Lost...No not the TV show

“Which way do you think we should go?” Definitely the most used sentence during my stay in Amsterdam. While it would probably be more entertaining to read a blog entry about a wild 3 day odyssey through the seedy Amsterdam nightlife filled with drug-use and promiscuous women, I am choosing to write about being lost; because quite frankly, that’s what I was most of the time. It started from the moment we arrived, which involved finding our hostel which Google Maps said was a 45-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal. While wandering throughout the city streets, it is hard to stay focused on the task at hand while taking in the ambiance of the city; the narrow, winding streets with buildings of varying colors built centuries ago leaning at different angles, shops with rows of bright orange Netherlands soccer jerseys preparing for the World Cup, and the picturesque canals that were so useful throughout the city’s history lined with small riverboats. The air is filled with the excitement of the city, you can hear languages from around the world while being surrounded by tourists, music being played on boats as they glide along the canals, and of course the omnipresent ring of a bicycle bell as native Amsterdammers warn drifting tourists to get watch out as they whiz by. To someone who has never been to Amsterdam, the first thought after reading the previous paragraph would probably be “Looks like someone spent too much time in the coffee shops!” but for even the most experienced traveler, navigating Amsterdam can be a total nightmare. Unlike the classic American city with its grid of interconnecting streets, Amsterdam consists of constantly bending horseshoe streets with interconnecting alleys going every-which way, which can turn a 30-minute walk into an hour and thirty minutes very quickly. Add in the fact that streets have names such as Eerste Constantjin Huygensstraat and Roemer Visscherstraat, names I can’t pronounce let alone remember.

For many tourists, being lost can be the worst possible outcome during a trip, it could cause them to miss several activities they planned for the weekend. Personally, getting lost within the city allowed me to see parts of the city most tourists would never had experienced. One positive about being lost in Amsterdam is that it seems everyone speaks English, something that’s completely different from other European cities. The city’s mercantilist past must have played a role in this, since merchants must have had to converse with other merchants from around the globe. Our hostel was near the “Museumplein” outside the center of the city, which allowed us to see a little bit of what everyday life in Amsterdam consisted of. During a particularly long 2 hour and 45-minute walk back to the hostel one night, we ended up taking somewhat of a “Grand Tour of Amsterdam”. Starting from the Red Light District, we attempted to make our way back to the hostel, but in our inebriated state we ended up taking more of a scenic view. Although the trip was much longer than expected and frustrating after a long day of that started at 6:45 AM, this trek in and out of different neighborhoods in Amsterdam showed parts of the city that are the exact opposite of the city center. The architecture was similar, but there were no neon signs for coffee shops or sex shows or tacky souvenirs, which was somewhat refreshing after spending most of the day in that scene. I know that when most people think of Amsterdam, they think of the Red Light District and obviously the lax marijuana laws. I think this is an incorrect assumption, almost as if someone assumed the Las Vegas Strip was similar to everyday life in the U.S. Although the touristy destinations are where all travelers flock to the moment they arrive, I think it’s the places that are ‘off the beaten path’ that give you a true feel of what the place is all about. Also, another surprising sight throughout the duration of the trip was that locals were still riding their bikes…at nearly 3:00 AM! While I knew coming in that the Dutch loved their bicycles, this sight sealed the deal. After navigating (albeit unsuccessfully) throughout the labyrinth of streets that make up the city, we finally made our way back to the hostel, mostly thanks to the “You Are Here” maps located on several street corners. So when I finally reached my hostel room full of 15 snoring travelers, I was actually happy we got to explore so much of the city. Although I had to sacrifice a few precious hours of sleep, being able to catch a small glimpse of Amsterdam minus the drugs and loose women was definitely worth it.