First impressions of Amsterdam: canal views and coffee culture

I'm here! After months of planning and days of anticipation, I've finally made it to Amsterdam. The flight from Kristiansand was smooth, though I had to duck my head several times walking through the plane. I arrived at Schiphol Airport around 12:30 and managed to navigate the train system to Amsterdam Centraal without any issues.

Hotel Clemens is exactly as advertised – a charming little place tucked away on a quiet street near the Jordaan district. My room has a lovely view of the canal, which I've been staring at for probably too long. There's something mesmerizing about watching the boats glide by and seeing the sunlight play on the water.

After dropping off my backpack, I decided to take a short walk to get my bearings. The weather is cooperating beautifully – 21°C and partly sunny, which feels perfect for exploring. I noticed several people sitting outside cafés enjoying the sunshine.

I found a small café called 'Koffie West' about 10 minutes from my hotel and arrived just as they were opening their afternoon service. The barista recommended their specialty brew, and I have to say it was excellent – rich and complex with none of the bitterness you sometimes get. I sat outside watching people bike past while sipping my coffee and finally felt the tension of travel preparations melt away.

It's strange to think that just this morning I was in my apartment in Kristiansand, and now I'm sitting in Amsterdam with 493 days of adventure ahead of me. The reality of what I'm doing is starting to sink in.

Planning tomorrow's adventures

I've been looking at my options for tomorrow. The Van Gogh Museum is definitely on my list – there's apparently a special exhibition called "Van Gogh x John Madu: Paint Your Path" happening until September 7th, so I should try to see that before it ends. I've already checked the opening times (they open at 9:00) and bought my ticket online to avoid queues.

I'm also thinking about taking a canal cruise tomorrow afternoon. Several boat companies operate along the canals, and it seems like a good way to get a different perspective of the city. Plus, the weather forecast looks good – 22°C and partly cloudy, though apparently there might be some showers in the afternoon.

Vondelpark is another place I want to visit while I'm here. It's Amsterdam's largest park, and from the photos I've seen, it has some impressive old trees and lovely walking paths. Maybe I'll head there if the weather stays nice.

The beginning of something big

It's strange to think that this is just the beginning. Day 7 of my journey (if you count from when I first announced it on the blog), but really day 1 of being away from Norway. I have 493 days ahead of me with no fixed plans beyond the next couple of nights at this hotel.

I feel settled here already, which is surprising. Maybe it's because Amsterdam isn't so different from home in some ways – the climate, the architecture, the fact that everyone speaks English. Or maybe it's just that the excitement of finally being on the road is overriding any anxiety.

I did have a moment of panic earlier when I couldn't find my power adapter, but it was just buried at the bottom of my backpack. Crisis averted. I've set up a little charging station by the desk in my room, and everything is now happily plugged in and regaining power.

Tomorrow I'll venture further into the city. For now, I'm content to sit by my window, watch the boats on the canal, and try to process the fact that I've actually done it – I've left home and started this journey.

493 days to go. So much to see. So much to learn.

I wonder what version of myself will be writing the final entry of this blog when those 493 days are up?