Netherlands. Amsterdam

 Unforgettable impressions were left by the city of great contrasts - Amsterdam!!! After squeezing through a traffic jam on the Belgian highway, our bus finally brought us to the coveted destination. The first thing we saw upon stepping out onto the square near the Rijksmuseum was the legendary sign - "I amsterdam"...

  Heading towards the city center, we crossed bridges connecting the canals with their web-like structure, stopped by the windows of interesting little shops, and took photos with bicycles—more precisely, with the huge number of bicycles attached to everything they could be attached to and even left where it was prohibited...

   

There are so many bicycles here that these kinds of signs only surprise tourists not accustomed to the local life...

Crossing another bridge and walking through another bright alley with impressive houses, we found ourselves at the tulip market. This market, spread along the canal, sold all kinds of tulips, bulbs, and various flowers, as well as a large number of souvenirs ranging from magnets to sex-related items...

  After thoroughly enjoying the market and buying some magnets, we headed to the central square. The boats on both sides of the canals continued to impress with their harmony, and the bicycles, a special feature of Amsterdam, added unforgettable color to the city...

    

  We even managed to sit on one of the rundown boats parked by the shore...

   And here is a Dutch bike rickshaw...

   Amsterdam's central square delighted us with a Ferris wheel, offering amazing views from above... 

 After the Ferris wheel, we continued to wander through such contrasting streets. Where else can you see such a number of sex shops, coffee shops, and places for satisfying sexual needs like the entire Red Light District... 

    Coffee shops differ from our cafes not only in their vibrant decor but also in their menu, with the main dishes being marijuana and hashish...

   We returned to another coffee shop in the evening to try the local cuisine...

 And here is the famous Red Light District, where it is strictly forbidden to photograph the windows, as the naked girls inside are very shy and do not like to be photographed...

 Interestingly, churches coexist peacefully next to such places... This contrast is impressive, making Amsterdam a very unusual city where all prohibitions seem to be accessible...

In the next photo, you can clearly see the attitude towards cycling. In a typical alley of a typical neighborhood, a typical bike path with a sign for two-way bike traffic. No wonder Dutch ministers love to bike to work...  

 Public urinals are another thing that makes Amsterdam such a unique city. They are scattered throughout the city, making life easier for the entire male population. What else do we need: naked girls in windows—pick any, cafes where you can smoke marijuana if you're feeling the heat after a beer, and even if you need to relieve yourself, that's no problem... :). And if you're also a fan of two-wheelers, you won't find a better place... I get the impression that Amsterdammers love bicycles partly because they are often prohibited from driving cars...    

  There is also a Chinatown here...

  The houses are built in a single style but with different designs, which is an architectural feature of the Dutch capital...

   Endless praises can be sung about the bicycles here... 

   A three-tier bike parking lot blows your mind...

  Canals, bridges, charming houses, how we long to return to this city...

  And after the lights along the canals lit up, the city donned its evening attire...

  We then strolled through the Red Light District, closely examining the women in the windows. Diana found it as interesting as I did, constantly pointing out whom I should pay attention to, which was very amusing...

  Then we went to a coffee shop. From the menu given to me, I chose Jack Herer, a strain of marijuana that won the Cannabis Cup in 1994. We settled at a window table on the second floor of the cafe. After preparing the substance, packing the pipe, lighting it, and taking a puff, we experienced the psychotropic Amsterdam...  

    Leaving the cafe, the Red Light District, and indeed everything, looked different. The scene seemed to be processed in a photo editor, adding some special effects...

  Afterwards, it was very difficult to navigate and get back to the hotel, which was 9 km from the center. First, we had to find the metro station we needed, then buy tickets from the machine, and board the correct train. All of this is very simple unless you have been an active visitor to a coffee shop :)...