Amsterdam

[kitewithfish]

Well, I got into Amsterdam finally, after a series of late night tomfoolery with the trains. (If anyone ever tells you that the Germans are a people of mechanical precision and efficiency, laugh, for it is not so. That's the Austrians. The Germans are actually slightly fucked up.) My train was late in coming, and at the last minute, it turned out there were *two* trains coming into the station at the same time, both going to Amsterdam, and the one that I wanted was on the *other* side of the tracks. So, a short run later got me on the right train, but it was kind of close.

I said goodbye to Johann on the tracks in a rush. I have no idea if I will ever see here again. I have no plans to, but I really really want to.

Being in Amsterdam has taught me something: when in Berlin, don't leave. Also, don't visit places in Europe just to say that you did. That's folly and stupid- I'm here in the city famous for having legal weed and prostitution, and I don't want to anything to do with either of them. This means I've pretty much come here to wave money about and leave.

I kind of can't wait to get home. Or, rather, back to some place where I speak the language and have some understanding of how things work.

I am working on some theories about space, time, and cities.

Amsterdam is very, very packed. The houses are all tall and narrow, even out of habit in places where they could be more spread out. But they are saved from being claustrophobic by the canals that force the houses to have some wide-open spaces. As a result, the narrow sides of the houses facing the canals have huge windows to take in as much light as they can to make up for the restrictions. It's rather nice, really.

Berlin had huge streets- just very, very wide generally- often three lanes in the narrowest of places (with one for the streetcars) and then very broad sidewalks that are still always full of people. It just draws the eye upwards and the spirit out.

Vienna, on the other hand, is cramped and narrow and dark. Berlin made me want to go out and walk around and see things- the overhead trains were a sudden delight to find, and while loud, added an element of science fiction to the otherwise standard intersections. Vienna makes me want to hide in my room.

I am doing so now, having gone out and wandered Amsterdam central area for about six hours, and having gotten lost on the way back. (Getting lost was not that bad- it allowed me to stop and buy dinner from a local grocery store- I swear, I could not find a store in Amsterdam to buy food to save my life!) It was interesting. I did go into the Red Light district, and did see the famous prostitutes displaying themselves in windows. In fact, it was really funny: walking down the street, it was very obvious which windows were occupied, because traffic slowed to a crawl in front of them. The "coffeeshops" which were really only about inhaling hemp fumes had their famous signs about no violence and no hard drugs. Whatever.

This whole past day or so has sort of made me doubt where "seeing something in person" is really that different than just reading about it. But then I think back to Berlin and feel that it really, really is.

Comments

[littlecatfeet.livejournal.com]

I do hear lovely things about Amsterdam from people who have zero interest in coffeshops and sex as a commodity. For instance, the canal tours are supposed to be lovely. And Dominique Parris (do you know her? I can't quite recall) had a fabu time studying abroad there. I also believe that Slanders has some great things to say about Amsterdam as a city, as her dad lives there part time. So things to do! That don't involve pot or nekkid womens.