We took the train from the airport to our hostel this morning and dropped off our luggage in the storage area so that we could explore the city. The public transportation here, as in most big cities across the world, is amazing.
We arrived in Amsterdam Central a little before 11 a.m., and the first image I saw as we emerged from the train station: a plethora of bikes! Bicycles appear to be the most common form of transportation. We took a guided tour of the city this afternoon (the guide actually went to school at IU) and at one point the guide mentioned that there are 800,000 people living in central Amsterdam but 900,000 bikes. Based off what we saw today, I am confident those numbers are correct.
During our guided tour, we saw museums, famous edifices, the Anne Frank house and the myriad of canals that decorate this lovely city. And we also saw several things you wouldn't see during a stroll through Fort Wayne or Bluffton. This is Amsterdam, after all.
I found myself dozing off from time to time as we listened to the guide, as jet lag has definitely taken its toll on both of us. When we landed this morning my watch told me it was 9:30 a.m., but my body told me it was 3:30 a.m. Two Cokes helped get me through the day, but a good night's rest is a must.
But this city is amazing and full of people walking (and biking) or just sitting outside in one of the many plazas watching the world pass by. Day 1 has been incredible, and the rest of the European adventure will be the same.
Time to rest for a bit before we head back to central Amsterdam for dinner.
Bikes everywhere!
Along the canal
Along the canal
No comments:
Post a Comment