Sunday, February 16, 2025
The Dutch are incredibly nice. As soon as I got in my cab in Amsterdam the vibe of the driver immediately distracted me from the arduous journey of the previous thirty-six hours. It was two Delta Airlines rebookings (owing to flight delays) and a weight droping sprint through Heathrow airport to catch a connector.
It’s my first visit to the city which inexplicably draws reactions of “heh, heh” whenever I mention it in the States. Amsterdam’s liberal tolerances for drugs and sex workers has resulted in a ridiculously myopic perception. Yes there is that here, but it is only a small fraction what this town is all about.
It’s a beautiful city with fab people, disconcertingly on-time cabs and public transportation. There are many museums, some great food, and a ton of bikes.
To be fair, I’m a little biased. I got engaged in Amsterdam riding a wave of unplanned events that led to a ring purchase, a cozy lunch, and a “yes” when I asked the question with recently purchased ring in hand.