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amsterdam 2004-04-19 -- 10:00 a.m.
amsterdam is supposed to be a bastion of sin, brimming with sex and drugs and other naughty things. i think that image is a little naive. i've been here for almost three days and i think that most of the sinners here are tourists. most people come here to be bad, but the people here are just normal folk who happen to smoke marijuana once in a while (just like toronto - it's just as prevalent there... don't get me started on montreal!). anyway, amsterdam is very cool in terms of the vibe here. we felt it immediately as we walked through the city, the paris pressure was off. paris was all about appearences, amsterdam is all about casting off layers and chilling. i like that. the only thing i don't like about it here are the hordes of jerky men who harass women because, for some reason, they think they have a license to do so. last night, walking down a main avenue, two brits were harassing a local girl with a video camera and some lude remarks. shortly after, a friend of the girl yelled at her in dutch (probably to leave) and proceeded to beat up the two guys. so, if you're planning on harassing someone, beware! today we're going to the vincent van gogh museum, which displays over 200 paintings. then i think we're going to visit the house where anne frank hid out. the donuts here are delicious!! anyway, i'm really looking forward to going to brugge tomorrow. it's a little town in belgium and i think it should be very relaxing. berlin, paris, and amsterdam are all huge cities and it's very exhausting to walk around and carry luggage around and see a million museums and things. it's fun, but tiring. so i think brugge will be a nice relaxing time. hopefully i'll get over all these allergies i've been fighting... at least i'm not sick in bed like ayla!
Here is a great website to find out more about the Netherlands before you go. |
