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L’Ostreade Bar Fruits de Mer

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Unfortunately this fine restaurant is now gone, replaced by a chain. Sorry to see it go.

Fresh fish direct from the sea, in Paris. Pure heaven is to be found at L’Ostreade with it’s bright contemporary interior and fine cuisine.

Info:
Off the Avenue du Maine, L’Ostreade Bar Fruits de Mer is between the Hospital Pasteur and the Cemetary Montparnasse… but don’t worry you won’t need either location after eating here. Open from 8:30 am until 11 pm.

Please rate this restaurant and offer your comments to other visitors!

Address:
11 Bd. de Vaugirard
Paris 75015

Phone: 01 43 21 87 41

La Brouette

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La Brouette

Grand Place

Brussels

Salles De Banquets & Reunions

‘A Votre Disposition’

2 Triple Westmalle Beers – 7.20 euros (290 Belgian Francs) including IVA and service.

On the Grand Place, in Brussels, is a café named La Brouette, where we stopped by one Saturday afternoon for a drink. The ‘Place’ was packed, with stalls offering regional food and drink lined up in the center, and of course, hordes of tourists and locals milling around. We had a fine view and listen to the drum and fife band from Asturias in Spain, tried in vain to get a plate of mussels in Brussels, and settled for a beer; here.

It turned out to be quite the psychedelic experience as we were taught how to pour beer. Properly. By the waiter, by example. He also explained that with live yeast beers like Westmalle, to never drink it all the way to the bottom. This way one avoids drinking the majority of live yeast, clumped in the bottom of the bottle, and also avoids indigestion according to our voluble waiter.

The interior is splendid, and is probably a wonderful place for a grand dinner on the Grand Place. Enjoy!

PK’s Jungle Village

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PK’s Jungle Village

Cape Tribulation has been a popular backpacker destination for decades. During this time PK’s Jungle Village has serviced their needs in this remote outpost where the rainforest meets the beach. With a superb location right on Myall Beach, PK’s is a choice spot for your stay in Cape Tribulation.


Young international travelers still flock to PKs, enjoying the youth hostel feel of the place. But now older travelers, like myself, who spent a few nights here in the early 1980s, find the same youthful feeling returning again. Fortunately, we can now stay in PK’s new ensuite airconditioned cabins, rather than roughing it with the kids in dorms with bunk beds or staying in PK’s campground.


PK’s is a world unto itself, with a popular restaurant (buffet), it’s famous Jungle Bar, IGA supermarket, ATM, communal kitchen, pool, Internet access, even a pharmacy. The expanded range of accomodation now suits all budgets and requirements. The new ac cabins are located closest to the beach and are about as good as can be found at the Cape, yet not expensive.


New AC Cabins at PK’s


The resort’s jungle setting provides an appropriate ambiance for the area. Tropical plants like ginger, banana, palms and colorful flowers surround you with lush vegetation. A interesting boardwalk takes you to the beach through a mangrove forest.


The young, friendly staff at Pk’s are very helpful and can arrange bookings for activities like scuba diving, horseback riding, rainforest walks or four-wheel drive adventures.


So if you’re looking to make some new friends and stay in one of the coolest places along Queensland’s coast, PK’s is just the ticket.

Click here for more Australia hotel and accomodation information.

Rembrandthuis

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The Rembrandthuis Museum is where the famous painter established his own studios here in Amsterdam, and lived with his family from 1639 to 1658.

He eventually left after declaring bankruptcy, and the home has been restored with approximations of it’s original furnishings based on an inventory of his possessions from that time.

Most of the building is devoted to his daily life from the time, and is of course, filled with paintings and art.

Part two of the museum is the new museum wing, where you will find exhibition rooms. The museum shop, the entrance to the museum café, the auditorium and the Rembrandt Information Centre are also located in the new wing.

On the fifth floor is the Rembrandt Information Center, where you can research on DC-rom, in books and other publications. By appointment only.

Info:
Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, except Sundays and holidays when they open from 1 pm to 5 pm.

Admission is 7 euros for adults, children under age 6 are free, 6 to 15 1.50 euros.

Easily reached from the Waterlooplein or the Dam Square.

Vakbondmuseum

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The Vakbondmuseum! You’re asking why?

Well this building is so interesting that if you have any interest in architecture that you must visit.

