Amsterdam & Utrecht
This was my second visit to The Netherlands to visit my lovely friends Kavita & Tijis. Kavita, I met while traveling in Central America back in 2006-2007,and she has remained a dear friend despite the geographic distance.My friends live in Utrecht, which is only 30 minutes from Amsterdam, and in my opinion a more authentic experience because it gets far fewer tourists.
Utrecht is fabulous because it is like Amsterdam on smaller scale, same gorgeous canals, bikes, architecture. The canals in Utrecht however are even cooler, because they have two levels, with bars and restaurants on canal level with cute cellar doors and then a higher level Overlooking the canals. The top picture was taken in Utrecht and the picture below is a canal in Amsterdam.
Cosy Dutch bar, drinks with friends in Amsterdam
Eating & Drinking Hall, Amsterdam
UTRECHT , Garden of the Dom Church
Things I love about the Netherlands:
#1 It is Multicultural! This is really nice for me as it is something I miss form Australia. In Finland multiculturalism is increasing, but remains somewhat homogeneous. The former Dutch colonies of Indonesia, Surinam, and the Dutch Antilles came to The Nethrlands in the 1950's and 60's. My friend Kavita's family originated form Surinam,where they came to from India. These migration waves have brought awesome food and culture to The Netherlands. Other groups of people migrated here later, such as southern Europeans from Greece, Itay, Spain and Portugal. Migration in the 1960's from Morocco and Turkey and then in the 1970's people starting ariving from the Eastern Block and also from Iran, Iraq and the former Yugoslavia in the 1980's.
#2 Bikes, everywhere! Give way to bikes!
# 3 Food!!!!! Everywhere, including hot food walls, vending machine style!
