February 22-23, 2001
Take Amsterdam. Now take away the historic buildings, the drugs and the sex. Now add the concept of a work ethic and the world's largest port and what do you get? Rotterdam.
The place was bombed to bits in WWII and rebuilt modern. Lacking the architecture of so many other places, it's hard to picture this city as the culture capital of Europe as the tourist office claims.
There is the energy of a city along with the busy roads and gritty sidewalk sales. It's not something I've been looking for, but makes me realize how much I enjoy being near the aged streets. I smirk because my home is old London this year and Rotterdam is only for a day.