Netherlands

Has it only been two days. Seems like longer.

Due to the bad combination of late train in and early train out, Amsterdam proved to be a bit of whistle stop tour. Europe has always just been the transit section of the plan. Somewhere i viewed as too expensive and not far enough from home to be worth a longer stay. Oh Huw... How wrong you can be.

One day in Amsterdam (even if its full) just isn't enough. I had no real idea of the place arriving, half expecting it to be some sleazy den of hookers and pot. Whilst both are present Amsterdam still has a real sense of class, though with a fair side order of crazy. Transport for one. I step off the train narrowly missing a moped riding granny gunning it down a cycle lane, something tells me I'm not in Kanas anymore. Every mode of transport has its place here. On the riverfront you can get trains, trams, boats, cycles and pedestrians all passing side by side, safe as houses.

On some good advice I decided dive into this maddness and give it a go. The best view of Amsterdam really is from a bike saddle. But for future reference, its worth checking which side of the road people drive on before setting off. Nothing like playing of chicken with a UPS truck to liven up the morning.

The city itself really holds this great sense of order. The cobbled streets are neatly separated by a grid of roads and canals. The Dutch themselves are also really friendly, stopping to cheerfully give directions whilst i squat confused over a crumpled city map. The famous "coffeeshop" effect is apparent, yet far more subtle than i'd suspect it. You often catch pockets of the smell drifting through open doors, and i'm not sure i'll ever get used to the sight of guys lighting up whilst policemen walk happily by outside. Still the entire lot seems to me as much an exercise in good tourism as liberal culture. I can't help but notice very little dutch language in these parts, Scottish, American and English accents seeming to be order of the day. I catch late night comedy show and talk to an American couple sitting next over. One comments how they moved to Amsterdam, feeling they can be "their real person here". There seem to be many tourists finding their "real selves" but most of the dutch either keep it behind closed doors or ignore it all together. Some more good advice took me to the Public Library. Hell do the dutch know how to build the things. A giant glass monolith, it looks more like the tate modern from the inside. Free Internet and a wealth of books litter every one of the floors, and the place just goes up and up and up. The top has a fantastic cafe and even better view. The food is even fantastic. I watch the chefs bake chibatta from scratch to make ham sandwiches, prepare fresh fish fresh before a quick stir fry. A wealth of smells and colour really make the place something special. And that view... wow.

I was also nervious that travelling alone would mean lonely travelling. Again anything but true. In fact typing now is the first moment to my self i've had since checking at Harwich. Everyone wants to talk and subjects are wide. From the 40 Americans on the crossing to Holland, all descendants of the original passengers of the Mayflower, now retracing all its ports of call, to the guy who attempts (with limited success) to teach me the Russian alphabet at the hostel and even the founder of a kosovan NGO who i get the train to Berlin with. Its crazy, good company and even better travel advice are never more than a conversation away.

But anyway. I could happily post the rest of this trip away. Time to turn in. Tomorrow. Berlin

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Dinner: Falafal from an awsome little cafe