I'm writing from the Amsterdam airport. A three hour delay leaving Houston gave me an unexpected eight hour layover in Amsterdam. At the suggestion of my team leader, I decided to get out of the airport. A 15 minute train ride landed me in downtown and I asked for directions to a cafe Thomas told me about. There is a trend in how people give directions here. This for example, was, "when you go out, go straight (yes, Michelle, go straight) and you'll find the main road and walk that direction about 10-15 minutes and it will be there.” Somehow, I stumbled on the history museum before I got to where I was trying to go, so I left my heavy satchel there and ventured off in pursuit of lunch at La Place. I walked through the main shopping area, along a canal bordered by cafes and a few art galleries, and through the flower market. I got back to the Amsterdam History Museum by 4 (when I could get in for half price) and walked around until it closed at 5. Now I’m back at the airport, enjoying some Starbucks (comped by my airline), and glad to have my feet up.
Few people here dress as casually as Americans and almost everyone my age wears skinny jeans a nice jacket, and rides a bike. Traffic is pretty different as well. From what I gathered, the pecking order is trams, bikes, pedestrians, and then cars, but there are times when I’m pretty sure it’s just a free-for-all.
All in all, it’s been a good day (great weather here!), and I got another stamp in my passport. Hopefully my next post will be from Sweden!
2 comments:
mmmmm. la place. you and all your tasty goodness.
you're dead on with the dutch pecking order of traffic.
I like that bikes are so important. Maybe America could learn a thing or two from Amsterdam in that regard.
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