I am very much aware of the fact that I come from a small, dusty little place in the desert where politeness is rare and rain is even more rare, but arriving in Amsterdam yesterday was like walking into a dream sequence from a movie. Compared to the humid heat of Israel, Holland's weather is heavenly. The weather may not have seemed like anything special to the locals, but to us the cloudy sky, light drizzle and cool breeze was a form of therapy.
Once we recovered from the weather surprise - we begin to look around and notice the quaint little streets, canals and bicycles. Bicycles are everywhere - old ones, new ones, all sorts. What impresses me the most about the cyclists is that sturdiness with which they seem to travel - the bikes mostly have a very comfortable, old fashioned design - and the riders pedal slowly and seem to move almost effortlessly.
Almost every sight one comes across is so breathtaking, they look like they should the subject of a postcard or puzzle. Streets and canals look so gorgeous, they should have rows of painters and photographers busy trying to capture them. The canal boat houses each have their own distinct characters, some new, some barely floating. There are many tourists about, but then why wouldn't there be. This place is special.
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