Amsterdam

Amsterdam. The vibrant, cold and enthusiastic city of the Netherlands. To be honest I am still absorbing much of what's happening here, even though, I promised friends I would write something about it, so here it goes.

It is a bit hard to describe Amsterdam. From the tourist point of view it resumes itself to a very dynamic, beautiful and pretty much, crazy city. It's the place where you can get anywhere with a simple bycicle, where you can smoke weed or axe just like that or even go to a prostitute without having anyone looking at you like if you are an alien. Like a friend says, it really is like going to a pharmacy and get a pain killer. Simple as that.

But it's much more than that. It is a city that goes beyond the beautiful adjective. Every neighbourhood has its   special thing, every corner has a new story to tell, every street has a special moment and every place is the new place to be.

What about people? Well, that's another thing that makes things so special. In Amsterdam you can find literally, people from all over the world. Living, working, studying, partying, wondering and the verbs could go on and on. At the same time, this massive group of people are almost all in some sort of transitory state. You talk with them, and they all have some plan: going to Berlin, Stockholm, Paris, New York, who knows. And most likely, you wont hear about those persons ever again. So I would say it's some sort of transitory city. I think it's really not the best place for you to discover yourself, as you get so moved by the city itself, it gets harder and harder at some point to define what you want for your life.

And all this dynamism and uncertainty gets mixed with the dutch lifestyle somehow: analytical, calculated, soft paced and at the same time with a strong will to thrive and succeed. Amsterdam is actually a though city. Everyone wants to stay here. I have met many people that come here just on vacations and decide to stay and try their luck. Some stay, some go. Knew recently two italian fellows who came here for a weekend and live here for two and a half years. Still living both on the same hostel they booked for the weekend and both working as bycicle mail deliverers for a private company. Not enough to get rich, but enough to party and eat.

But lets get to some more examples: the austrian 40 years old guy, ex heroin addict who lives in Amsterdam, actually, who doesnt have a place to live has he sleep in the streets, and spends all his nights till 3am in a bar so that way he wont spend the whole night out. The portuguese guy who came here for just six months of work, and lives here now for eight years, married with a dutch girl and two daughters. The turkish cab guy that can speak six languages fluently has he worked has a cab driver in five different countries already. The prostitute that came from Bulgaria, got rich in 3 years and now has five hairsaloon's in Amsterdam. And I could keep going, has in Amsterdam, everyone has a story to tell.

In the middle of all this, the crime rate is one of the lowest in Europe. Why? For some reason and it is something you feel if you live here, you know if you get out of the line, sooner or later, they will get you. This is the country where you get a 41 euros fine for not using lights while riding your bike at night. Or for riding your bike out of the bikepad. There are more little examples. In other countries this sort of behaviour would also be a motive for a fine, difference is here, you will get fined, period. There is no bullshit talk with the police to see if this time the thing flies. It will fly money out of your pocket, and that is it.

So, it is interesting the kind of balance they have achieved here, as in a way, you are legally authorised to do things that you cannot do in other countries, but at the same time, you get the feeling you need to behave properly. Or else.

All in all, it is an absolutely stunning city, where you get to know the most interesting people, the most interesting places, the wildest parties, the must go events and eventually, what you're looking for. Who knows? It's Amsterdam!

Hope to see you soon here. Tot later!