Saturday, January 31, 2009

Amsterdam

It is almost impossible for me to leave without mentioning the city that I fell in love with the last 6 years. I've had many times the question "Why did you stay so long?". Indeed that is true I do not fall into the usual categories (I don't smoke, I'm not gay, I don't use the red light district and I did not get a serious Dutch girlfriend) but there are so many things I like in Amsterdam:
1) The bike. It is such a great friend, he is (almost) happy to bring you back home, waits close to where you were and also remembers where you live.
2) The parks. To read, to go running or to make a picnic/barbecue this is like being in the city but not really. I am a big fan of the westerpark, get a book and read
3) The canals: I had the luck to cycle through them everyday during 4 years and I was still not fed up because there is always something you did not notice yet. If the sun is there then it is really gorgeous.


4) The bars/terasses. There are bars for each and every taste but the Dutch have this that they make them usually very cosy. They are pretty relaxed (some thinking about the service might say too relaxed) but the fact that you are not assaulted by waiters to order as soon as you enter or that sometimes it is almost impossible to pay because nobody cares are rather plus to me than minus.
5) I had 3 managers and all of them told me not to stay too late in the evening in the first month I was working for them. Here the word balance between personal and private life really means something.
6) Amsterdam is truly international
7) Queensday: Simply a must-live experience
8) Paradiso. Just go once in the big room, listen to a concert but somehow my favorite moment is to have a beer in the same big room after the concert just to feel the atmosphere of the place.
9) Thanks to the weather here I appreciate even more each ray of sunshine
10) People are tall

Overall Amsterdam is a great city for a week end but also to live if you make the efforts. Coming here was so far the best decision I ever took.

5 comments:

Mirjam said...

Thanks Benj, you just made me a little less jealous of you leaving on this amazing trip and a little more happy to stay in lovely Amsterdam... sure you wanna go? ;o)

Anonymous said...

Hello Ben,
Hope this trip will bring you what you're dreaming about and even a lot more.
Even if you'll be distant you'll stay in my heart and mind!
Enjoy your trip!!!
And pls keep us posted! so that we could share a little bit of this amazing experience.
See you in 12 months!

Anonymous said...

Oh Benjamin,
I just love the reasons you gave why to love Amsterdam. Now I know WHY I am here too (10 years)!!!!!

Hey, good luck on Saturday! Will think of you!

Luiza ;-)

Unknown said...

Hey Benj,
Bonne chance pour cette nouvelle tranche de vie, sac à dos et carte en poche ! Reviens nous vite, la tête pleine de souvenirs et prêt à les partager (et ne nous oublie pas...)
Bises

Marie

Anonymous said...

Un gros bisou à notre BCL national.
Bonne chance pour cette nouvelle ère qui commence...
Raconte nous tes anectodes, je sais que tu es le roi pour les histoires pas croyables...

A bientôt! On pense bien à toi.

Nabelle