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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 2017 40 Travel AMSTERDAM has a bit of reputation be- cause of the weed that is legally available in a number of coffee shops around the city and its notorious red light district, which hous- es the city's prostitutes in shop windows bathed in red lights. Does this make Amster- dam the city of vice? Certainly not. There is much more to Amsterdam, so much so that the Dutch, and even the expats living in Amsterdam, barely even frequent those ar- eas. So if you're not the type to indulge in the darker side, get to know the Amsterdam the locals love. Get on your bike The best mode of transportation in Am- sterdam is a bicycle. The flat land, pretty canals, extensive network of bike lanes and priority given to cyclists make cycling not only the easiest way to get from A to B but also provides a great way to take in the city. With 800,000 bikes in the city, and almost no traffic, the Dutch certainly understand alternative modes of transportation, whilst keeping active at the same time. Cycling in Amsterdam is safe and enjoyable so rent some bikes and join the locals as you make use of pedal power to get you around the city. A time-out from the hustle and bustle of the city The Begijnhof offers a moment of tran- quillity in the heart of the city. A tiny alley- way in the city centre is the only entrance to the Begijnhof and opens up into a small yard surrounded by buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. A central chapel is flanked by two bleaching-greens, where the women tended the laundry. Today the surrounding buildings are private dwellings though they were founded as housing for religious wom- en who chose not to take their vows and become nuns, but still offered their services to the church. Take a time-out from city life and step back in time to a quieter era in this inner courtyard cut off from the rest of the city by its own buildings. A labyrinth of quaint cobbled streets While most tourists head to the main shopping street of Kalverstraat, if you are looking for more boutique stores, vintage shops and specialty stores, head towards The Nine Streets, a quaint labyrinth of cob- bled streets between Leidesgracht and Raad- huisstraat, where over 200 retailers sell any- thing from designer dresses to handmade cosmetics and handmade chocolates. The streets of Jordaan, once a working class area, make one of Amsterdam's most desirable hipster areas with plenty of independent art galleries, antique shops, courtyard gardens, Wood warblers are small birds, thousands of which pass through Malta while on their spring (northbound) or autumn (southbound) migration, but especially in spring. They are active birds, keeping to the trees and flitting restlessly among leaves in search of small insects. Due to their leafy habitat, colour and perhaps even shape, they belong to a group of similar-looking birds known as leaf warblers. The wood warbler (M: vjolin ħadrani) has a greenish back with lemon yellow breast and a white belly. A walk at Buskett – or indeed in any large garden – at this time of year and a careful look at any movement among the branches above should reward you with one or two of these handsome birds. Naturally, a pair of binoculars would come in very handy here. Happy Easter. Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate Text Victor Falzon Photo Aron Tanti Cocoa can be grown without the use of chemical pesticides, as is done with great success under organic production schemes. Techniques like pruning, cutting of chupons, or managing the density of the canopy can be used to strengthen the plants and enhance their resilience. Symbiotic organisms like ants or termites can be supported, which protect the trees against mirids and help reduce pest attacks. Many farmers who do not use pesticides do this just because they cannot afford them. If they can afford them they often use them without any knowledge about the associated risks. In this situation promoting knowledge about low input and low impact farming practices plays a critical role. Most conventional farmers rely on the use of synthetic pesticides to protect their yield, which is often their only source of income. Fungicides and insecticides are the main classes of pesticides used in the cocoa production. In a study on pesticide use in Cameroon the authors interviewed a sample of 251 farmers and 20 post-harvest traders on their pesticide use practice. The results showed that out of 26 pesticides reported to be used in cocoa production, 8 are banned in the EU as well as in Cameroon. The most commonly used insecticide (23% of farmers) was Endosulfan – a substance banned in most countries of the world because of its extreme toxicity. 56% of the farmers surveyed did not apply insecticides at all – mainly because they could not afford them. In the warehouses aluminum phosphide is applied via fumigation at least once a year. In Ghana, the most commonly used pesticides belong to the neonicotinoids class of pesticides, which are extremely toxic for bees and were those approved by the COCOBOD for use in cocoa, 23% of the farmers were found to use unapproved chemicals. Bittersweet Chocolate Pesticides 553. WOOD WARBLER GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 456 FRUIT AND VEGETABLE DRAWER LINER: Place sheets of newspaper at the bottom of the fruit and vegetable drawer in your fridge. They will absorb any mess from rotten produce, and will also keep the drawer free from odours. Amsterdam's more cultured side Amsterdam is best seen on a bicycle