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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 26, 2008 - 31 Take a walk in Amsterdam A msterdam: canals, dikes, flowers -- and you'd be surprised at how quiet the city is, probably because Amsterdam's more than 700,000 people own more bikes than cars. Everyone from Grandma to the baby rides, and their luggage racks, front, back and sides, carry everything from the groceries to flowers and briefcases. Pay attention because bicyclists not only have their own paths, but also the right-of-way over both cars and pedestrians. This is not a city for cars, buy the 1Amsterdam Card 2008 for 24-, 48-, or 72-hour passes at a cost of 33,43, and 53 euros. You'll have free use of public transport, a free canal boat cruise, 25 per cent discount at several attractions and restaurants, free entrance to 24 museums, and a 25 per cent discount at the House of Bols, on last-minute concerts in the Concertgebouw, selected concerts in the Muziektheatre and IJ film screenings in the Filmmuseum. This pass also includes city walks from Zoom Tours. It truly is a terrific value. And speaking of walking tours, the tourism board has put together a new series of them. The tours offer you an opportunity to discover the city centre, the Jordaan district and Amsterdam's former Jewish quarter. Tours range from two to three and a half hours each. You can buy them at the airport or the VVV information offices. Put on your walking shoes and go exploring. This must be the best walking city anywhere, and it is flat for those of you who don't like hills. Spend some time looking at the centuries-old merchants' houses, with their richly decorated gables, facing the canals and shaded by magnificent elm trees. Enjoy trying to figure what the hook on the beam is for (the stairs are so narrow that furniture has to be winched up through the windows. If you need directions, just ask. Everybody speaks English and is delighted to set you on the right avenue. You'll love the instructions: "Walk over two canals and turn left at the third bridge." Highlights of the Amsterdam Centre walking tour include renowned sites such as the icon of modern Dutch architecture: the Beurs van Berlage, the late gothic Nieuwe Kerk (church) where crowned prince Willem Alexander married Maxima, the Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace), various theatres on the Leidseplein, the impressive Rijksmuseum, the Spiegel quarter with scores of antique shops and galleries, the Gouden Bocht on the Herengracht, the Tuschinski Theater ­ the most stunning cinema of The Netherlands, the Rembrandtplein and the Magere Brug (skinny bridge) over the Amstel River. The Jordaan is the most sung about neighbourhood of Amsterdam, and famous for its cafés, restaurants, shops, markets, narrow streets and -- most of all -- its atmosphere. The Jordaan was once a typical working-class neighbourhood, but over the years has been descended upon by students, artisans and other lifeloving bohemians. The walking tour takes you to various courtyards such as the Claes Claeszhofje and the Karthuizerhof, through the Noordermarkt with the bustling farmers market every Saturday, past the Anne Frank house and to the recently-restored Westertoren ­ the symbol of the Jordaan (although not technically part of the neighbourhood). From the 17th century until 1940, Amsterdam was one of the most prominent Jewish centres of Europe. The walking tour through the former Jewish Quarter will lead you through relics of this rich history. The tour begins and ends at the Jewish Historical Museum, housed in four former synagogues and reputed as one of the most beautiful museums of its kind. Along the route, you will become acquainted with the Gassan Diamonds building, the Rembrandthuis Museum, the Waterlooplein market, the Portuguese-Israeli retirement home, the Russian shul, the Auschwitz monument on the Wertheimplantsoen, the Hollandsche Schouwburg (former theatre), the Ashkenazi Jewish society girls orphanage, the Dokwerker (dock worker) memorial statue and the Portuguese Synagogue -- once the largest synagogue in the world. Amsterdam residents not only live by the water, sometimes they live on it. Hundreds of houseboats and barges, no two alike, line the canals. You'll be fascinated by the ones resembling brick-and-frame bungalows. I was told that Amsterdam residents, in their local bars, are interested in tourists, particularly Canadians. Anxious to put this to the test, I ventured into the Café Hoppe, one of the city's famous Brown Cafés. By the time I'd ordered my second beer, everyone around me had introduced themselves. And settled in to ask me about Canada. The Dutch like a big breakfast, but they eat it at home. There are few restaurants that serve breakfast so plan to have the first meal of the day at your hotel. Beer is cheaper in Amsterdam than coffee or soft drinks. Try a glass of jenever (Dutch gin) Amsterdam because of its central location has developed into a major gateway to Europe, probably because of its fabulous airport Schiphol. The city is fabulous too, and deserves to be explored and savoured. Sam Ion can be reached at sion10@cogeco.ca. BEAVER TRAILS TO SOUTH KOREA: Gabriela Savin, an Ontario certified teacher, took The Oakville Beaver to Seoul, where she taught English as a Second Language. Take along a copy of The Oakville Beaver on your next vacation and send it in for publication to Beaver Trails, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4 or e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. 21 DAY CRUISE HOLIDAY on the ms ZUIDERDAM Sunquest has put together an unequalled premium value cruise program for this fall. 21 Glorious days! 4-days in Venice & the Veneto Region, plus a 17-day cruise including a 6-day trans-Atlantic crossing! Depart Toronto for Venice on 19OCT08 via overnight SkyService flight. On arrival in Venice, transfer to your hotel for 3 nights ­ the Hotel Plaza Venezia ­ Mestre. With the magnificent city of Venice as your base for day touring, you will see the vineyards and estates of the Province of Treviso, in the Veneto Region of Northern Italy and visit the splendid Palladian-style Villa Sandi. You have the opportunity to enjoy wine tastings of the regions famed Prosecco and other great wines. And you will have a full day of leisure to explore Venice. You will board the ms Zuiderdam and depart Venice on 23OCT08. The Holland American cruise includes stops in Dubrovnik, Croatia; Corfu, Greece; Messina, Sicily; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Cartegena, Spain; Cadiz (Seville), Spain and Funchal (Madeira), Portugal before 6 incredible days at sea crossing the Atlantic, arriving in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas and finally disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for your return SkyService flight to Toronto on 09NOV08. Holland America Lines' ms Zuiderdam sailed her inaugural season in 2002 as the first ship in the line's famed Vista Class Series. She is an 85,000 ton, exquisitely understated, uncrowded, un-mega, 5-Star Premium ship. On board, more is the operative word. More pampering in the opulent Greenhouse Spa. More dining choices such as the two-storey Vista Dining Room, the reservations only Pinnacle Grill, the casual Terrace Café. More entertainment! More Facilities! Rates for this exclusive program include: Non-stop SkyService flights Toronto to Venice and Ft. Lauderdale to Toronto, all transfers, 3-nights accommodations at the 4-Star Hotel Plaza Venezia- Mestre, buffet breakfast daily, day touring via deluxe air conditioned motorcoach, 3 dinners in Venice, 17-day cruise on the ms Zuiderdam with meals, entertainment and activities while on board. The lead-in, Inside Cabin (J/K) rate is $3339. A Large Oceanview (C/D) with unobstructed view is $3799 per person. A Deluxe Veranda Oceanview (VC/VD) is $4099. Rates are per person twin and do not include $598 per person transportation taxes, port and security fees. BOOK BY 12MAY08 AND ENJOY PREMIER CLASS SEATING TORONTO TO VENICE ­ SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. Call us for additional information and reservations. Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville Relax... you're with us 221 Lakeshore Road E. (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com 905-337-2228 www.hookedoncruising.com To advertise in this section call 905-845-3824