Red Light District AND MUCH More

Arrived in Amsterdam Tuesday evening.

Met my couchsurfing host REMCO and his lady friend DIESK at the train station. Both great people, very friendly, big DUTCH smiles and friendly blue eyes. Walked to Remco's apartment and had introductions over GROLSCH (Dutch beer founded in 1615) and wine.

Remco lives on the canal next to the infamous RED LIGHT DISTRICT, above a flat where LIVE SEX SHOW tickets are sold (shows performed in another locale). Remco gave me a thorough tour of the district, pointing out the finer details of each block; "this block is for the BIG MAMAS, that one's for TRANSVESTITES and this one, I'm not quite sure what they do here, but it looks PAINFUL", he explained. I was taught that The Netherlands historically has had a very high rate of tolerance and neutrality in regards to many things such as religious beliefs and social programs in addition to their notoriously lenient prostitution and drug policies.

After peeking in a few windows and being called on by several big mama's, the novelty wore off and I knew there had to be a lot more to Amsterdam besides prostitution and semi-legalized MARIJUANA. Remco made me a comfortable spot in his cozy apartment and I got some rest, eager to see the less commercialized side of Amsterdam the next day.


The next day I ran into a young guy with a PENN STATE hat and sweatshirt on and had to say, "What's up PA"? The 20something PSU student said hello and invited me to take his Free Tour. We met at 3pm and wandered several hours, passing significant churches that've been turned into art galleries and clubs, famous museums housing Rembrandts and Van Gogh's and The ANNE FRANK house where the teenage JEWISH writer was confined for two years during NAZI invasions in the early 1940's, only to have her DREAM of becoming an author realized posthumously by her determined father, after she was sent to Bergen-Belsen CONCENTRATION camp betrayed and reported by TRUSTED neighbors.

Amsterdam was basically built on WATER. The canals and roads were originally formed to function as a natural dam to prevent erosion along the AMSTEL River. Our tour guide Matt provided a comprehensive intro to the city. After the tour I invited Matt and Daniel, from Nebraska, to a drink in the coffee shop "Grey Area" where PHISH and many jamband internationals had been known to frequent. We talked music for a while and admired the long list of musicians who'd visited the cozy bar. Before long, the bar was full of SMOKE of all kinds and it was time for us to leave after what seemed like hours.

On the way home I got lost and had a long conversation with a HOMELESS guy who politely pronounced in perfect English, "Excuse me sir. Can you spare me some change?” After passing the desperate middle aged dark-skinned immigrant my conscience and curiosity took control. I went back to him and we chatted for close to half an hour about FAMILY, personal ambitions, where he'd learned to speak so properly and how he'd spend the two euros I gave him.

Ran into Nebraska Dan who awkwardly invited himself to the Dutch dinner my roommate was preparing. I was late and had brought back a random American, who Remco would later jokingly refer to as "the REDNECK". I felt a bit bad about it, but my Dutch culinary crew had prepared sufficient KALE for all.

The next day was rainy, but I managed to bike around the city, get a nice panoramic view of the "quaint" city, tour the Anne Frank Museum and revisit the red light district on my way back to the apartment (couldn't avoid it), where I prepared my classic dish, ARTICHOKES. I have high hopes for this weekend as I head to Berlin to reunite with childhood friend MR. TYLER MOSSMAN.

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