one last mosquito-ridden summer in Spain. I hope I can stick with it - I'm tiring of Spain and want the comfortable trappings of northern Europe again, but I'm really enjoying my job at the moment and learning a lot. Should one stay just for a job? I dunno.
Also! I read in The Guardian a couple of days ago that cauliflower sales are plummeting, on account of them looking like dalek brains [sic] and tasting like rubber. I myself have had a terrible aversion to them for my entire life, hating their pasty vegetable complexions and their boiled, tired presence in my parents' cooking.
I was inspired to give my arch enemy another whirl, picking one up for 90 cents. I threw some into some pasta one night, some in a curry the next and tonight I tried the dreaded cauliflower cheese. Reader, it was awesome. I finally had the guts to make a roux and bechamel myself (are you impressed, saffronlie?) and made the tasiest damned cauliflower cheese I have ever tasted. Granted, it was one by way of France (bleu d'Auvergne) and India (spices and a cheeky pinch of curry powder), but....mmm. All is forgiven, cauliflower. :D
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 09:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 09:55 pm (UTC)But marra! You know I cook really well. I just get scared of the craziest, simplest things.
...Like cakes D:
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 11:59 pm (UTC)And never mind
no subject
Date: 2009-02-13 09:28 am (UTC)digusting woman!
anyway, on thoughts to moving to Amsterdam why not? its a free trade and it is nice to a Brit taking advantage of it, instead of moaning about it. Go Girl! (i would say though, make sure you got a job first)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-13 09:45 am (UTC)Also, we passed that temple when we met up with
no subject
Date: 2009-02-13 01:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-13 01:59 pm (UTC)