Oh my god. I'm so hungry now I completely forgot what it was I wanted to talk about...

Oh, I remember. An often overlooked aspect of Amsterdam is its academic gusto. If you are a smarty-pants or custard lover do not neglect to check the university websites (which you can access in English) before you come to the city. A bit of clicking and faith in the gods of intuitive interface design will find you with times and places of English language lectures, debates, forums, screenings and whatnot.

Amsterdam has no difficulty bringing in the hot semi-stars, superstars and super heroes teaching and working for all those schools and institutions of prestige whose names need not be repeated for the 10 zillionth time in the history of written language.

There's usually free food and alcohol involved. Upcoming, for example, 27 November - 02 December: the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam of which I will only say 'freedom and media reality' and point you to the URL: www.idfa.nl You watch cool documentaries and then sit in on debates between social researchers, film makers, anthropologists, editors, and journalists. Consider it an investment in your cultural capital.

Who knows what curiosities await....it reminds of a time I snuck into a prom on a yacht in Washington, DC....but that is not relevant.