Utrecht (Netherlands) | Love It or Hate It (Part 1) - 29 Jul, 2023

 

La Grand Place (The Great Square) in Brussels is considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world. The Guild Houses, dating back to the 17th century, are Medieval trade unions. They are beautifully adorned with gold and quite spectacular to see in person. Due to construction at the site and the light's direction, I cannot photograph the entire square. Although I cannot capture this UNESCO site in a way that would do it justice, this short video captures the square's beauty and opulence. 

Before taking the train north to the Netherlands, I spend the morning wandering around the city center of Brussels. I'm struggling with this city today. Although it is the European Union's capital, I am having a hard time connecting with the city. The more I wander, the more I question how I feel about the city. It is very spread out and rundown in many places. Plus, the architecture is a jumbled mess. Everywhere I go, I see buildings of all different styles and decades juxtaposed next to each other. The city also feels closed in from all the tall buildings. Rarely I am so underwhelmed by a city. I expected more from Brussels. I remember Phillip, who lives here, telling me it is a diverse city. I need to spend more time here when I return to Belgium to visit Cami and Isabelle. 

Brussels, red square, is located near the middle of Belgium. Belgium is about 1.2 times larger than New Hampshire, United States.

After finishing my delicious waffle from that fantastic waffle bar, I look down at my pullover. Shit! I say, laughing. 😂 The front of my pullover is covered in chocolate. Despite my best efforts to be mindful not to spill, I can only do so much when eating and standing up. I dropped gooey chocolate on the front of my pullover. I don't want the stain to set, so it looks like I need to do laundry. A quick glance at my phone. Yep. I've got time, but the laundromat is a 15-minute walk. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my morning. At least I'll be closer to the train station. I'll continue to wander through Brussels when I return in a few weeks.

As my train approaches Amsterdam, Netherlands, I ping Ivo to let him know I will arrive in Utrecht around 5 pm as planned. But since my train is a bit late, we will need to meet a little later because I still need to walk to my accommodations. "That's perfect! I'm running a bit late at work too. We can grab dinner. How's Thai sounds? There aren't any Dutch restaurants. It isn't a thing," he writes. I love Thai. "Ok, I'll make reservations," he says. When we walked the Camino, Ivo had already warned me that there aren't "Dutch food" restaurants in the Netherlands. However, there are many modern fusion restaurants (i.e., ethnic foods with a Dutch twist).

A few minutes later, Ivo writes, "The place was full. Do you want to eat Poutine?" Sure. I'm curious to experience Poutine fusion, I write back. Then I get "😂😂😂," followed by "There's no Putine here. I booked us for Thai at 6 pm. Let's meet at Central Train Station." I write back "Ok" and start laughing.😂

Utrecht, Netherlands, is about an hour's train ride southeast of Amsterdam. 

I step out of Utrecht Centrale Station. I need to put on my jacket. The wind is steady and cold. I look around and notice I am utterly unprepared for what I see and hear. One of the first sights I cross is this HUGE outdoor parking area for bicycles. Are there really that many people that ride their bikes here? There must be a thousand or more bicycles there. If I didn't know better, I would have guessed this double-decker parking area to be a bicycle graveyard.

Wave after wave of cyclists pass by in both directions. There isn't a car to be heard or seen. WOW! I always knew the Dutch loved to ride bicycles, but I did not expect this. It is so tranquil that I completely forget to look for oncoming traffic when I cross a little street. When I hear "Ring, Ring" from the bicycle's bell behind me, I jump out of the way just in time to avoid getting run over by the cyclist. Well, that's new. I am not used to seeing a steady stream of cyclists like this. And I sure don't want to be hit by one. As I pay closer attention, I notice they all ride similar "Cruiser Style" bicycles. I am surprised there isn't more diversity in style and color.

I start laughing out loud. 😂 Does no one walk here? These are the flattest streets I have ever seen. I reach a major intersection and notice 35-40 cyclists lined up in each direction. No one dismounts their bicycles. Instead, they keep one foot on the pedal in a ready position and the other on the ground. Everyone is so patient and courteous with the other riders. But, I notice that there are very few conversations. Everyone seems focused on the traffic light and getting to their destination. I see people of all ages, men and women, dressed in all kinds of clothes, from casual to suits and dresses, riding bicycles. When I cross the street, I look back and see another 35-40 cyclists arrive as the light changes. As I continue down the road, I realize I am in awe of what I am witnessing. For these Dutch people, however, this is the norm.

Every block has hundreds of bicycles parked near the street. It reminds me of Main Street at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. However, I am seeing a milder, more gentle version of the largest motorcycle rally in the world. Unlike Sturgis, there is no noise from combustion engines. None from car tires. None from horns or idle cars. Nothing from motorcycles or scooters. It is dead quiet, yet the city is bustling with activity. I am awestruck by the serenity. This is amazing! It is hard to explain how comforting it feels to me.

It takes me around 20 minutes to walk to my accommodations. About halfway there, something unexpected happens to me. I notice a feeling I have not felt before while traveling. I'm in love with Utrecht. This is my kind of city. I would totally live here, I say to myself. No need for a car. Everyone loves to cycle. This is incredible!

I start to laugh. I have only been in Utrecht for not even 30 minutes and am already experiencing some strong positive reactions to Utrecht. 😂 I've visited many cities, but I have yet to have a city make me feel this way. Is this love at first sight! I need to learn more about Utrecht and how difficult it is to move here. I also need to explore how I am feeling. Will it change after I've explored Utrecht? Will I still be in love with Utrecht after several days?


Comments