Once again, a long weekend loaded with new impressions, activities and places has felt more like a whole week…
I did regret the YOLO decision of embarking into a 12+ hour bus ride from London to Amsterdam after a long night shift combo. But the fact I didn’t die from it made me feel resilient to the point of indestructability. Plus, reuniting with M was worth the price, as catching up and laughing with her since minute 0 would set the tone for the rest of the trip.
The fact that half the world population would want to come to Amsterdam over Easter escaped my overworked and sleep deprived brain, and crowds constituted the main downside to our time there. Still, the colorful magnificence of Keukenhof could not be dimmed by them, nor could tasting authentic smoked cheese at a Dutch farm, delicious dinner and waffles in charming Volendam, biking around in beautiful Edam (no hand brakes!) or the relaxing experience of cruising along Amsterdam’s canals after sunset, with the soft spring evening breeze brushing against our faces as countless warm lights emanated from the picturesque homes everywhere around us.
One thing I felt alienated by was the blunt, shameless omnipresence and availability of recreational drugs and prostitution, and the acceptance with which they were regarded by the general public, with an impassive or even celebratory attitude which did have an intermittent negative impact on my otherwise lighthearted weekend mood.
Overall, though, I feel stimulated and inspired after yet another novel travel experience, which I was lucky to share with sassy M, her big sister-like wisdom, her inspiring confident demeanor and her charming, cheeky sense of humor.
