Rick on the Road

We flew out of Durham in that hazy, half-panicked state that always hits us right before a trip: did we pack enough layers, did we lock the back door, did we actually hit “submit” on Nina’s out-of-office? By the time we landed in Copenhagen, the whole vibe felt like the opposite of our scramble. The city moves at this calm, steady pace, like everyone collectively agreed not to rush. We walked from our hotel area toward the center and immediately noticed how bikes completely ruled the streets. Not in an aggressive way, just confident. People in regular clothes, hauling kids, groceries, and dogs on cargo bikes like it was the most normal thing in the world. We found ourselves walking more slowly, paying attention to the water, the colored buildings, and how ridiculously easy it was to get around without ever thinking about a car.

Our days in Copenhagen fell into a simple rhythm: walk, metro, repeat. The city felt incredibly walkable, and when our feet got tired, we’d hop on public transit without needing to decode anything too complicated. Food-wise, we leaned into the basics: open-faced sandwiches, good bread, fresh fish, and coffee that actually tasted like something instead of burnt airport drip. We didn’t chase “the best” or try to book the restaurant everyone posts on Instagram. Instead, we focused on places that looked welcoming and not too fussy, and that approach made meals feel relaxed instead of like events we had to perform for. As a couple, Copenhagen gave us space to breathe a little—quiet side streets, benches by the water, and the kind of early evenings where you’re genuinely okay turning in before midnight.

Then we hopped over to Amsterdam, and that short flight messed with our sense of distance in the best way. One week, two countries, and the only real “border” moment was glancing at our boarding passes. Amsterdam hit us immediately as louder and busier, in a good way but definitely more intense. The canals are beautiful, but they come with a steady stream of boats, bikes, and tourists all moving at once. We spent most of our time walking, crossing one arched bridge after another, dodging bikes while trying not to look too much like we were dodging bikes. The city felt like it was constantly in motion—more nightlife, more people out late, more noise drifting up from the streets when we finally crashed at night.

Food in Amsterdam skewed a little more indulgent for us. Street snacks, fried things, pastries, and late-night bites we grabbed because we were still walking at 10 p.m. instead of being back in the room reading like we had been in Copenhagen. We didn’t turn this trip into a checklist of attractions, but the contrast between the two cities gave us a lot to talk about as we wandered. Copenhagen felt like a place you go to reset your pace; Amsterdam felt like a place you go to lean into the energy. Doing both in a single week made Europe feel surprisingly small and accessible, even from our usual life in Durham. By the time we flew home, we weren’t experts on either city, but we had a better sense of what kind of pace we like when we travel as a couple—and that feels more useful than any “must-see” list we could have brought back.