A for Ambling

In the last three months or so, that I have moved here, many of
my discussions with the Germans have revolved around how they have mastered the
concept of quality of life. They speak of their exquisite vacation and work
policies that lead to healthy and pleasant living. Coming from the States I was
almost beginning to see their point. Until, of course, I spent a few days in
Amsterdam and came back convinced that Germans really have much to learn from
the Dutch.

 Your experience in Amsterdam can be of two distinct types. If you
follow the red lights into the old city, you would no doubt stumble upon on
restless imprisoned souls from around the world that have been just set free. There
are pleasures to be had every corner. The air reeks of what is most definitely
considered contraband substance in most places. There are shops that proudly
display their vices as if window shopping were the main theme of the old city. The
red light Area stands true to its tales as well. In the narrow poorly lit
lanes, lay endless rooms lit with red hues and women that played the inviting
game. There is electric energy in the old city. Even if it is debatable how
moral this energy is, it is an experience that must not be missed. Being an
unabashed tourist, I wandered here endlessly in to the night. Admiring how easy
the wrongs were to come by and how those made the wrongs feel surprisingly tame.

The other experience is of course when you walk the other way. When
you follow the glimmering gorgeous canals or Grachten as they were lovingly
called by the locals, you experience an Amsterdam that is slightly lesser known.
These canals that owe their significance to geographical necessity for the city
to stay afloat now surround the city and award it its distinct personality. No
matter which canal you chose to walk along, you will no doubt be enamored by
the passivity of it all. On the bigger busier canals locals float about in
their boats of various kinds. Regardless of the economic status of their water
vessels, the people inside relaxed care free. Most had recreated their living
rooms in the middle of a boat while other chose to make it their bedroom. They
all seemed to be going nowhere at the same time they all seemed to be
freakishly delighted by it.

This had of course a significant impact on my travel plans. Me
having an agenda in Amsterdam seemed like such a horrific idea. Yes, I saw the
famous museums and even spent half a day chronicling Van Gogh’s depression in
his museum via fascinating pointillism-based paintings. But then after my plans
of seeing the other highlights took a back seat. Instead, what seemed in order
was to find a ledge on a canal or a café alongside, sit and admire other people
perfecting the art of doing nothing. I had almost never longed so badly for a
row boat where the paddles were optional.

Regardless of which Amsterdam you preferred, you would find throes
of bicyclists and their two wheeled contraptions. There was the odd good
looking bike but most looked like they were decades old, the brakes were nonexistent
and the handle bars were higher than most LA Chopper motor cycles. If that wasn’t
interesting enough, the bicyclists amused me even more. Absolutely gorgeous woman
with the daintiest evening dresses were hauling themselves to what was
undoubtedly a date night or perhaps even a classical theater evening on unholiest
of cycles. Their luscious hair and their skirt wafted in the rushing Amsterdam
air and I for one was sold on these Holland women. I settled for renting a cycle
myself and using the dedicated bike lanes in the city with delight and freedom.

Architecture was also noticeably different from the other European
cities. I was finding the black painted stones walls dramatic. The blinds over
the windows were much more serious than they ought to be. Some of the buildings
seemed to be designed by architects who must have had another day job. Yet again,
the marvelously constructed canals more than made up for whatever deficiencies the
city buildings had.

Food however wasn’t the star here. The Dutch pancakes provided
good sugary starts but the raw herring sandwiches on the street could hardly sustain
the momentum. Our questions seeking typical Dutch cuisine were met with surprised
looks from the locals who I could make out were insanely addicted to Thai and
Vietnamese cooking. We did however find a local place and had more fish. It was
decent and that about covers it. The baby Gouda was however equivocally
delicious.

The stars that lit this city were its people. It wasn’t so
uncommon to see a local spare a smile in the light of day. While millions of
tourists infiltrated this city each year, the locals seemed just so Zen-like in
their concerns. Most apartment doors were swung open to create make shift
pavement barbeque places. They had no qualms helping or even speaking English. For
most part they didn’t care what you did as long it did not involve them pausing
from their breaks. It wasn’t like they had given up on life and or had turned
hippies. It is just that they exactly knew that work was not until the next day
and till then they had made a conscious decision to live with microscopic care.

It would be a difficult to debate against a beach vacation
where the sole objective was to relax. But if you are ever in the area and a
good beach is a fair bit away, then you might want to put Amsterdam on your
list. Essentially all you really need is a wooden relic that can stay afloat,
some music if you are the type, food and drinks for sustainability, a pre shredded
map of attractions, and a lonesome canal to float about in.

Where you wind up in the end is strictly between you, the river
Amstel and Amsterdam.