Amsterdam, the world's most beautiful city

Of many possible reason, there is one specific reason why Amsterdam is, perhaps, the world's greatest city.

In the middle of December, with snow swirling through the streets, there's an outdoors flower market that stretches for several, several blocks. Yes, they are selling flowers and plants. Turns out Tulips from Amsterdam specifically need to be frozen over the winter, or they don't grow the following spring!


Well, there's that and then there's pofferties.

What are pofferties, you ask? Why, they're tiny, spherical silver dollar pancakes that are covered in real butter and about a pound of powdered sugar. Yes they are amazing, and yes, I ate them for breakfast every day that I was there.

...yes, I will be investing in a pofferties pan when I get back to the States. Here's a picture of pofferties lady, doing God's work.


Most of my days in Amsterdam were spent recovering from Paris and all of its evil. Why, just today I was watching a documentary where the narrator goes to Paris. Cue the romantic accordion music and beautiful shots of the Eiffel Tower. Don't be fooled, it's all lies.

Amsterdam, however, was amazing. In spite of Dutch being the weirdest language in the world with words like "Gemeenteraad" and "Leidseplein" and "Werkpleinen", everyone there also happens to speak English, so you don't have much of a problem when you're lost (and you will get lost) and trying to find your way around.

Sure there was the cold, and sure I had to wear adidas pants under my jeans, two pairs of socks, gloves, a scarf, a beanie, three shirts and two sweatshirts every time I went out, but the entire atmosphere in Amsterdam is frankly a whole lot friendlier than their bitter coffee drinking, cigarette smoking, wine drinking neighbors to the south west (at least, those of them in Paris). Not to mention this country also has actually functioning heaters that actually functionally HEAT the rooms their placed in, and not the faux heaters I've seen everywhere else so far.

So yes, all of this put together makes Amsterdam one sweet city. And New Year's was a total blast. The city organized a huge party in the main square of the city with lots of fireworks:


And let's not forget everyone in Europe was there. Spanish, Italian (who are drunk and loud), French (who are very pleasant outside of Paris), English, Irish, Scottish (wearing Kilts in the dead of winter), Russian (wearing full tiger coats, this one makes more sense), German (all of whom, I've decided, are at least 6 foot tall with blonde hair), and I'm sure many, many others.

Music poured through the streets as people danced their ways home and everyone -- EVERYONE -- was drunk.

Oddly enough, with all the things that go on in Amsterdam, with how so much is legal there, I've never felt more safe in another other city I've been in so far. I was never worried about walking down the streets at night or getting lost because, frankly, everyone was perfectly friendly and helpful.

So, yes, after so much stress and so much fighting to get anywhere, Amsterdam finally made it all worth it. It's a beautiful city, and one I definitely plan on going back to.