On my way home to Canada before Christmas, I had an eight hour layover at the Schipol airport in Amsterdam and so decided to go for a quick jaunt into the city. Even if I could only be there for an hour or two because of the time in transit, it would still be better than sitting for hours in the airport. My only pair of shoes were left in Beni so I sported socks and sandals with my winter running jacket. The thing I didn’t really count on was how late the sun rises and how late the old town wakes up. At first I thought I had the time wrong because it was seven thirty and the city was dark and deserted. I walked into the old town in search of a cafe only to discover that most cafes don’t open until 10. It was strange to be surrounded by dense infrastructure again! Right when I was at the point of deciding to give up and go back to the station, I finally came across a cafe that was open. The place had a great atmosphere. One architectural detail I was very pleased about was a foot rest at the bar that was also a radiator pipe. I warmed my feet while munching a fresh croissant and sipping a cappuccino. I hung around for an hour and then already had to head back. At nine I was already waiting for the train to go back and finally saw the sun rise! It was a wonderful jaunt that reminded me of the many times I have enjoyed travelling alone in Europe.
Proof that I made it as far as the Torensluis
Life Section 