Amsterdam tutti quanti: P. 10 “Before the departure”

After spending three days in Amsterdam, both L. and I have finally learned that “coffee shop” doesn’t mean a cafe, but a place where you’re served cannabis (in whatever form you fancy): there won’t be coffee. If you DO want coffee, you need to proceed to a *real* cafe (cannabis wouldn’t be included).

As far as it goes (mostly, following my nostrils) cannabis here has a less intimidating smell than in Cambridge, which, I guess, means a high quality product or something.

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We tried very hard to avoid That One Quarter in the city that everyone heard about, yet still ended up in one of the dodgy corners, while slightly deviating from the route that was built by gps (both of us somehow totally missed the tiny red lights above). A little glimpse at the red curtain and a young woman in lacy underwear behind it, thoughtlessly staring in front of her and at nobody in particular through the glass made me extremely sad: no amount of mental gymnastics persuades me that it’s not gross. Girls behind red curtains most likely didn’t need my compassion (if we assume that they were there completely voluntarily) yet they have it from me anyway.

Amsterdam tutti quanti: P. 9 “Витринное-эвфемистическое”

Ngl, the name gives certain vibes:

Amsterdam tutti quanti: P. 8 “Букинистический”

По рекомендации фейсбучного френда-библиофила попали в отличный букинистический с простеньким названием “Used English Books”: три этажа плюс подвал заставлены книжками разной степени значимости, и рыться в них было сплошным удовольствием.

Amsterdam tutti quanti: P. 7 “Misc”

Doggo-shaped live mannequins, lobsters, floating lights and more.

Amsterdam tutti quanti: P. 6 “H'ART Museum” (+ photos)

One in a lifetime opportunity.

 

Amsterdam tutti quanti: P. 5 “Boat trip” (+ photos)

Several pics to the videos from the previous post:

Amsterdam tutti quanti: P. 5 “Boat trip”

The most wonderful things that could happen to you while on a boat trip are 1) unexpectedly lovely weather; 2) the fact that you were the ONLY people on the boat, and the guides, young cheerful lads with impeccable English, were telling stories (and fables) for you personally.

Amsterdam tutti quanti: P. 4 “Те же и голландское ар деко”

Если ты, будучи женщиной средних лет сурикатом бесценного груза, хочешь слиться в толпе с автохтонами, лучшее, что ты можешь сделать — надеть ливайсы и джинсовую же куртку бежевых/песочных оттенков (своей я заблаговременно обзавелась в одной там онлайн-барахолке в thrift shop’e*: Carhartt, я ваша навеки) и идти с лицом человека, познавшего дзен во время лодочной прогулки по каналам.

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То самое голландское ар деко, названное историками архитектуры фантазийным, поражает воображение: кажется, что здания и правда мифологизируют все окружающее их пространство, и их отражения в воде каналов живут какой-то своей, особой, жизнью.

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* открытка многим — в основном, людям помоложе: мы одевались в секондах before it was cool

Amsterdam tutti quanti: P. 3 “Navigating the historic centre” (photos)

 And a few pics, as per usual, to the previous post:

Amsterdam tutti quanti: P. 3 “Navigating the historic centre”

What I love about travelling is that the city of your destination you’ve heard a lot about before your arrival almost always* exceeds your expectations, turning out as *not* exactly what you thought of it but something that you’ll definitely remember for a long time.

Of course, I’ve seen plenty of pictures, videos, documentaries (including those stereotypical “they basically live on cannabis, and once you there, you’d be the part of it, even involuntarily,” lol) and whatnot about Amsterdam, yet it all seems a bit bogus now, as the city itself is so magnificently vivacious, and bright, and cleverly spacious against all the odds (navigating the centre full of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists such that they don’t devour each other instantly is indeed a work of genius), and you feel relaxed, even in the centre of the city buzz. Or maybe, just maybe they indeed spray cannabis everywhere: who knows?..

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* With a few honourable exceptions: Shanghai, I see you