Explore Utrecht Day

Brittany in Neude square.
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We took the opportunity to sleep late. When we got up our DLC roommate Tawny was just leaving for Amsterdam, where a large group of EAPers where going explore and stay the night. Brittany and I declined because we just wanted to explore Utrecht; there is far enough to see here. Furthermore, we are planning to go on Sunday just for the day--staying the night is really unnecessary considering it's only a 30min train ride.

So we set out on the bus heading for Utrecht Centraal, the train station/bus and train terminal which flanks the downtown area. We arrived and just started walking. We strolled in and around all the many canals and were so delighted to see the place very lively with people shopping, playing music, etc. We visited everything from the Dom, the church and tower in central downtown, to the many alleyways of shops and cafes in the area. And based on our experience the night before, we planned the day so that we wouldn't have to eat out and deal with that expense and stress.

Feeling Much More at Home...

More of Neude.
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De-stress was certainly a priority. Once our feet were tired from walking we stopped into one of the coffeehouses which our tour guide Shady had pointed out to us the night before. Now let us get the Netherlands lingo straight: a 'cafe' is just that but a 'coffeehouse' is a cafe which sells marijuana (largely called 'brown cafes' in American tourist books). So naturally, we were a bit nervous going in but it is actually really straightforward. The whole experience was fun but one most realize that smoking marijuana does not have the same meaning in this context that it might in the States. It is not fetishized to an elicit act that comes with a whole cult of conventions and taboos. No. It really is as simple and enjoyable as taking time out for a cup of coffee. It is only the foolhardy Americans who leave the coffeehouses totally wrecked. We left largely in right mind and feeling rejuvenated and calm just as if we had sat and sipped an espresso. Still, I can't help but admit that our inborn tendency toward marijuana's illegality made it that much more exciting.

Down an alley with the sign of the largest bookstore chain in Holland.
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We strolled around downtown Utrecht for a while longer and then hopped on the bus back home. Leftovers for dinner and then bed.

It was a very successful day because we really began to learn our way around Utrecht. We finally grasped to bus situation and can now navigate to any numbers of destinations in the city. Also, we conquered a major anxiety in visiting the coffeehouse because like our dinner last night, we went in without any idea of how one should operate. We are beginning to feel much more at home here.