While the small saving to be made (acceptably, larger on a bigger final bill) might be the only thing weighing on a paying customer's mind, they often forget the positive outcomes for such simple generosity.  While a waiter or waitress, bartender, cab driver or otherwise may not necessarily know of the possibility of the extra cash at the end of the experience, had this have been something that they were usually used to, the beckoning reward would almost certainly ensure some extra effort being made for the duration of the journey.  - Take a look at one the healthiest tipping nations in the world in the United States of America, and more often than not, the service you receive at any outlet - whether it be a café, diner or simple restaurant or a high end bar or Vegas or New York hotel fine dining experience - is, at the least, excellent.  And the effects roll on.  - Standards become higher across the board, as one venue competes with the next to bring in business, and a healthy competition creates what can only be a win/win situation for not only the respective patrons, but for the owners and operators as well.

Lets not ignore the fact also, that in some venues, the service staff rely on a tip at the end of your night (or round - whatever the case may be) to bring their wages to the level where they can survive on.  Not only does it help their pocket, but it also stimulates pride in their work and themselves.  For too long, the service industry has been looked upon as one of servitude, and so is attracting less and less professionals to get involved.  - I know who id prefer to be served by.

And who really gets the tip? - Just ask.  Im sure the staff will be more than willing to oblige.  And if you're unsure as to the scruples of business owner, have the service (where applicable) removed from the bill and give your sever the tip in cash or with your card.  While it may be hard to swallow leaving money for something that most assume people are being paid for (service) the outcome of this simple generosity will maybe perk up the experience the next time around, and for time to come in the industry as a whole.  Nothing ventured nothing gained right?

The first suggestion on our list is: Arnots. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Obviously, as you may have judged from the hours of operation, this is an ideal spot for lunch or a snack. The address is Singel 441.

The café is located in a basement which in and of itself makes it interesting. You may attain a great cup of java and fresh sandwiches. Patrons are a plenty, crowding out onto the adjacent walkway. The establishment is an ideal summer location.

The next suggestion, located in the Old Centre is DeJaren. The address is: Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20. This is most certainly a terrific café establishment. There are three floors with two terrace areas. The café overlooks the Amstel and is found next to the University.

It is recommended you visit on a Sunday when you have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the café's atmosphere. The food prices are quite reasonable and there is a first-rate salad bar.

If you are “hankering” a juicy hamburger then the café to visit is Luxembourg located at Spui 22. It is invariably well-visited and highly trendy. There is a tremendous bar and a nice variety of delicious snacks. Don't miss it!

You will be very disappointed if you do not stop in to visit "t NieuweKafe located at Eggerstraat 8. The bistro is a “hit” with shoppers and the city"s visitors alike. The breakfast and lunch menu is very reasonably priced. Try the pancakes - you will be delighted! Hours of operation are: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and that is daily.

Next consideration is Pannekoekhuis found upstairs and located at Grimburgwal 2. The eatery is located in a run-down house and is really quite small in dimension. I just include it because to me it is interesting.

It's situated in the Old Centre and opposite the buildings of the University. Don't let the establishment's extreme rustic nature dissuade you. For the budget conscious, they serve delectable pancakes at a price that wont' begin to put a “dent” in your pocketbook. They are open Wednesday from Noon to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, Noon to 6:00 p.m.

Café Bern located at Nieumarkt 9and within the Old Centre is a nice casual café whose patrons are comprised of more of an “artsy” crowd. They are not going to empty your wallet and they offer a very popular cheese fondue comprised of alcohol. Hours of operation are 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and that's daily.

If you are interested in an afternoon tea, you will find a great establishment for this manner of dining located within the Grachtengordel. Greenwood's is located at Singel 103. This is a very quaint, English-style tea house found in the basement area of a canal house. You may order sandwiches and pies and of course pots of tea. Many patrons recommend Greenwood's for breakfast. Hours of operation are: 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day of the week.

I believe I've found another “fun spot” for you, this time located within the Jordaan. Festina Lente is situated at Looiersgracht 406. This is an extremely casual mezzanine café-bar style eatery.. It has a bit of an eclectic vibe with furnishings that deliberately don't quite match and comfortable “cushy” chairs. The outside tables overlook the canal and the inside provides a cozy atmosphere. There are board games available for those who would like to partake in this activity. You go there because of the wonderful atmosphere. And, the food, comprised of the expected café-bar fare is okay too. Hours of operation are Monday 2:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.; and, Tuesday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to somewhere between 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. and Sunday it is noon to 1:00 a.m..

Journeying back to Amsterdam's Old Town Centre, you'll find another interesting establishment: Green Planet is located at Spuistraat 122. If you are vegetarian by design (or even if you are not) they have a ton of good tofu dishes and an amazing internationally-based menu. Don't neglect to pay them a visit. Oh, by the way, they are “cash only.” They are open 5:30 p.m. to Midnight, nightly.

