Seeking quiet in busy cities
Iām an introvert, but I also love to visit cities.
Visiting cities is wonderful, I love to explore, see the gorgeous buildings and do some shopping.
It can also very easily overwhelm me. At those times I need to seek the quiet places.
In Amsterdam, my favourite quiet space in the heart of the city is the Begijnhof, pictured above. Itās a quiet (unless tourists come in droves) place very close to the shopping centre of the city.
It was founded hundreds of years ago, used to be a bƩguinage, housing for women who were religious but not nuns.
Whenever the noise and hustle and bustle of Amsterdam overwhelms me, I head to the door into it, and the moment it closes behind me, I feel relief.
I walk around for a bit, look at all the old houses and the small church, look at the feathered friends roaming around in the trees. It's so peaceful.
I have places like that in other cities too (the blessing of being European).
In London, my quiet spot is St. James Park. Iāve been there so often that I can visualise walking there. The moment I enter the gate, Iām calming down. I usually find a bench, there, and sit down to watch all the birds zoom around the water.
Itās such a perfect spot.
And in Paris there are several of those spots, but just a stroll down the Seine often does the trick, leaning against the barrier to see the river is an instant calm down spot for me. Another of those spots is Jardin de Luxembourg, a magnificent spot where I always find solace. I love that there are lots of chairs there to relax in.
When I visit a new city, I often seek out those places beforehand, so I know where to go.
It's the perfect way to balance my need to explore with the need for quiet times.