New Insights

It is hard to find someone who would disagree that Amsterdam is the craziest and most beautiful city in the world. People either wants to travel someday, or they have already been to Amsterdam. So more or less, right or wrong, people have some knowledge about the city. The moment you start talking about Amsterdam comments and questions follow: They ride bicycles all time, right? (Yeah, right, they do.) There is a street where prostitutes expose themselves; you should really see it. (Hey, I am a woman too!) Do they really smoke weed on streets? (This is the only thing you wonder, isn’t it?)

Then, among all these information bombardment, commercialization and labels attached on the city, what can you offer travelers to discover?

What else is there to discover in Amsterdam?

But, they say if you don’t want to be disclosed, hide in the most obvious place.

This place is Amsterdam Central Station for me, the building every traveler passes by.
It was the first building I saw in Amsterdam when I stepped off the bus. I raised my head and the moment I saw it, I was mesmerized. Never mind the architecture or its majesty. The building was familiar! Oddly enough, I felt at home in a city I have never been to before. A city about which I have preoccupations and labels in my mind like everyone else. After an awesome trip in Amsterdam, I came to realize that how you define a city reveals what you expect to find there. My definition of Amsterdam is sincerity, freedom and adventure. I relate this to positive start caused by Central Station’s heartwarming welcome.

We said ‘See you next time!’ to each other a month ago. Now I am looking forward to saying ‘Hello, me again!’ soon.