Postcards I Never Sent

My Key Takeaways From a 5-Week European Adventure

I just returned from a five-week trip to Europe, visiting London, Amsterdam, and Berlin. While I had intended to post more frequently during my journey, I found myself too busy living in the moment. Also, my phone was stolen, which made it much easier to live in the moment.

But here it is now, the postcards I never sent:

London

I started in a city I know well, and one that owes me nothing. The food scene has improved, but the pound is still cruel to the dollar, and every cocktail felt like a small financial decision. Still, there’s an undeniable energy to London that seduces you into late nights around Dalston Junction and nightcaps at Shoreditch House. It’s the kind of city that convinces you you’re richer, funnier, and sexier than you really are.

London is the city of charmers, and of course, the dates are always exactly that. The men are charming, handsome, and—believe it or not—sexually superior. There’s something about the Brits... It’s as if they take formal courses in pleasure, but I elaborate more on that here.

What I enjoyed most about my time, though, were the days spent catching up with friends I hadn’t seen in way too long, and nights that ended with a lingering kiss from a handsome date on a rainy corner.

London, you’ve done it again.

Amsterdam

Outside of Paris, Amsterdam is the most beautiful city I’ve visited in Europe. The way the city lights twinkle along the canals and illuminate the bridges is a vision that will live rent-free in my mind. It’s a quieter, calmer place than I expected—but as sleepy as it seemed, there’s one part of Amsterdam that never rests: the red-light district. It’s crawling with mostly male tourists, flooding the narrow streets with hungry eyes and stomachs full of beer.

And yet, not a single male escort in sight. In 2025, I was surprised that the windows only displayed one kind of fantasy.

The men in Amsterdam are distractingly attractive—the handsome that makes you feel like a dog in heat. Everyone speaks English so clearly that it’s almost unsettling, like they’ve been practicing with Americans their whole lives. There’s also a quiet pride in the city’s connection to New York. You know, it was once called New Amsterdam, people love to remind you.

I had planned to walk or bike my way through the city, but it was cold and rainy for most of our stay. Then my phone was stolen—snatched from right under my nose. That was the final sign.

Amsterdam, I appreciate your beauty, but I think we’re done.

Berlin

Ah, Berlin—the city I’ve dreamt of visiting for a decade. I came for the art and left with a crush on the chaos. Everywhere you turn, there’s something that reminds you of their history: graffiti that feels like scripture, fragments of the Berlin Wall, and even the walk signs vary depending on what part of the city you’re in. Now, one con is that the people aren’t the friendliest, and they definitely have their share of crazies, but as a New Yorker, I didn’t mind.

Berlin’s pulse is grungy, unfiltered, alive. The nightlife lives up to its myth—techno raves in warehouses that stretch until sunrise, where people only leave to return with more liquor and party favors. But for a non-smoker, Berlin is brutal. You come home reeking of cigarettes, wondering how your clothes became an ashtray.

The men? Arrogant. Beautiful, but painfully self-assured. (More on that later.) Still, the food was incredible, the trains outshone every other city I’ve visited, and somewhere between the cigarette haze and museum walls, Berlin carved out a place in my heart.

Overall

This trip was pricier and more stressful than I expected. Not just because I didn’t have a phone half the time, but because traveling as an American right now is intense. Politics follow you everywhere, and protests are happening in nearly every city. The dollar is weak, and your pockets will feel it.

But travel is a form of learning—and I learned a great deal. This time away left me feeling more inspired than I have in years. I came back with stories, notes, and ideas I can’t wait to share: food and travel guides, cultural observations, and truths on dating, politics, and pleasure abroad.

So when I ask myself, Was it worth it?

Absolutely.
Every Penny.

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