Little Gems: Henri Willig Dutch cheese shop

If the French know how to eat cheese, the Dutch know how to make it. When in the Nederlands it is imperative to take advantage of any opportunity to duck into a little cheese shop and sample a selection of the worlds finest frommage. I was in Oud Amsterdams Kaashuis - a maze of ancient narrow alleyways crammed with specialty shops and tourists just off Damrak -when a bright shiny object in the window caught my eye. A unique and beautiful pair of candlesticks, elegant in their simplicity, drew me inside what turned out to be a cheese shop! I was welcomed by the friendly and beautiful Marielle and I began to browse around. Light and airy, impeccably clean, and thoughtfully arranged, this little boutique has a unique selection of gift items reasonably priced, wines to compliment your choice of cheese, and delicious chocolates. Samples are offered generously and the knowledgeable staff are happy to school you on the finer points of milk solids. I don't know what it is about Dutch goats, but the goat cheese from Holland is like eating a slice of pure heaven! I settled on a small round of Gouda - a longtime favorite - took one more pass by the aforementioned candlesticks, and promised myself to return soon. (There's a little somethin'-somethin' I want to get for my sister's birthday...) The Henri Willig family Dutch farm cheese shop is located at Haringpakkerssteeg 10-18, Amsterdam, and also online at http://www.henriwillig.com/

Little Gems: Geels & Co.

Not far from Amsterdam Centraal Station at #67 Warmoesstraat, nestled in between the smoke shops and the sex shops is a haven of the clean life: Geels & Company; specializing in tea, coffee, and all things associated with the preparation, consumption, and storage of one of lifes Grand Plasirs. The bell attached to the creaky wooden door gently announces your arrival, and the first thing that hits you is the aroma. More heavenly than anything I have ever experienced, it is a mélange of cinnamon, almonds, buttery caramel and coffee beans. If only I could bottle that aroma and take it home.......I wish I had smellavision to share it with you! It is possible to find a gift for anyone you love at Geels, from a large selection of exotically blended and beautifully packaged teas to chocolates and caramels. Teapots, teacups, and the indispensable french presse, they have it all and the prices are suprisingly reasonable. I like to try a different tea every time I visit, with favorites being their "Advent" tea and the "Palette Rembrandt". Sweet and spicy, with just a hint of heat is their "Mango Chili" blend. Delish! You can find a limited but nice selection of products for sale online at http://www.geels.nl/ but if you are in Amsterdam be sure to visit in person.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is everything you imagine it to be and more. A multi-faceted gem nestled in a setting surrounded by agriculture and commerce, it is at once a bustling center of tourism and debauchery-and a great place to settle and raise a family. "What has she been smoking" you might ask? Some pretty good shit franchement, (but that is neither here nor there). Upon arrival by train at Amsterdam Centraal Station one is immediately innundated by hordes of pedestrians rushing to and fro. Some are commuters running for the train that will carry them to work, but most are confused tourists getting in the way of the former as they navigate their way through a maze of fast food take out stands and last minute tulip vendors. Upon finding the exit one has the sense of being in sort of a Disneyland/carnival atmosphere. All trolley lines it seems begin and end at Centraal Station, a giant brick structure with two towers that house clocks large enough to see from a kilometer away. Young travelers equipped with dredlocks and backpacks hang around outside munching gyros and smoking one last fag before catching their departing trains. Beggars mingle amongst them hoping to scrounge a few euro, and there is a lone Jesus freak doing his very best to save those who have sinned in the sinningest city in Europe. Weaving through the masses of people coming and going, and taking care to mind all trolleys whose tracks crisscross over the streets, one makes one's way to Damrak, the main street in Downtown Amsterdam. And let the show begin! Do you like museums? Amsterdam has many fine installations for your enjoyment. Tired of that depressed old Vincent Van Gogh? Allow me to suggest the Vodka Museum! Just steps away you will find the ever popular Sex Museum, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and the Condomerie, where your opportunity to photograph a wide assortment of novelty condoms hanging in the window is (evidently) not to be missed. Tourist shops line the boulevard, the hot ticket items seeming to be bright orange wooden shoes, cannabis seeds, and something to drink. As in most European cities, the shops are located on the bottom floor of a multi storied dwelling, with living space in the apartments above. The architecture is difficult to describe- a sort of mélange of four storied gingerbread buildings crowded together, most leaning precariously on it's neighbor for support. Canals meander gently through the city, inviting one to rent a boat and explore quieter neighborhoods away from the circus that is downtown. It is in these quiet places one realizes what a good way of life it is in Amsterdam. There is a sense of community, acceptance and tolerance. Bicycling is the preferred mode of transportation, and the neighborhoods occupied by young families are clean and peaceful. The air is brisk and fresh, people smile easily, and every small business has a cat on premise. It is a real joy to explore by boat or bike, and the balance one needs to survive party town. Which every canal and every trolley leads back to eventually... Must do's in Amsterdam: The Anne Franck House, apple cake with cream, the "green light district", shopping the boutiques. (Amsterdam has some great fashion, much more interesting than Paris!) What to avoid: Going to the red light district to gawk at the hookers, (unless of course you are intending to hire one) ANY restaurant in the red or green light district (the food is crap), and stepping out in front of a moving bicycle (certain death) It's an Amster-dam good time!