A question to Sjoerd - #2
 

Mr. Sjoerd (I knew you were/are a man!) <BR>Hi! It is me again! I hope i am not boring/abusing you with these - maybe for you, stupids questions! My question #2 is: Do I have to worry about the bugs? I am going in september and need to know if i will have to pack something to fight them back. And i would like to ask you if there is a problem to a women alone go to a restaurant at 6-9pm in the Nieuwmarkt area (actually the place is the Café Bern - I am crazy to eat their fondue!). I am worry beacause the place is next to the Red District - Am I go back to the hotel (that is in the museum area) in one piece or better not to go? (I will walk the whole time). One more time many thanks for your attention and precious time!

Normally, there are no "bug problems", but if you are sensitive for them or attractive to them :-), why not take something just in case? <BR>Yes, no problems for a woman alone to walk through the Red Light District. It is very busy late in the evening. Just avoid the drug pushers. A loud "No" (or better "Nee") to anything they offer/ask you is sufficient. <BR>

I am not fluent in Dutch, but your instructions to nk to say "Nee" translates to an American as "Nay" - - right? not "Knee"....?

Rex, you are right. "Nee" in Dutch is pronounced like "nay" in English. <BR>

Here's another one Sjoerd. Our guidebook said that the VVV offices were pronounced as Fey, Fey, Fey. So when we were in Amsterdam we asked a couple of policemen for directions to the Fey, Fey, Fey office. They looked at us a moment and said, "The Vee, Vee, Vee is over there."

Well, I assume you were asking your question in English? "Where is the Fey, Fey, Fey, please?" So maybe they just wanted to be nice and replied in English too. "Vee, Vee, Vee". Anyway, there is always going to be a small difference between the "real" pronunciation of a word and the phonetic translation given to foreigners. Sometimes the locals can, but non-native speakers can NOT hear that difference. For instance, I know a Spanish speaker who can not hear the difference between the pronunciation of the words "vis", "vies" and "fiets" in Dutch. ("fish", "dirty" and "bicycle") Leads to hilarious situations! <BR>

Yes I was asking the rest of the question in English which, now that I think of it, seems a bit ridiculous.

When non-Dutch people try to ask for 2 beers (twee =2) they are usually given 3 as it sounds like english "three". <BR> I try to speak the language of the country I'm in, but in Holland I keep it to a minimum, as people speak English so well that I just cause confusion. <BR>I'd still say all visitors should have a go, though! <BR>Sjoerd, I was told a joke by a Dutch translator, concerning the Dutch habit of freely mixing Dutch & English words. <BR>This was told in the context of my partner Margaret's interest in horses. <BR>My spelling may be a bit off...... <BR> A prominent Dutch horsebreeder(ess) is attending a horse fair in England, and is interviewed by a roving local radio reporter: <BR>Q - And why are you at the horse fair, madam? <BR>A - Er,... I foch horses! <BR>Q - Pardon? <BR>A - Yes, horses! <BR> <BR>(pardon = horse, foch = breed?) <BR> <BR> <BR>

Yes, that is a nice one. "Paarden" (pronounced more or less like pardon) is "horses" and "fok" is "breed". :-) <BR>