Amsterdam
It is the city of the red light district. It is the city of the amazingly tasty french fries. It is indeed the city showcasing dutch beauty in humans. It is very aptly known as one of the most colorful cities in the world.
I walked out of the Central station at 13:00hrs. As a trademark, the trams were busy finding their routes among the large number of people of all races walking as one big group together. As soon as the signal turns green, people cross the roads and disperse in their respective directions. I did the same.
I was here about 5 times last year. I didn't want to spend time in the museums this time. I wanted to shop. Taking a quick glance at all the souvenirs, and not getting excited by them this time, I walk straight to C&A - my favorite store in Europe. I pick up one, then two, then three, then four shirts and tell myself enough for now! I had not got the time to see the lane behind C&A last time. I decided to walk there this time. I enter "WE" and buy 3 more shirts! Am I a shopping freak or what? Maybe I am!
I walk and walk and walk and smile all throughout as I enjoy my walks. There is no reason you cannot smile. When you are shopping, you love the costs. When you are walking, you love the girls! I guess after the Italians, the Dutch ladies have the best features as far as looks go. As I continue my walks through the streets and the shops, I remind myself that I had forgotten to have Lunch. I quickly stop at a MacD and order the menu I have been craving for way back in India - Chicken Nuggets...I love them! By the time, I was ready to move out of MacD, the rains were happily willing to accompany me in large numbers. I decide to enter C&A for escaping from them and letting myself alone. C&A is so not the place to go to when you have money but dont want to spend it. It changes your mind in the initial few minutes! I now try out the jackets and happily buy one. Mom had given me a lot of coins of this country's currency which she had got with her. I count them like a good accountant and sweetly submit it at the counter. The dutch lady (very pretty and if I may say...ammm...hot) smiled and kindly began counting it too. Its a smart jacket and I happily begin to wear it.
As I enter the women's section to just check a few things out for my friend(s), I realise that I am BAD at this. I nicely and smartly decide to leave the place. As I walk the streets again, Mom gives me a call and asks me a question which really doesn't have an answer - "How can you just walk on the streets for 6hours?"
I don't know, Mom. It is fun on the streets of Amsterdam.
Despite staying in Mumbai for almost 18years now, I have hardly been a townie. My knowledge about Colaba etc is as good as I know Dutch now. But, the streets of Amsterdam are similar to the ones at Colaba. Mumbai, indeed, can be turned into a good tourist attraction if we are kind and practical enough about our dirt on the streets.
The watch freak that I am, it just excites me everytime I see a good design. I decide to buy a good black leather strapped watch with a black dial, that looks amazingly smart. Yes, the brand?
It looks nothing less than a Carrera...I don't remember the brand...Ok...fine...its a duplicate immitation of a Carrera with some other name but it costs just 10euros and it was so worth it!
I was pretty tired by now so decide to take the 2hour trip back to Hengelo, the city where I am put up for the coming 3 weeks. It isn't majorly different here from what we have back in our homeland, but still it makes you feel different. Why? You really can't say. Some would say because its cleaner...some would say because its prettier. But, our homeland is pretty too...as they say, its after all just a question of what your eyes want to see.
