I am in Amsterdam and I love everything. I even love the fact that I was almost just murdered by a gaggle of beautiful Dutch bikers. It is apparently not a good idea to walk in the heavily populated bike lanes. It is, however, a good idea to do whatever else you might desire here. Whether you wish to smoke a joint in a “Coffee Shop”, venture to the Red Light District and visit the prostitutes, or get disgustingly cultured at a museum (there are over a hundred to choose from), it is easy and legal to fulfill your vices whilst you are in Amsterdam.

               Ominous Clouds + Bikers

I am so happy in Amsterdam that I forget what my vices are.

The Netherlands, or Holland, is a country of acceptance. Gay marriage was first legalized here. Women have the right to choose whether or not they want to have a child. The politics are liberal, the people varied.

My friend Katie and I are staying with the wonderful family of my former roommate. The stimulating conversations we have at the dinner table mingle in the air over the food. Everything tastes like gold, nourishing and delicious. Meals like this leave everyone content, their senses ravished.

Despite all of this, I am not so naive as to think that there is only a bright side to this city. It rained dramatically today, painting Amsterdam in the bleakest of grays. Dark clouds rolled in over the canals, leaving everything tinged with darkness. Somehow, the bikers continued biking, splashing unsuspecting walkers like myself with gray puddle water. I think I still love everything.

               The Canals, pre-rainstorm

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