What didnt you like
 

about Amsterdam and Italy.
There are so may wonderful reports about what everyone loved and their top 10's. I was curious what you didnt find enjoyable. Were you so disappointed that you wouldnt go back?

Personally I cant find much to say that is negative about either place. Perhaps in Venice, it was the graffiti that really bummed me out. In Amsterdam, all was perfect for my visit.

What a good question.
In Amsterdam, two things turned me off. A young man sitting by the entrance to my hotel who was shooting up and the needle came out of his arm and whatever was in the syringe shot up and almost hit me. I had very mixed feelings about this incident.
The other was looking at the very young prostitutes who looked so sad under their makeup.

In Italy, seeing beautiful statuesque African clad woman standing by the side of the road selling themselves in rubble in the Tuscan countryside.

Actually I didnt see anyone using drugs on the street. This is a rarity from what I hear.

I remember being a little disappointed about certain things in cities in Italy - I guess I had built everything a certain way in my imagination. Naively, I was shocked to see these great ancient cities "living" modern life. I guess I expected there to be Roman warriors galloping through the Coliseum, or something...

The funny thing is, now that I'm home, I don't remember anything bad or disappointing - it's all just a beautiful memory.

Amsterdam has been the only place we have ever visited that we did not like. We arrived by train and I expected to see windmills and perfection. Instead we saw addicts, prostitues and dirt. We stayed only a few hours and got back on the train. We realize now that we did not give Amsterdam a chance and want someday to go back with a more realistic view and travel further then the train station area.

I've enjoyed both Amsterdam and Italy, having been to both several times. I didn't have any drug addict/prostitute problems in Amsterdam so nothing to report there. In southern Italy, primarily Rome, the thing that bothered me the most was the amazing amount of graffiti. It was everywhere and pervasive and just made a beautiful city look somewhat blighted.

It was a 'duh' moment for me, but it's windy in Amsterdam. Very windy. If I had thought about it beforehand, I should have realized it would be windy in the land of windmills. It didn't help it was rainy and windy when I was there. I hadn't packed a raincoat so the weather (which I can't control, darn it) was the problem.

There was a lot of graffiti to look at on the train from Skiphol Airport to Centraal Station.

tt

I can't get over this initial post. Graffiti in Venice, but perfection in Amsterdam? It didn't particularly bother me, but I thought the graffiti in Amsterdam was incredible, and never noticed any in Venice.

I didn't care for Amsterdam. I didn't like the men who came up to me in the city center mumbling "ecstasy." I didn't like the stoners in front of the "cafe's" who looked like zombies. Speaking of zombies I didn't like the looks on many of the prostitutes' faces. And I especially didn't like the men pointing and laughing at an overweight prostitute until she finally closed her curtain.

I'm with ncgrrl on the weather too. It rained all 4 days I was there. That is NOT Amsterdam's fault, but it affected me nonetheless.

I really, really liked the museums in Amsterdam and the Anne Frank house. I liked walking the outer canals and enjoying the quaintness of it all. I liked the maritime museum that wasn't far from the main train station. I'll go back to Amsterdam some day, but I won't go near the city center.

I disliked Alsace in spite of it's beauty. I didn't like the food as I do the French and Italian. But I loved the white wines. Only one restaurant can I rave about. The Auberge De Lill in Illhaeusern, Ribeauville

The graffiti in Milan, the constant smell of urine (which we witnessed in person happening on the street), and the doggy doo everywhere. But we did also get to see "The Last Supper" and and Italian wedding ceremony next to our hotel which was wonderful. But I don't think I'd want to revisit Milan again. The positives of Italy way outweigh that one negatives though. I'll be back.

I think Amsterdam is a beautiful city completely ruined for the prostitution and the drugs, what were the Dutch thinking of to allow so much degradation. I enjoyed my one and only visit but would only go back to visit friends there, not just to be a tourist again.
As for Italy I love it all and would return many times over. Perhaps my only concern apart from the few people who were begging in the streets was the abundance of stray dogs, especially in Pompei, and no doubt in many other areas as well.

I would say that my biggest peeve about both is that they are so far away and cost o much to get there, but I feel that way about Europe in general - Asia and Africa, too.

cd, where you really expecting windmills when you got off the train in Amsterdam? And perfection? No wonder you were disappointed. And did anyone who has a problem with prostitution visit the red light district?

Tulips
I really did expect windmills, canals, and flowers. My expectations were wrong because I had not read and prepared properly.

Amsterdam still has some nice quieter areas, but you need to get away from the Dam and the central station. On my most recent visit (2-3 yrs ago), I was displeased by the garishness of the pot bars. Don't have a problems with the idea, but so much of the signage/decor/advertising is in stark contrast to the old buildings. Also, depending on the day of the week/time of year, it can be a very busy city with lots of foot traffic (which can make it less idillic).

I didnt see much graffiti in Amsterdam. I walked all over the city. As far as the people smoking pot. Never have I seen anyone looking like a zombie. The people looking like that were probably on a hard drug. People drinking made much more noise and made fools of themselves. The prostitutes didnt look underage or miserable to me. They work for themselves and can quit at any time. There are no pimps. Several were smiling and talking. I never saw anyone talking rudely to them.

As for Venice I took pictures of some of the graffiti. There was more than I saw in 1999. It was terrible to see on all those beautiful little canals.

In Rome in Trastevere there was tons of graffiti there too.

The Red Light District in Amsterdam covers perhaps 5% of the city center. This area is also heavy with coffeeshops and hard-drug users. It is always *packed* with tourists. The girls have complained that there are so many tourists that the customers are staying home or going to RLD's in other cities.
When I am in the RLD at night I always see huge groups of tourists. Many more tourists in the RLD than in other areas such as Jordaan, the main canals, Plantagebuurt, Prinseneiland, etc. where you will find no prostitutes nor junkies. So either: 1) tourists like to see prostitutes and junkies or 2) tourists are masochists or 3) tourists are too stupid to avoid the RLD which in fact is very easy. (95% of central Amsterdam is NOT RLD)

Call me contrary, but the graffiti in Rome and Naples didn't bother me in the least. I only wished we had bought stock in Italian spray paint, because we'd have made a fortune--the demand is awfully high.