Netherlands!

The Netherlands just happens to be the coolest place I've ever been in my life. I knew I was going to enjoy it, but I had no idea just how much I would enjoy it, especially for the little, little differences. For instance, they do not have stop lights here. They have roundabouts. They do not have giant farms. In fact, it seems like most people have their own plants and/or livestock. Their major roads are narrower than my residential street.

The one thing that put it all in perspective was the tiniest of details that I only noticed in passing: Nobody, and I mean nobody, locks their bikes. The one day I decided not to lock my bike in Dallas, that thing disappeared like a layer of ozone. Here, there are literally thousands of bikes, and it just seems like there's not even a reason to steal them. Everything is either close or within reach for 2,60 Euro on any one of the impeccably operated buses.

All along the streets, I see something completely foreign: People. Well, sure, there are people all over the world, but here, they aren't behind windows tinted enough to turn the sun black. Here, they walk. They ride bikes and mopeds. In fact, as I sit here in downtown Amsterdam, I have seen a total of zero cars pass in front of me. None! Just smiling faces at the cafe across the street (and the coffee shop), and more bikes passing than on the Tour de France. To summarize the scene: "O, the humanity!"

This place can be defined by a word: Peaceful. Nobody here is constantly living in fear of murderers and rapists they see Nancy Grace spitting her cud about. A good place to set an example would be my hostel, The Flying Pig Beach Hostel. When I walked in, I was expecting something more akin to most of my hotel experiences. You know, an army of paid sycophants attending to your every whim. Here, however, the employee-customer relationship I was used to ended at check-in. In the common area, I began meeting people from all over the world: Oregon, British Columbia, Sweden, Edinburgh. They were the nicest group of individuals I've ever been introduced to, and I'd never felt more at home. It was only the next day when I found out most of them were actual staff. The Belgian guy I shared a joint the size of a garden snake with was the shuttle driver. Nobody ever gave me "a look," nobody ever gave me a "cold shoulder," just company and merriment. People in the Netherlands have no malice. I left 10,40 Euro out beside my bed for the entire stay, and it was still there when I checked out. See? Not one more mention of Nancy Grace.

Even the car alarms were more polite! Instead of the hair-trigger Holocaust Alarm we have installed in most cars in the States, the car I heard only made a steady, moderate-volume beeping noise until the key was placed in the ignition. It doesn't stop there! On the bus, a driver gave me change from his wallet, even after the woman behind me had to pronounce Nordwijk for me (I have since learned a little bit more Dutch). I'm in some sort of inverse dimension where making eye contact is not an act of agression!

Post Script: On Amsterdam

I would like to thank the U.S. Moon Embassy for their hospitality, and I'd like to thank Coffee Shop AA for arranging transportation.