Arcticterntalk.org

The blog of a travelling psychiatrist and football lover. Who happens to be a halfway decent photographer. Takes a cynical view of the world

Archive for the tag “amsterdam beer”

Amsterdam Graffiti and Graffiti Art


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Photographs of 24 Hours in Amsterdam


Amsterdam is in my opinion the most photogenic city in Europe and maybe the world. Despite having been there with cameras numerous times there are always things to photograph and see. With only my I Phone this time the weather changes were immense ranging from snowing to sun in 15 minutes and cloud formations to match.

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This time however I took more than a passing interest in the amsterdam graffiti, or graffiti art depending upon how one visualises this option. Graffiti was everywhere including in the urinals that adorn the canals. One knows they are urinals before entering them from the odour de latrine that they ooze for many yards. The question that resonated in my head was who painted the graffiti in them, why did they do it and even how did they do it?

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The Graffiti on the walls was far more eloquent and spoke to a lot of thought before painting. I have posted many blogs already on Amsterdam and the risk is repetition, so I have attempted to minimise anything previously photographed and take views or views from angles that are new. Like Penguin graffiti. A real new experience for me.

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The place was wet and this was easily determined by how much rain fell on one’s head but if that judgement felt unsound then the standing water on the tram tracks gave a better explanation.

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Wet Tram Tracks Amsterdam

Vondelpark is always beautiful but less so on a grey day, however with a little sun it begins to show its charm. However the muddy paths showed again how wet the last few days had been.

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Gates of Vondelpark Amsterdam

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Vondelpark Amsterdam

Even Central Station joined in the fun looking grand in the warm light with the clouds looking like they were dancing in the sky.

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Amsterdam is truly a beautiful city and just an hour walking along the canals it does not matter so much which direction one walks, just remembering that the canals are best thought of as onion rings outside each other and eventually leading to Central Station.IMG_2038IMG_2033IMG_2032IMG_2015

And if you cycle there which has its positives and negatives in terms of enjoyment and death risk, it might not be so easy to remember where you left your bicycle.Unless you left it next to the penguin graffiti in which case it might still be there. Maybe

Paradiso is a world famous music venue but one would never know that from the outside. An old church converted into a music venue in which many famous names have played. Including Lady Gaga, Duran Duran, Joy Division, David Bowie, Suede and Rolling Stones, amongst hundreds.

Paradiso Amsterdam

Paradiso Amsterdam

Amsterdam Food. A Photographic Memory


The Best omellete in Amsterdam

The Best omellete in Amsterdam

Coffee in Amsterdam

Coffee in Amsterdam

Make your own Magnum. Amsterdam

Make your own Magnum. Amsterdam

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Amsterdam- City of Curious Things and Curious People


Most people are aware of Amsterdam as a great city to have fun and observe life and people. Behind the obvious sights there lies a whole host of strange things and people, and some cute things as well. Amsterdam has the ability to both shock and enlighten. Walking down a city centre street I am not sure what shocked me the most, that a haircut coild cost 45 euros or that someone had written a book titled ” The Philosophy of Beards”. True that maybe a bottle of nice mexican beer came free too.

In Vondelspark a strange gentleman with a horse’s head was playing what I imagine was some sort of tambourine. I use the term playing lightly. He was making a kind of repetitive banging noise which only seemed to stop when we was given money, so I consider this a good cause to donate a euro too. Plus no scowling when I took his photograph.

There are many shops including a number that sell whole cheeses in sizes that must make an interesting hand luggage size. Shops where they close and put up nice signs such as ” we are sorry we are closing and will not be in your palate for a few days” instead of handwritten closed signs. Pizza restaurants where they say ” no cash” rather different from the UK sunday curry buffets where its cash only. I wonder why. Beer that is actually cold with glasses kept in the freezer. Coffee that not only tastes good but looks good and can be drunk by a canal watching boats and people go by. A shop where you can make your own Magnum, at a price though around 4 euros. Maybe the best omelette I have ever tasted. From an Irish Pub actually next to the Paradiso.

The Best omellete in Amsterdam

The Best omellete in Amsterdam

Musician with a Horse Head.

Musician with a Horse Head.

Not entirely sure that words can describe this? Vondelspark man.

Not entirely sure that words can describe this?
Vondelspark man.

Coffee in Amsterdam

Coffee in Amsterdam

Awful gifts Amsterdam

Awful gifts Amsterdam

Fake Tulips

Fake Tulips

awful Hat Amsterdam

awful Hat Amsterdam

Batman returns to amsterdam

Batman returns to amsterdam

Where is the last pair?

Where is the last pair?

Batman returns to amsterdam

Batman returns to amsterdam

Make your own Magnum. Amsterdam

Make your own Magnum. Amsterdam

Boat trips on the canals Amsterdam

Boat trips on the canals Amsterdam

Boat trips on the canals Amsterdam

Boat trips on the canals Amsterdam

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Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera

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Would you pay 45 euros in a Barber shop for a basic haircut and to understand the philosophy of beards ?


Amsterdam has the ability to both shock and enlighten. Walking down a city centre street I am not sure what shocked me the most, that a haircut coild cost 45 euros or that someone had written a book titled ” The Philosophy of Beards”. True that maybe a bottle of nice mexican beer came free too.

Expensive haircut. 45 euros in amsterdam.

Expensive haircut. 45 euros in amsterdam.

The philosophy of beards.Expensive haircut. 45 euros in amsterdam.

The philosophy of beards.Expensive haircut. 45 euros in amsterdam.

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