Savannah Martinez

Amsterdam

I must have walked down every uneven street in the city center, taking in every crooked canal house and dodging hundreds of bikes all day. This is my first time traveling by myself – something I’ve always dreamed of doing but always felt too young to do. After saving up enough money, I decided to spend my birthday in one of my favorite places: Amsterdam. As the hot day in July came to a close, I took my place on one of the many green park benches placed along each canal, dreading my flight back home in the morning. I sit there eating a waffle watching the sun go down. The dark orange hue of the sky reflected off the water painting the street in a deep shade of honey, eventually being replaced by the soft glow of the streetlights. Riverboats overflowing with tourists along with small boats of locals drinking and singing pass by me. I’m listening to music, enjoying the last moments of my trip.