The Tale of Amsterdam & The Far Canal

We arrived in Amsterdam two nights ago on a flight from Prague, beleagured with a bunch of drunk and loud American boys and a screaming two year old sitting behind us. But the air hostesses were not as surly as last time, which was great!

One of the statues on Charles Bridge in Prague

We found and caught the train into Amsterdam Centraal, astounded that the rain had followed us from the Czech Republic. Covering up our packs, we ventured out into the night in search of our hostel. It was 10.30 pm and still twilight...

Without too much ado, we found our place, a couple of doors down from a shop called "Gays and Gadgets", which is very cute. We checked in, dumped our stuff, and ventured out for some food and a wander.. Ambling about Amsterdam in the driving rain, wearing little more than a t-shirt and three quarter pants, we soon tired of our adventure. We bought an umbrella, and headed to the nearest fast food venue, a charming little hole in the wall, whose name will live with me in the Hall of Glorious Puns for a long time to come. Behold. "Chipsy Kings". A fried chips outlet that sells nothing more than chips, with a vast array of condiments to suit all tastes. THIS is what I had been waiting for!

We ate our fill, headed back, and still marvelling at the constant smell of marijuana in every street, slept a good night's sleep.

The Palace in Damrak Square, Amsterdam

Yesterday we wandered. We dropped in our laundry (9kgs thank you very much!) and wandered in the cold and rain until it was ready for us. We found the Homomonument, the Pink Point, which is a little kiosk with every kind of gay information you could imagine. And some seriously fantastic stickers, magnets and keyrings. We saw Anne Frank's House (and the very, very long queue to get in) We saw canals, near and far. We found Maoz, the fabled felafel restaurant, and enjoyed it to the max. (Well, I did, Anita almost suffocated when she thought the chilli sauce was basil pesto, and served herself up a very generous helping.) After a litre or so of water, we set off again, not far, just across the road, to Ben & Jerry's, home of the wonderful "Choc-Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream". I think most of you know how I feel about this place....

Wearied though not beaten, we made it home from our wandering about 8.30 for a rest. At about 10.00 we headed out again with Misty, an American girl from our dorm, to have some dinner and check out the red light district. We hit Maoz again (it's cheap and healthy, folks, cheap and healthy..) and wandered off in search of the luminous red glow of the 4 blocks that make up Amsterdam's famous Red Light District.

The novelty wears off reasonably quickly. It's interesting given that prostitution here is legal and organised (they have their own union) the illicitness of it is not really there. The women rent a window for a shift, and then stand in the window gesturing at the passers by (and there were ALOT of passers by) in the hope that one of them will pay her a visit.

The multitude of sex shops were something else. Never before have I heard so many cries of 'Ew!' and 'What is that for?'. The live sex show venues have spruikers out the front, calling in couples, lovers and ladies with cries of "Save Your Marriage". It is all quite real. I think that is the interesting thing. There is this lure to the place because it is so illicit, so unknown. But then when you get there, it becomes patently obvious that there is a reason why it is illicit. It looks like a big theme park with all it's bells and whistles, lights and moving characters. But when you are there it is what it is. A couple of blocks full of hookers and deviants...

Which is not to say I didn't have fun.

The Red Light District, Amsterdam

Today is quiet day. My knees are not happy with me at all, so we are pottering around, blogging, chilling out, and then this afternoon will head out to visit a coffee shop or two, see some more of Amsterdam, and hopefully find a way to get to Paris before Bastille Day on Monday..

Photos to come soon...

Love to all.
Tanya