If you are seeking hearty Dutch fare then the suggestion here is to head to the Old Centre and “pop” into Keuken van 1870 located at Spuistraat 2.

This eatery has been in business for years serving wonderful Dutch fare to patrons who like to watch their budgets. The restaurant provides a delicious three course meal and is without hesitation one of the city's best food deals.

Herein, these are just a few of the outstanding dining opportunities found within the city. Try to visit at least a few when site-seeing throughout Amsterdam. Additionally, as you go about your daily excursions, I am sure you will find even more eating establishments that will pique your interest and of which you will want to visit.

Tip: Something of which you will want to be apprised, if you visit a coffee shop in Amsterdam, it's basically a place to smoke and not cigarettes. I'm not saying you won't be able to attain a cup of coffee or pastry, it's just the main activity at such places is not drinking coffee. So if you are not into this type of activity and prefer to truly go somewhere simply to enjoy a cup of Java, review some of my suggestions above and stay out of coffee shops.

Now Belfast has become one big cappuccino bar. Every new shop that opens has to have a coffee shop, and that's on top of all the usual chains: O'Brien's, Starbucks, Clements; even the large hardware stores are at it. It used to be that men went to B&Q to stand and look at planks of wood. The discussed the merits of various types of screws and wrenches with other men and went home satisfied for having bought nothing. They'd been for a trip to a male area of life, but now even B&Q has added a coffee bar and the wives come along too and have started getting their own ideas about what kind of new kitchen they want.

But I mustn't complain too much because it's in some of those cafés that I do my best reading. I cycle down to O'Brien's on a rainy morning and take my place at my favourite table and mix a good book up with coffee and a good dose of people watching.

However Belfast doesn't always get it right. Not every place serves up an Americano just the perfect way; it's either too weak or not very hot, it has no head, or the cappuccino is all head and no substance. But we're learning, slowly. I suppose we are taking our place among the sophisticated places of the world much in the same way that a ten year old girl tries out her mother's make-up. Refinement comes with age and experience, and at this stage we still have lipstick smeared from ear to ear.

Yesterday when I lifted my head out of a scene form the Algerian coast in Camus' La Morte Heureuse, I noticed two construction workers come in. It was their yellow bibs that drew my attention because it made them stand out against the grey, mizzley morning. I could smell the cement dust that dulled the strong aroma of coffee as they swaggered in, and they seemed to fill the room with their talk and their walk. One was forty or thereabouts, the other about nineteen. They both bent down to lean their elbows on the counter and treated us to a good four inches of builder's bum each. The Polish waitress came over and the older of the two ordered in a gruff, intimidating, loud, uncouth voice: “A skinny latte and a fat-free muffin to go”. The girl hesitated for a bit before he added “please”.

Glasgow is not the gritty, working-class metropolis of legend. It never was, and there are many attractions and things to do in this Mecca of the North.

Glasgow, in fact, is one of the UK's most visited cities. It hosted the Great Exhibitions of 1888 and 1901, became an industrial powerhouse in the twentieth century, and has returned as a place of culture since the Second World War. The city hosted the popular Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988, and was designated European City of Culture in 1990. In 1996, it hosted a spectacular Festival of Visual Arts. More than two million tourists visit from within the UK and from Europe and more distant areas every year.

The Old and the New

Glasgow is home to many of Scotland's principal performing arts organisations:

• The Scottish Opera
• The Scottish Ballet
• The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
• The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
• The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
• The Citizen's Theatre

In addition, there are many new small and "experimental" venues and lively pubs and clubs, especially clustering around the Glasgow centers of learning. Since the city's first university was established in 1451, Glasgow has been hailed as a powerful seat of learning. Lord Kelvin, Adam Smith and James Watt are just some of history's great thinkers associated with the city's academic past. Today's educational establishments include:

• The University of Glasgow
• Strathclyde University
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• The Royal Scottish Academy of Music
• Glasgow School of Art
• College of Commerce
• College of Building and Printing
• College of Food Technology
• Glasgow Hotel School (Strathclyde University)

Visitors are often surprised to learn that Glasgow has the largest retail sector outside of London. Residents and visitors from around the UK and overseas are drawn to the city's expanding shopping outlets, which include:

• Shopping malls like the chic and trendy Princes Square, the enormous St Enoch Centre, Sauchiehall Street Centre, Parkhead Forge, the historical Argyle Arcade, and the Buchanan Galleries (opened 1999)
• The main pedestrian shopping thoroughfares of Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street and Argyle Street. .
• The unique and colorful Barras weekend street market
• The smaller, character filled outlets of the city's bohemian West End
• A wide range of top class cafés, restaurants, pubs and wine bars

The city of Glasgow is proud of its tough industrial past and current vibrant economy. The city employs City Centre Representatives to help shoppers and visitors around the city, and a comprehensive City Watch close-circuit TV scheme keeping a watchful eye on the streets.