Bloemendaal Strand

I miss the beach in summer. Unfortunately, Paris doesn't have beaches... so i decided to take a trip out to Bloemendaal aa zee (beach in North Holland) from Amsterdam. It's only 30mins total from Amsterdam but it's a completely different scene.
The sand was so soft and fine, no gravel. Luckly, the sun was out and it was a perfect beach day. Not hold enough to get into the water though...

Apple pie and Coffee

Apple pie is not something that I eat often. Or even apple crumble I haven't had that in years. There was no way that I was going to not try Dutch Apple pies in Amsterdam. My friend told me about this cafe and it's a brocante (junk shop, well Op shop) and cafe in one. You can buy the things displayed in the cafe, lights, books, places cups etc. It's really cute and friendly staff and most of all, good apple pie.

Latei
Zedijk 143
1012 AW Amsterdam



Noodermarkt
1015 MV Amsterdam

On Mondays, they have a big range of vintage stalls. Of course you need to go through a mountain of not so great things to find the gold but that's part of the fun.
A great shoe stall with amazing selection. All the pairs are 15 euros.
It was a little chilly is Amsterdam even though it's August. I had to quickly find a jacket. Amongst the piles of jackets, I found a little leather jacket that actually fits me. This doesn't happen often as I'm short and also have short arms. Often ended up looking like a child who went through her mum's closet. This one was a perfect fit and only cost me 15euros.

Right next this market is a cafe Winkel 43. Some says they have the best apple pie in town. Sure enough there was a queque coming out of the cafe. Almost EVERYONE on the terrace is eating an apple pie. Yes, I had to eat one and yes, it was so delicious. It's moist in the inside and crunchy on the outside. Perfect.

Winkel 43
Noondermarkt 43
1015 NA Amsterdam

Amsterdam does fairly good coffees. When I say coffees I meant Latte. My caffeine intake was quite high during this trip and out of all, this cafe Razmataz did the best creamy milk. Not to mention, the girl at the cafe was sooooo kind that when I was umbrellaless and stuck in a pouring rain, gave me a lost property umbrella. If you wanna get out of the tourist filled Dam squire or King Street like red light district, I do recommend to take a walk and experience the life of locals.

Razmataz
Hugo de Grootplein
1052 KV Amsterdam

Amsterdam

I was always curious about Amsterdam thanks to Pulp Fiction, ever since I was 14 years old, I wanted to visit...
Canals are so nice... I don't know what it is about water that make people come out of the house in Summer. It's not like it's a beach, but it certainly has cooling effects in Summer. Houses, apartment blocks are amazing.

Coffee Shops...
I hear so many horror stories about silly tourists getting rather stoned and making fool of themselves... But, when in Rome right? I was quite careful with selection process of the Coffee Shops. I avoided those ones who look like it can exist in Byron Bay... Seriously, just because people smoke, doesn't mean we want to listen to Bob Marlery nor wear rasta colours.

As I stand in bookstore, I just stole a tip from Timeout Guide. We were near this Coffee Shop called "Tweede Karmer". It looked as if they have Jazz playing and serving Cognac and cigars. Coffee Shops are not allowed to serve alcohol so there were no Cognac, but it was very clam and were certainly no silly bong heads.

Tweede Karmer
Heisteeg 6
1012 WC Amsterdam
Centrum Area

I poped my head in to this bike rental place in Jordaan and a kinda guy behind the counter directed us to another Coffee Shop.
It's more or younger crowd/uni students. They have amazing range of sweets! All flavours of milk shakes, cakes, chocolates...

Amnesia
Herengracht 133
1015 BG Amsterdam
Jordaan Area