Itrecht Utrecht We All trecht

 Okay guys its official. I have found the best city in the world. Utrecht is definitely the most underrated city to have ever existed. It has it all. Canals, bike infrastructure, cobblestone roads, old buildings, awesome food, and to top it all off, no tourists. It seemed like everywhere I went, there was another adorable street with an endless amount of things to look at and explore. 

Amsterdam is great and all, but it feels a bit more artificial than Utrecht for sure. In Utrecht you are guaranteed to interact with locals, and the store owners are much more receptive and friendly towards tourists because they are not interacting with them 24/7. Plus everything is a lot cheaper because the tourist tax has yet to take effect in that area like it has in Amsterdam. 

The biking in Utrecht is another plus. Unlike in Copenhagen, the cobblestones don't rattle your bones to an inch of your life. Somehow they maintain the old, quaint cobblestone road look, while still having it be smooth enough to enjoy your bike ride. This is a small detail that other old cities have neglected to take into account. It is very freeing to know you can bike anywhere in a city comfortably and safely. Plus who doesn't want to cycle down a cute old cobblestone road? It's adorable. 

While in Utrecht I got to experience the beautiful canals very intimately. If you ever go there, I recommend doing a little kayak excursion. Its very cheap and easy. Unlike in the US, they don't give you a whole safety lesson before you go out. They don't even give you a lifejacket! You just show up, tell them how long you want to go for, they give you route and shove you in the water. This is just one example of how the issue of liability is just not a thing over there like it is in the US. Honestly it feels pretty great to think that most people are not overly afraid that you will sue them at any second. 

Here's my last observation of Utrecht that I think is pretty intriguing. There are cats everywhere. They are just walking around, totally happy, well fed, and friendly towards people. They just walk through the streets like they own them and they are all over the place! Initially I wasn't thinking critically about this fact, I was just very glad to see so many cats and to be able to pet them, but now that I'm thinking about it, I think it has a lot to do with the fact that there were far fewer cars in Utrecht than in other cities. A car is a huge hazard for cats in an urban environment, but a bike is way more accommodating to a meandering feline. Additionally, there are just so many people walking around that these cats are very well socialized, often getting affection or treats from a passerby. This would be impossible to facilitate from a car, but on a bike, if you see a cute kitty, you can easily stop and give it a pet (speaking from experience).

This is me holding a street cat 

I can't hype up this city enough. If you ever find yourself in the Netherlands, make sure you visit Utrecht. You'll see what I'm saying. 


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