Mike Yuen — Mike talks about bridge

City Of Diamond

by Mike Yuen on October 14th, 2011

Am in Amsterdam for another day before the World Teams Championships. The last time I was here was 1972 and Gene Raskin’s “Those were the days.” sung by Mary Hopkin filled the airwaves.

There is just so much to do and see in Amsterdam!

Right in the city centre, there is the impressive Central Station used daily by 166,000 passengers daily. All trains stop here. We saw The Royal Palace on Dam Square. There are also carnival rides in this area. If you like flowers check out the flower market.

If you feel rich! You should take the tour of the Diamonds centre where you can see diamond cutting and polish process. One can hop-on-hop-off on the Canal boat tour. We took the hour tour/ride for 8 Euro.

For beer drinkers, there is the Heineken Brewery beer tour, for a small price you get two beers at the end of the tour. There is the Red Light District where you can window shop. If you feel like resting those tired feet, stop by one of the many coffee shops, where you can relax more ways then one.

For dinner, make sure you try the Rijsttafel-rice table with many side dishes. The dutch run Indonesia as a foreign colony from 1602-1945. When the Dutch return home they brought the dish back with them. For something different you can also have dinner at the Sea Palace, a floating restaurant.

Back in Veldhoven, if you are tired of eating in the hotel, be sure to check out the Dorpstraat area. It is a 20 minutes walk from the hotel. If you take the bus, at the 2nd stop from the hotel, get off at the town church.

By this evening more players have arrived. The excitement of the championship is building.