Amsterdam pt. 2

Another busy day has come and gone! Today we traveled to see Brussels, technically the capital of Europe. But before I talk about that, I'll say more about Amsterdam. Traveling to a new city is always an interesting mind exercise for me. Before I visit a place, I always have ideas of how a city should feel based on what I know about the area, its history, the architecture, the people, and so on. In my head, all of these images come together to create one truly unique vibe. However, this vibe, this feeling is usually way off. Amsterdam was like that for me, as was Copenhagen, and even St. Petersburg. It's in no way a disappointment, just different from what I expect. In Amsterdam's case, I think it was a larger difference because I had always had these romantic feelings for the city....making it larger than life...but of course, it wasn't. Nothing ever is. On one hand, it was literally smaller than I imagined. The canals were beautiful...many times we walked along side them. If we had more time, I would have liked to take a canal ride. I suppose I'll make up a little list of my final impressions of Amsterdam:
1. Lively
It was easily the busiest city we've been to thus far. Even St. Petersburg didn't have so many hordes of people, despite having a population like 4 times the size. Lots of people outside, walking around, hanging out...almost claustraphoic at times. And we weren't always in the center of Amsterdam or in the most touristy places. Definitely, a lively, upbeat kind of atmosphere.
2. Bikes! Again!
I don't know which city had more bikes, here or Copenhagen. Probably Amsterdam....it's funny, we didn't look out for cars or trams but rather bikes. So many people use them and I love seeing it. I think things weren't as formal here in terms of bike rules and such as they were in Copenhagen but that's okay. I would have loved to have rented a bike and rode along the canals, which I really came to love. I wish Americans would adopt the European appreciation of bicycles....it would do so much good....
3. Canals
The canals were the peace and calm of the city. There were so many......and one of my favorite moments of the trip was walking along Prinsengracht in the morning, on my way to Anne Frank. They were still and silent, but seemed to keep the city in check. Part of Amsterdam was like the energy and enthusiasm of a teenager, anxious for wildness. But the canals were the wise, the thoughtful, the all knowing. I almost had a spiritual experience being near them....they had always been there in Amsterdam's history...
4. Coffeeshops
It's actually illegal to smoke or buy cannibis but in Amsterdam, it's pretty widely tolerated and much of it happens in coffeeshops, which are not what we Americans think of as a coffee shop. Oh no, this is where hashish and marijuana are sold...the shops are licensed but we heard a lot about people slipping things into drinks here or just messing around with tourists in general....but we could smell pot in places all over the city.....I didn't see much police....and yet, I never felt unsafe.
5. Americans
There were A LOT of American tourists...I engaged in numerous conversations with people traveling from the states...I spoke with more Americans here than in all the previous countries combined. It's always comforting to speak with fellow Americans...we immediately share this bond that only travelers and foreigners can establish with one another...a similar understanding of excitement mixed with confusions and anxiousness.

People were very friendly in Amsterdam, tourists and locals alike. At one point, I entered a cheese shop and immediately my senses picked up on the wonderful aroma. "It smells great in here!" I said, to no one in particular. The shop owner apparently heard me and replied, "it's my aftershave!" I burst into laughter...people in Belgium and the Netherlands have been so good natured and helpful...today, I got on the wrong train to Antwerp from Brussles (someone misinformed me) but two people on the train helped me. It was wonderful, and turned a potentially inconvenient situtation into a relatively stress free one.

I'm back in Antwerp now and have one more day to explore! I'm just happy I don't have to travel far, I'm a bit tired....

oh ps...I apologize for any poor grammar, mispellings, etc...I write these blogs very quickly and don't always have time to reread them....forgive me!