We visited Amsterdam about a month ago and really enjoyed it. (please click on link below to see June 23, 2014).
It’s raining today, and not very nice.
We had great timing by seeing Anne Frank’s house and some other sights last time, when we had nicer weather.
This time, we will just walk around a bit and see what happens. As I’ve said before, there’s so much to see and do in Amsterdam it’s almost too much.
The fact that we’ve done practically everything there is to do; means we can enjoy the city a little more by not joining a tour, and maybe sit in a restaurant or coffee house and watch the world go by. Speaking of Coffee Houses –
Some interesting facts I didn’t tell you about in my last Amsterdam post –
Coffee Shops
A coffee shop in Amsterdam is described as a café that does not sell alcoholic beverages, but may – under certain circumstances – sell “soft drugs.” This, even though the sale of soft drugs is against the law! (It seems the court system has a low priority of this type of offense by coffee shop owners).
It’s OK, provided they: 1) sell only small quantities (less than 5 grams, per person, per day); 2) No hard drugs may be sold; 3) the coffee shop must not cause a nuisance; 4) no drugs may be sold to a minor under 18; 5) minors may not be allowed in, or admitted on, the premises; 6) Coffee House counters must be smoke free; 7) No smoking of REGULAR tobacco; 8) Smoking is banned in coffee shops.
SMOKING ELSEWHERE
Smoking is banned in restaurants, cafés; bars and nightclubs. Smoking is allowed in separate areas if drinks and food are not served. Proprietors may have a separate room or glass partition for smokers, but customers cannot be served any food or drinks.
Note that all public places, buildings, and transport must also be smoke-free.
__________________________________________________________________
I don’t get their laws or attitude on this, but I don’t get #’s 7 or 8 in particular: no smoking of REGULAR tobacco? Does that mean you can only smoke drugs in these places???! But # 8 bans that!! I guess the locals know what’s legal or not.
Well, I thought you’d get a laugh out of those laws . . . or, whatever they are.
Next is transit of the Kiel Canal, Germany./rl
2koolkruisers - Cruisin' the World! 