Leiden Centraal IV
when you are up for more than 48 hours (include my pre departure hours full of glee and expectations) it is not usual to go see the city instantaneously. My case differs_it differs in many other ways too that you don't want to know. First things first I went to the registration desk, which was closed. Had to dump my baggage at the hotel so I did that as quickly as I could. The urge to get out and see around over took the sleep deprived centres of brain that wanted to lullaby me into sleep.
Leiden is a student city just like the ones you are so accustomed to in America. But it is not a large city just like most of the European cities. I almost traversed the two corners of the city within 3 hours of my strolling on the cold windy streets of the city. The first thing that impresses me is the architecture of the place. Truly domesticated yet touch of modernity. Traditional in its own right yet subtle touches of fast track. Early morning sees students just springing out from almost every nook and corner and every street, all merging into one big mass of humans with lots and lots of bicycles. There are a lots of restaurants from traditional dutch to chinese cuisines being served. Fast food chains have a strong hold too. American brands abound too.
The streets are all paved with bricks. Most have been very truly kept in their traditional forms and shapes. People are jolly and helpful. Marts are not as big as in average American cities. The wind is too strong and too cold. It blows in gusts that freeze everything that is outside mittens and snow caps or blow away feeble souls like myself.
Physically drained but otherwise yet fresh as a fiddle I returned to the registration desk and got my self registered and got over with the usual stuff of the congress. Met a few people who proved to be very useful friends during the course of time.
when you are up for more than 48 hours (include my pre departure hours full of glee and expectations) it is not usual to go see the city instantaneously. My case differs_it differs in many other ways too that you don't want to know. First things first I went to the registration desk, which was closed. Had to dump my baggage at the hotel so I did that as quickly as I could. The urge to get out and see around over took the sleep deprived centres of brain that wanted to lullaby me into sleep.
Leiden is a student city just like the ones you are so accustomed to in America. But it is not a large city just like most of the European cities. I almost traversed the two corners of the city within 3 hours of my strolling on the cold windy streets of the city. The first thing that impresses me is the architecture of the place. Truly domesticated yet touch of modernity. Traditional in its own right yet subtle touches of fast track. Early morning sees students just springing out from almost every nook and corner and every street, all merging into one big mass of humans with lots and lots of bicycles. There are a lots of restaurants from traditional dutch to chinese cuisines being served. Fast food chains have a strong hold too. American brands abound too.
The streets are all paved with bricks. Most have been very truly kept in their traditional forms and shapes. People are jolly and helpful. Marts are not as big as in average American cities. The wind is too strong and too cold. It blows in gusts that freeze everything that is outside mittens and snow caps or blow away feeble souls like myself.
Physically drained but otherwise yet fresh as a fiddle I returned to the registration desk and got my self registered and got over with the usual stuff of the congress. Met a few people who proved to be very useful friends during the course of time.
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