Heat Wave

Amsterdam is having a heatwave. According to Yahoo Weather, it will be hot again tomorrow and then it looks like it will be cool and rainy. That is the weather I was expecting. The reason I came here was because I knew it would be too hot in Spain to do anything.

I don't mind the heat too much because I don't have to do anything. After my breakfast and e-mailing and blogging this morning, I decided to read my guide book a little. I did it lying in my bed. Soon, I took off my glasses, turned over and fell asleep. I finally woke up at about 3 p.m. I guess I was tired.

I had a half of a sandwich and then went out exploring.

Today I went to the Southern Canal Zone. It took me two attempts to actually get there, as I am very confused by the winding streets here. I was walking, thinking I was in the Southern Canal Zone when I saw a coffee shop that I knew was near my apartment. So, I headed in the other direction and started again.

It was nice to be a little away from the tourist crowds. I saw more Dutch people (I think) riding bikes, riding around in boats in the canals, and driving. There was more traffic outside of the city center.

I was looking for a nice park to sit in and cool down under the shade. It took me a while to find it, but when I did, it was not cool or relaxing. It was very crowded, and hot. So, I walked through and headed back towards home.

I stopped on the way to get a falafel sandwich. The guy working there was obviously Middle Eastern, I don't know from where. I spoke to him in English.

As I was eating my falafel, two other guys came in and spoke to him in another language. They didn't look Dutch, so I thought they were speaking Arabic. But then I recognized Italian. I was amazed that this guy was able to speak English and Italian and wondered what other languages he spoke. And then I thought about the guys who run Geno's Cheesesteaks in South Philadelphia who refused to serve people who did not speak English. If I had to speak Dutch here, I would starve. I feel funny just walking into a place and speaking English, but it is obvious that everyone speaks English, even though it is not their first language, and it seems to me that it is not the only language they speak. What is it about their education policies or culture that encourages multilingualism?

I have enjoyed walking around, but really wish I had a bike. Bikes are everywhere. Everyone rides them. Men, women, teenagers. I've seen people in suits, entire families, people hauling furniture. It is the main form of transportation. If we had more people riding bikes in the US we would have less obesity and would be less dependent on oil and would not have to involve ourselves in wars.

I was also thinking about Amsterdam's tolerant drug policies. Marijuana is legally sold in coffee shops here. Apparently the Dutch do not smoke that much marijuana, but British and Americans are the biggest consumers. It is funny that in a country where pot is legal, people don't have much interest, but in countries where it is illegal, people use more drugs. It all seems like a good argument for the legalization of pot in the US.