My first trip that I would like to share is my last one, it was in Amsterdam.
I know what comes in mind : coffee shop, sex shop, ... = freedom ! Of course it is, but strangely to my mind it's also a really calm and peaceful city, then quite ecological. Everybody goes by bike even buissness men aswellas the lady wearing high heels. Besides I learnt that they definately don't care of cold ! In winter, the bike is always the coach of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is unique. Every body is calm and relax... well ... maybe the coffee shop effect ... but I don't think so. In some streets you can see smoky guys and sexy girls but everywhere else people are cool and lovely. Amsterdam isn't a big city where you feel stressed due to fastness of life. No, I really felt that people there, took their time. For instance when I drove there nobody tooted me even when I stalled three times running it's the opposite of Paris where if you drive you have to be tooted one at least. You must know that I haven't my driving license, yet. I'm learning, so drivers behind me must be patient !
When I say that I think about Henk. He is the owner of a chalet we booked for one night. He was so relax ! In fact, he always said ''never mind'', ''you see, as you like'', ''no problem''. Instead of preparing a breakfast for my friend and me, he preapred one for us and my brother and my dad, even if they were sleeping somewhere else.
Next he lent us bikes for whole the day long. We were free with the bikes ! Then, my friend and I took part in the daily Amsterdam way of life. If we enjoyed so much this trip and this city it is certainly beacause of our biking hours. So, we spent almost all the day outside !
We left the chalet and headed for Anne Frank museum, discovering streets, hourses, little bridges we hadn't seen the previous day in the car. Arriving at the museum (without getting lost in all the lanes) we were shocked by a huge queue which took three streets..! We were a bit discouraged, having lunch was a better option plus on the road bu bike we had seen a perfect place for lunch : a coffee_restaurant situated on canals. We are not able to eat on water everyday ! We weren't the only Frenchy in Amsterdam, we met some others. After all it is not so far from France !
Then, when I was drinking my hot chocolate peacefully, we had a call from my dad and my brother who were in the queue for Anne Frank museum. We could join them. In my opinion if you are in Amsterdam this museum is one not to miss ! It's really touching. It's different from other museums because, there, you enter the daily life of Anne and her family. Besides you experience an atmosphere of hopes and fears at the same time. The museum but especially Anne Frank taught me that everybody has freedom and we should make the most of ours. Anne's desire to live showed me that inside of us we have enough strength to manage to do what we love. Anne wanted to write and be read by others, actually she is ! Through her writing she has transmited which had really happened and she has definitely touched people all over the world. The museum might not move some people (I can hardly believe it) but it wasn't my case and I wanted to share it.
When we got out of the museum we were surprised to see the stars. My dad and my brother were already far because they were were afraid of overpassing the limited time of parking. So, with my friend, we took back the bikes and wandered.
We discovered a cosy café and lovelly shops headed by unknow designers. One was a shop which has as a concept to only sell T-shirts and sweat-shirts. Each T-shirt was different through colours, prints, patterns... A simple concept but which can interest children, yougsters, adults and even grand-parents. Have you ever see a grand father wearing a T-shirt ? It's so trendy !
Next we also discovered a vintage shop called Ilovevintage. You can go on its website if you are one of the people who would love to have been born few years before; My friend and I tried dresses of the sixties. We imagined to be in Audrey Hepburn flesh ! We just missed her amazing haircut.
Two days in Amsterdam go by fast ... Leaving the shop, we remounted on bikes and rode along canals by nights before coming back to France.
I I must finish my first article with a music of Wheatus (We attended their concert in Amsterdam)
Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag
