Many moons ago I spent a lot of time in Amsterdam, I think the last time I was here was 2013, my god it has gone down hill, the city centre is a dump, litter and big bags of rubbish strewn everywhere, pushers loitering on street corners, cheap tacky shops and even the coffee shops now have bouncers on the door. I personally have fallen out of love with what was once one of my favourite European cities.
But still the crowds throng the streets, searching for that so called magic that they have been led to believe exists.
I went in search of something more enjoyable and where i didn't have to dodge pools of vomit on the pavement.
So a nice stroll along Prins Hendrikkade, from the Central Station to the Nemo science museum to enjoy the boats in Oosterdok.
Shot in the main from the Prins Hendrikkade embankment, Oosterdokseiland island, in the background, a development that has been ongoing for a number of years, now mostly completed. A mix of urban regeneration. More (un)affordable homes for the far and middle eastern investors to snap up
A mix of houseboats, some lived in, some empty rentals, and some steel hulled boats for the open seas
Some with their own grass lawns!
That is where I am heading, NEMO, cleverley constructed to look like a mahoosive ship.
Bikes and Amsterdam go hand in glove, fuck me you need to keep your wits about you when walking around, these twats think they own not only the road, the tramways, but the pavements too.
What life there lives in a micro-environment like that, they wonder if anything lives beyond the rubber ring. Much like our flat earth.
I wonder from where these time worn statues came from? Some majestic palace or stately building, saved from landfill, a wise investment no doubt for someone.
There was a promised cafe at the top of NEMO, toilets too!
and more pretty flowers to see, as we drank pretty good coffee from paper cups and scoffed apple cake so full of sugar I was hyped for the rest of the day.
"Where next?" asked my companion (nurse, carer, sensible side kick)
"The distant horizon beckons my love, a floating flower market"