Learning a lesson from the street

I did not have much knowledge about Amsterdam till I went there last month as a part of a European trip. The trip was a package tour arranged by a tour operator in our city. They have offered a month’s trip to various destinations in Europe. Every arrangement including travel, food and accommodation were taken care by them and their charge was a lump sum amount for all these facilities. This had reduced our job as we did not have to waste our time in enquiring about international air flights and in bargaining to get cheap flight deals. We were about 40 members in the group and except me all are families. Still they never made me to feel alone and gave me a good company. We visited many places in Europe and finally reached in Amsterdam.

After arriving there, the first thing we did was to check in to the hotel that has been reserved for us. As I was alone, they have reserved me a room separately. In the evening, I befriended the room boy who came with my evening drinks. I tried to get maximum information from him about the city. The main attraction in the city is the canals that have been built in the 14th century. They are declared as heritage sites by UNESCO. Then there are many heritage buildings including the Old Church, which has been built in the 14th century. It houses the oldest stock exchange in the world too.
I was really surprised to know these things. I never took Amsterdam as an important city and I never consider it as a tourist destination. According to him, more and more visitors are coming to the city every year and there are many flights to Amsterdam from all parts of the world. 
Next day morning I have conveyed all the Information I have gathered to our guide and he told me that all those places are in our list. He really got wondered and he did not conceal his shock. He asked me how I could get all those information. Though it is possible to gather information through internet, it will not be in details as a local person describe. My descriptions were in details as I collected it from my room boy who is a local person.

When our bus passed through the city, I got a different picture of Amsterdam. When we went pass through a residential area, I have seen many old style houses along with modern homes. It was not a blending of culture or art; I felt it as a blending of times. I really enjoyed it.

While coming back to our room, we have stopped in front of a large shopping mall. Ladies of our group went inside for purchases and some men followed them. However, I preferred to be out on the lawn. I sat there as if I did not have to do anything. There was an old building in front of me on the opposite side of the road. It seems to remind me that, you can go any further and you can achieve new heights and new friends, still one day you will have to look back and then you can see only some old faces.

I decided to visit Amsterdam once again as it taught a philosophy of life. Anyway, it will not cost me more as cheap airfares to Amsterdam are readily available.





























