Europhile: C'est ma vie!

Amsterdam - Land of old-school bicycles and hash.

People go to Amsterdam for many reasons. Many involve something that grows. Mine involved the tulip fields that exist in Noord-Holland, which are famous throughout the horticulturalist world (I think).

The tulips weren’t in bloom yet. It was bloody freezing. Surprisingly expensive. And the beer came in little tiny glasses.

I had a fabulous time. Despite problems, the city has an amazing ability to charm. Maybe it’s the thousands of old-school bicycles, ridden around the whole city in a constant swirl of 1920s-esque innocence. Or the fact that they rule the road and I nearly was run over more times than I care to count. Maybe it’s the canals and all the old classic boats moored alongside squat stone bridges. Perhaps it’s the café culture, and the hundreds of people who appear on the restaurant terraces when the sun peeks out. Or the Saturday market in Haarlem, selling everything from batteries and underwear to tulips, kebaps and fresh Dutch cheeses from the nearby towns of Gouda and Edam. Or the genuine kindness and friendliness of the Dutch people. Maybe it was the cool windmills.

Or maybe it was the cute little beer glasses. Whatever the reason – it was cool.

posted by europhile @ 08:52