Designed by the founder of the Amsterdam school of Architecture, Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856- 1934), who was a forceful figure on reshaping Amsterdam into what we see now in the 21st Century. The building was created for the thriving diamond industry whose capital was in Amsterdam at the time. Now the National Trade Unions Museum (or Vakbondsmuseum De Burcht) has its home here.

The museum’s website offers the following description: “Inside, you’re under the illusion that you have entered the covered courtyard of a Mediterranean palace. Sunlight streams down through a double roof of yellow and white glass and, passing through glass floor tiles, penetrates as far as the basement. The walls are of yellow, white and blue glazed brick and are relieved by vaults, columns and balustrades. An enormous hanging lamp high in the glass cupola, dominates the most beautiful of Amsterdam’s staircases. In the stylish rooms, you can enjoy paintings by Richard Roland Holst, stained glass windows, wooden panelling and furniture designed by Berlage himself. You can explore as high as the tower room that offers a view of the impressive cupola construction. In the high tower, you will see a lighted window pane in the form of a diamond.”

Info:
To get here take tram #9 from Centraal Station and get off at the Plantage Kerklaan.

Admission is just f5 guilders or f3 for seniors and children. MJK holders are free.

Open Sundays through Fridays until 5 pm.

Address:
Henri Polaklaan 9
Amsterdam 1018 CP

Phone: 31(20) 6241166

Verzetsmuseum

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The Dutch Resistance Museum (Verzetsmuseum)

The museum itself provides the best description:

“The exhibition tells a chronological story from approximately 1930 to 1950, in which information is offered in various ‘layers’. A visitor striding through the exhibition will get an overall picture of a rather indolent Dutch society in the thirties, experience the shock of the unexpected German invasion, then discover that both the oppression and resistance to it gradually intensify in the occupation years as the war progresses, finally to realize that experiences of this period are still playing a role in today’s society. A visitor looking a little more closely will be able to gather more detailed information, particularly from individual examples.”

Info:
Located near the Hortus and the Artis on the east side of Amsterdam. To get there take tram #9 or 14 to Plantage Middenlaan and walk two short blocks to the door.

Houseboat Museum

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Fine example of Dutch life aboard one of the unique houseboats lining Amsterdam’s canals. Go on board yourself to look around, and marvel at the comfy interiors made from the former cargo holds of these former commercial boats.

Located in the heart of Amsterdam, on the Prinsengracht opposite #296.

Open Wednesday through Sunday 11 to 5 in March through October. During the winter months from November to February open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 5pm. Adult admission is 4.75 guilders.

Van Loon Museum

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If you are curious about how Dutch nobility lived in centuries past you may visit the Van Loon Museum on the Keizersgracht at number 672.

The double-sized canal house was constructed in 1672. The first person to live here was the painter Ferdinand Bol, one of Rembandt’s most famous pupils.

In the sixteenth century the Van Loon’s moved to Amsterdam from the south of Holland to flee the Spanish occupation and became respected members of Amsterdam society. Several Van Loons are former mayors (burgemeesters) of Amsterdam, and the last resident was Thora van Loon – Egidius. She was Dame du Palais of Queen Wilhelmina for forty years.

The house is filled with an amazing collection of artwork, and has exhibitions on a regular basis.

An added bonus here is the spectacular gardens behind the house, which have been extensively renovated over the centuries into an amazing creation, in formal Dutch style of course.

Info:
Open Fridays through Mondays from 11 am until 5 pm. Admission is 4.50 euros for adults. Museumjaarkart holders are admitted free, children under 12 are fee.

Allard Pierson Museum

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Amsterdam’s finest museum of the antiquities, and especially noted for it’s Egyptian displays (including a complete mummie), as well as a fine library, auditorium and research facilities. The museum has lived in several locations since it’s inception during the 1920’s. Originally on the Weesperzijde, then on Sarphtistraat, and is now in the former headquarters of the Nederlandsche Bank. This rather opulent building, located on the Rokin, is just past the Dam Square, on the left side of the canal when walking from Central Station. There are a number of trams that stop directly in front of the museum (4, 9, 16, 24 and 25).

Admission is quite reasonable, adults pay 4.30 euros for entrance. Children and seniors are less.

Closed Mondays and on Holidays, the museum is open generally from 10 am to 5 pm.

There is no parking in the area, except for a handicapped spot right in front of the door.