Most disconcerting thing, at least initially: the smell of marijuana wafting around the streets from the “coffee shops”. You get used to it quite quickly though.
Most dangerous thing: the trams on the “wrong” side of the road. I keep looking left for oncoming traffic, when I should be looking right. We have had a couple of near-misses.
Most favourite thing: the number of bicycles around this city. I imagine it would be a lot more polluted and congested here if everyone drove cars! Some cyclists are a bit feral though; perhaps they get a bit fed up with the number of tourists mistaking the bike lanes for footpaths.
Most pleasing thing: the numbers of dogs out and about with their humans. This was the same in Paris, too – although I think I noticed that many people had small dogs in Paris. People in Amsterdam have dogs of various sizes. There are quite a few cats too, very fluffy and fat well-fed cats.
Most weird thing: in the red light district, the sex workers standing in their windows waiting for business. Walking past, you don’t want to gawp but you don’t want to treat the women like they’re just “wares” to be ignored completely because you’re not interested in a “transaction”…
One Comment
Hey CW, sounds like you are having a great time. The concert must have been a blast! Enjoy!
(We have doorways not windows in Kal, so you can talk to the ‘girls’ if you want…just don’t take time away from a paying customer!)