I (am)sterdam

A few more minutes before my taxi arrives. Trying to squeeze in those few thoughts that compete for their place in my mind that’s already crowded with thoughts on whether I checked under the bed and if I left something in the drawer of the hotel room. I have always wondered the chances of finding something under my hotel bed. I barely use the room. And even if I did, what are the chances that things would get cluttered so much that something would find it’s way down, of all the places, under the bed! In any case, as they say, better safe than sorry. So it’s now become a routine check in my checklist of things to do before I leave for home. Speaking of leaving for home, I’ll miss this place that hosted me for the past 3 days.

Amsterdam. What struck me most about this city is the perfect harmony of the young reckless and carefree youth and the elegant dignified history pregnant with thoughts, paintings, music and tales of the past. While the former glows into its finest as the night progresses, the latter announces its own humble yet conspicuous arrival at the wee hours of the morning. The paved roads, the brick-house sloping roof parish like and at times even medieval architecture, the almost fairy-tale parks where proud birds fight for their space among humans, the ever so common cafes by the canals where old men battle it out over a game of chess incited by thick fumes of hashish… these and so many other small things make Amsterdam a city one can’t help but pause. And wonder, often wistfully, if one will ever be able to retire in a place such as this.

Ah well, the announcement for my fight. Managed to write this post during those many pauses in my transit from the hotel to the airport. Gotta board the plane now. Gotta get back. Hmmm…. you know, as much as any new place we travel to holds us in its grip with beautiful mysteries and wonders, yet, deep in your heart, you know that you really belong somewhere else… some place perhaps very ordinary and insignificant, yet a place whose right on your heart can be reclaimed by no other… a place called home.