A Girl From New Amsterdam Visits Amsterdam

Let me state the obvious - the "illustrious" or "depraved" (depending on the person) scent of marijuana is prevalent throughout the city at all times.

Sure, I knew there'd be "coffee shops" where weed was legal to buy and smoke, but I had no idea how many of them there would be.

Interspersed between sagging narrow brownstones with ornate gable tops, were thousands of randomly themed coffee shops, varying from a safari to Picasso.

In general, the streets seemed littered with XXX shops, places to buy shrooms or weed, and of course, those red lit windows.

Don't get me wrong though - I thoroughly enjoyed Amsterdam. Because of all the history and the beauty of the canals themselves, it doesn't feel like a sinful place, although some may write it off as one.

I liked our hostel, the Meeting Point, just fine - perhaps that's because of the mantra ingrained in my head from Oktoberfest, "Anything is better than camping in the cold." The Meeting Point's interior was extraordinarily ordinary and served it's purpose - a warm place to crash. The location, however, was anything but ordinary. Welcome to the infamous Red Light District.

Although half-naked women beckoning men from their windows lacks subtlety, the Red Light District wasn't as terrifying as I imagined it to be. Despite the overt sexuality and undertones of misogyny, the area seemed so touristy and gentrified that I felt pretty safe.

The only time I did not feel safe, was at night, when a drunken man handcuffed to an Oompa Loompa said to a prostitute, "No deal - he comes with me; it's a two for one deal."

Ok, I still felt safe, I just wanted an excuse to share that little anecdote.

Of course we saw some cultural icons like the Foam photography museum (it gave me TONS of ideas for photos I have no means to produce! Let's talk Aunt Helen!!!!), the Van Gogh museum (cool, but overpriced), and took a ride on a canal bus.

We'll be headed back to Amsterdam in November, for Supperclub (thanks for telling me about it Uncle Peter and Aunt Kathy), a classical concert, and who knows what else...

Next Weekend's Destination: classy Monaco!