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Amsterdam<br />
Netherlands<br />
DIALLING CODE +31<br />
CURRENCY €<br />
FROM THE<br />
AIRPORT<br />
Visit the Europcar<br />
desk on arrival<br />
for special easyJet<br />
infl ight rates.<br />
Holiday Taxis<br />
(easyJet.holiday<br />
taxis.com) take you from<br />
home to the airport, then<br />
city or destination.<br />
TAXI<br />
The journey to<br />
the centre costs<br />
about €40.<br />
There are seven<br />
trains an hour from<br />
Schiphol airport to<br />
Centraal station. Tickets:<br />
€3.80 single.<br />
BON APPETIT<br />
UP TO €15 Foodism<br />
(8 Oude Leliestraat, tel:<br />
020 427 5103) Nestled<br />
cosily between two<br />
picturesque canals, this<br />
funky place excels at<br />
freshly made salads and<br />
tasty sandwiches.<br />
UP TO €30<br />
De Struisvogel<br />
(312 Keizersgracht,<br />
tel: 020 423 3817) The<br />
name means ostrich,<br />
and that’s exactly what<br />
you’ll fi nd on the menu,<br />
alongside other organic<br />
meat at this rustic joint.<br />
UP TO €50 Fifteen<br />
(9 Jollemanhof, tel: 010<br />
714 7201) Jamie Oliver’s<br />
outpost has a luscious,<br />
warm glow. The<br />
restaurant propels<br />
youngsters towards<br />
culinary excellence –<br />
hearty fare rules here.<br />
EXCLUSIVE Vinkeles<br />
(384 Keizersgracht, tel:<br />
020 530 2010) Housed<br />
in a 17th-century bakery,<br />
chef Dennis Kuipers<br />
specialises in French<br />
cuisine with a twist. Try<br />
the coffee couscous.<br />
AFTER DARK<br />
LOW KEY Proust (4<br />
Noordermarkt, tel: 020<br />
623 9145) Proust is<br />
a trendy post-market<br />
pitstop, serving quality<br />
snacks, sandwiches and<br />
deliciously cold beer.<br />
LIVE MUSIC<br />
Melkweg (234A<br />
Lijnbaansgracht, tel:<br />
020 531 8181) Its name<br />
means milky way, and<br />
a galaxy of credible stars<br />
old and new fl ock to this<br />
hip, arty space set back<br />
from the hustle and<br />
bustle of the Leidseplein.<br />
PARK PLAZA<br />
VICTORIA<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
A royal-looking<br />
exterior houses<br />
warm and friendly<br />
surroundings at the<br />
Park Plaza Victoria.<br />
Rooms are luxurious<br />
yet unpretentious with<br />
dark wood furnishings<br />
and a homely décor.<br />
From €109, book at<br />
holidays.easyJet.com.<br />
LATE & LIVELY Flex<br />
Bar (1 Pazzanistraat,<br />
tel: 020 486 2123)<br />
Party all night in two<br />
cavernous spaces at<br />
Flex Bar, the go-to place<br />
for electronica music,<br />
attracting acclaimed<br />
international DJs.<br />
THIS MONTH<br />
SHOP At this time of<br />
year, Dutch tradition<br />
dictates that you give<br />
loved ones a sweet<br />
bearing their fi rst<br />
initial. The beautiful,<br />
handmade letters at Van<br />
Soest are just the ticket<br />
(143 Utrechtsestraat).<br />
SEE Amsterdam’s<br />
annual Millionaire Fair is<br />
a luxury extravaganza<br />
for the rich and the<br />
wannabe-rich where<br />
you can indulge in<br />
diamond dog collars<br />
and other extravagant<br />
gifts (10–14 December,<br />
RAI, 22 Europaplein).<br />
GO Rising from the<br />
waters, the Openbare<br />
library is an architectural<br />
wonder, and the top<br />
fl oor boasts unique<br />
views across town.<br />
Students are currently<br />
away for Christmas, so<br />
you can enjoy having<br />
the run of the place (143<br />
Oosterdokskade, tel:<br />
020 523 0900, oba.nl).<br />
ESCAPE A 40-minute<br />
bike ride south takes you<br />
to Amstelveen, a town<br />
full of suburban thrills.<br />
Check out the art<br />
museum (CoBra) and<br />
Bijenkorf store.<br />
NO WAY!<br />
Amsterdam Schiphol<br />
Airport is 4.5m below<br />
sea level!<br />
Mark Smith<br />
Asturias<br />
Spain<br />
DIALLING CODE +34<br />
CURRENCY €<br />
FROM THE<br />
AIRPORT<br />
Visit the Europcar<br />
desk on arrival<br />
