Amsterdam.

In the late afternoon of November 4th, Flo and I took the bus from Caen to Paris. Once we arrived there, we had a 3-hour layover before taking the overnight bus to Amsterdam.

After a long and tiring night, we finally made it. We were extremely tired but happy as we made our way to the city center. It was the first time in three years that we had our backpacks on our backs again. It felt good!

Since we can't check into our hostel until 2 PM, we decided to have breakfast on Dammstrasse first.

Afterwards, we tried to get our bearings. It was a beautiful day! The sun was shining and spreading joy. However, it was very cold and we were both grateful for our new down jackets.

Later, we looked for our hostel. We will be spending the next four days on a boat called Amiciata. The long passenger ship has been converted into a cozy little backpacker hostel. The entire ground floor has been transformed into a kitchen/reception/bar. To the right of it, there are a few tables and a sofa set in the back corner. A short, steep staircase leads underwater to the lower floor. To the right and left, there is a narrow corridor that runs to the ends of the ship. Every two meters, there is a door that leads to a cabin. The cabins are very small. To the right, there is a double bed and to the left, there is a hallway that is maybe a meter wide. Straight ahead, there is a small sink and above it, a typical porthole. When we both stood in the room, we couldn't move anymore. It was quite a challenge for us, both tired and with our backpacks, to squeeze into the small cabin! But we made it!

Amsterdam is a beautiful city. The architecture leaves many admirers breathless. There are old half-timbered houses surrounded by a network of canals. Thousands of bicycles are everywhere you look. As a pedestrian, you have to be careful not to be run over by cyclists. By the way, the scooter riders also ride on the bike path without helmets.
Even though it's not easy for pedestrians, I believe that Amsterdam is ahead of the game. Big cities should improve their cycling infrastructure. Because if there are alternatives, the masses no longer need to drive cars. The tram, bus, and train network are also exemplary. Many cities could learn from that.
Of course, for cost reasons, we didn't take advantage of these great options. Most of the time, we walked. Once or twice through the whole city. In these four days, I'm sure I walked through the city a thousand times and still could barely find my way back to the ship.
The city center is packed. One store is squeezed next to the next bar, and then comes the next burger shop. Coffeeshop, condom store, fast food, restaurant, and much more. Every store advertises with a flashy sign above the door. The streets are paved and packed with people. Most tourists come to Amsterdam for sex or drugs. You see people from every country and from all social classes.
If you let yourself be guided through the streets at night, from one delicious temptation to the next fun exhibition, you might stumble upon the Red Light District. The houses you see there are not very different from the rest of Amsterdam. They have larger windows spread over the entire façade. Behind them are half-naked women, looking into your eyes and winking at you. Personally, it was a very strange experience for me. I am a feminist and I can't imagine a woman enjoying this kind of work. On the other hand, in the Netherlands, you can be sure that it is their free will. The women who offer their bodies rent rooms for the day or night. During the day, a room costs around 150 euros, and at night, it can cost up to 300 euros. So the women decide for themselves where and how long they rent a room. Despite the facts, I can't believe my own eyes - but to each their own.
On the other hand, Amsterdam is a very cultural city that offers many opportunities. For example, we attended a free concert. In the foyer of the opera house, we were able to listen to singers accompanied by piano and violin.
There are several lunch concerts every week. They usually last for half an hour and are always free. Sometimes they even take place in a proper concert hall.

All in all, Amsterdam is a beautiful city that offers many recreational activities. Unfortunately, I will probably always be a country person because there were definitely too many people, too many lights, and too much hustle and bustle for me.

However, I would love to come back and explore more!