Today I was thinking again that I’m missing out on a lot of firsts in the “real Amsterdam”. Then I had a change of heart…
I think it’s fair to say that life as we know it will be a little bit different from now on. The business landscape has changed for sure, and so has the economy. Tourism will look different now, for many reasons, and one way or another this industry and others will rebuild itself.
In a city that is normally flooded with tourists, I now have the rare opportunity to experience it with mostly its residents alone. As time go buy business will develop and tourism will return, and hopefully in a more sustainable way than before.
Perhaps I am not missing out on the real Amsterdam experience; in stead I’m witnessing the rebirth of the city. No doubt it will take time and hardship, but in years to come we will remember the time the world stood still for a few months. I hope we will also see something good blossom out of this misery.
Be kind. Stay safe.
mcharlottesmith 