for special easyJet<br />
infl ight rates.<br />
Holiday Taxis<br />
(easyJet.holiday<br />
taxis.com) take you from<br />
home to the airport, then<br />
city or destination.<br />
TAXI<br />
The fare to Oviedo<br />
is about €53, Gijón<br />
€45 and Avilés €23.<br />
The Express bus<br />
runs hourly from<br />
6am–10pm (but not<br />
at 9pm) to Oviedo and<br />
Gijón; and every two<br />
hours on the weekend.<br />
Tickets: €6.15.<br />
BON APPETIT<br />
UP TO €15 La<br />
Iglesiona (34 Begoña,<br />
Gijón, tel: 985 354 231)<br />
This is a bustling central<br />
restaurant with rustic<br />
décor serving excellent<br />
value lunchtime<br />
specials, often including<br />
sirloin steak.<br />
UP TO €30 Casa<br />
Sagües (Barrio<br />
Valdelabarca, Arenas<br />
de Cabrales, tel: 985<br />
846 656) Savour hearty<br />
Asturian food in this<br />
rustic restaurant tucked<br />
in the foothills of the<br />
Picos de Europa. Try the<br />
warming fabada (bean<br />
DESTINATION GUIDES | 115<br />
stew) washed down<br />
with tasty local cider.<br />
UP TO €50 Asador<br />
La Bolera (355 Avenida<br />
Jardín Botánico, Gijón,<br />
tel: 984 193 422)<br />
A fun eatery in the leafy<br />
suburbs specialising<br />
in meat cooked on<br />
a wood-fi red barbecue.<br />
Try the suckling pig,<br />
tender lamb or fi sh<br />
of the day.<br />
EXCLUSIVE<br />
El Puerto (Paseo de<br />
Claudio Alvargonzález,<br />
Gijón, tel: 985 349 096)<br />
A smart restaurant<br />
overlooking the harbour<br />
gives attentive service,<br />
fantastic cuisine and an<br />
extensive wine list. The<br />
gourmet menu offers<br />
house specialities at<br />
a reasonable price and<br />
main course options<br />
includes both delicious<br />
meat and fi sh dishes.<br />
AFTER DARK<br />
LOW KEY<br />
La Garamont<br />
(5 Covadonga, Gijón)<br />
Chill out with an aperitif<br />
on cool leather sofas<br />
in this new, trendy,<br />
retro-inspired bar just<br />
off Plaza San Miguel.<br />
LIVE MUSIC Savoy<br />
Drinks and Music<br />
(2 Pelayo, Gijón) Rub<br />
shoulders with a relaxed<br />
crowd of all ages and<br />
enjoy free live music on<br />
Thursdays–Saturdays<br />
starting at midnight and<br />
fi nishing late.<br />
LATE & LIVELY<br />
La Folixa Sound Club<br />
(6 Jacobo Olañeta,<br />
Gijón) There’s non-stop<br />
fun in this club near the<br />
beach, open till 6.30am.<br />
Resident DJs play pop,<br />
blues and soul.<br />
THIS MONTH<br />
SHOP You can fi nd<br />
all kinds of superb<br />
Asturian food products<br />
at specialist shop<br />
Crivencar in central<br />
Oviedo. Choose from<br />
delicious cheese<br />
and cold meats<br />
(3 Melquiades Álvarez).<br />
SEE Get into the<br />
Christmas spirit and<br />
visit the life-size nativity<br />
scenes installed in the<br />
picturesque square<br />
in front of Oviedo’s<br />
impressive cathedral.<br />
It’s a yearly tradition<br />
which fascinates adults<br />
and children alike.<br />
GO The old fi sherman’s<br />
quarter of Cimadevilla<br />
near Gijón, has<br />
smartened up over<br />
recent years, but the<br />
narrow cobbled streets<br />
still maintain their<br />
original character<br />
and house numerous<br />
lively bars and<br />
restaurants as well<br />
as two small museums.<br />
ESCAPE The rugged<br />
Asturian coast is<br />
renowned for its<br />
breathtaking beauty,<br />
and the Playa del<br />
Silencio near Cudillero,<br />
voted as one of the top<br />
10 beaches in Spain, is<br />
ideal for those who want<br />
to get away from it all.<br />
The trip from Oviedo<br />
takes about 40 minutes.<br />
NO WAY!<br />
Bump into Woody Allen<br />
on Milicias Nacionales,<br />
off the Calle Uría, where<br />
there’s a statue of the<br />
director who picked up<br />
the prestigious ‘Principe<br />
de Asturias’ Arts award<br />
here in 2002.<br />
Karen Thomas
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