Sunday, March 20, 2011

Europe



It's chilling outside. The sky is bleak, and everything looks gray. I walk past the train station and head to the University building, a ten-minute walk from my hotel. It's 8 am, and a thick fog cloaks my vision.

I pass by busy people dressed in thick coats and gloves, making their way through a sea of people to get to school, work, or leisure. The streets are full of bicycles or walking people, and hardly do I see cars. It's expensive to own a car in Leiden.

The houses are old, and to the casual observer, they almost look alike, and in the exact same way that they appear in postcards: thin, brick-walled buildings that go for at least three storeys high. These houses are beside the canals that run across the city. It won't be the Netherlands without the canals. 

Locals tell me I came at the wrong time: winter hasn't completely left yet, and it's still too cold for the tulips to be in full bloom. But I have layers upon layers of clothing upon me, a thermal jacket, a scarf hugging my neck, and thick socks. I keep my hands in my pockets and, for the fun of it, occasionally exhale through the mouth: I love the sight of white mist that forms in front of my face. For the first time in my life, I feel like a European.

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4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't wait to hear all your stories lance! :) see you in a couple of days!
Enjoy!
-aa

PS did you do the city tour? :P

Sun Mar 20, 09:30:00 AM GMT+8  
Blogger ellefnuJy said...

wow! congratulations kuya Lance!! God bless you!! pareho lang bala ang imo ngirit sa profile pic mo kag sa picture mo sa post nga ni :)

-lovelove pilapil

Sun Mar 20, 05:41:00 PM GMT+8  
Blogger vjgumban said...

Can we please have lunch/dinner when you get back? I want stories! Hehe! Belated birthday treat ko! -Bambi

Sun Mar 20, 07:20:00 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i usually don't ask men out to coffee, but i've got to hear the story behind this straight from you. hehe - carlo timbol

Thu Mar 24, 07:25:00 AM GMT+8  

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