A Few Sunny Days Along the Canals in Utrecht

I spent a few days in Utrecht in the middle of June, and the weather was perfect. The sun was out the whole time, with bright blue skies almost every day. The city felt incredibly alive. The main canals are two-tiered, and the lower levels were lined with cafes and bistros, with people eating and drinking right next to the water. We saw plenty of people out in kayaks and on small boats, just enjoying the day.

We did a lot of walking. One afternoon we explored the area around the main Gothic cathedral. Looking up from the base, the scale of the architecture was pretty impressive against the clear sky. It was a real contrast to the charming, smaller-scale brick houses that line most of the canals.

Everything seems to revolve around the water. The railings along the streets were covered in flower boxes. We took a short boat trip that went by some more modern, colorful houses built right on the water's edge, which was a nice change of scenery from the historic city center.

The flight home provided a completely different view. Looking down from the window, I saw a massive lake surrounded by mountains that still had snow on them, all under a thick layer of clouds. It was a sudden, stark reminder that the trip was over.