What can I say??????

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Okay, before you read this one, make sure you started at Paris, (2 blogs down) cos I've done all 3 countries on seperate blogs for you, but I did them all today, so only this one will show up as most recent...anyway, I'm sure you figured that one out.

So.......Amsterdam...... well, its renowned world-wide for its.... shall we say, tolerance, or more simply put....the fact that marijuana and prostitution are legal here.....what can I say, Amsterdam, you sure know how to raise the old eyebrows!
Some refer to it as the 'venice of the north' but I've gotta say, no offence to any dutch out there (especially my good friend Aris) but it aint got a patch on Venice.
Its without a doubt the dirtiest place I've ever seen, and I'm not just talking about the elderly women showing way too much flesh in the red light district, I'm talking litter, the place is a pig sty.
However, I am glad to say I've been (and cross off our 23rd country) because honestly, that whole 'window shopping' for hookers, is the funniest thing I've ever seen!!
I'm not kidding...its called the red light district because it literally glows red at night.
The ahh, ladies of the night (to try and put it politely) are lined up in windows with a red light framing them, scantily clad, as men peruse and pick which merchandise takes their fancy, so to speak. This doesnt just happen at night, this is in broad daylight too!!
Most of the women look like they might have been standing there since the legalisation was first introduced, and may wanna consider swapping shifts with someone that looks under the age of 70.....uurrgghh, I couldnt stop laughing, that is fair-dinkum disgusting, and has to be seen to be believed.
Okay, as for the marijuana legalisation....every 'coffee shop' in the city sells the stuff in any form you want it. The good thing is...the smell of marijuana is soooo strong right around the city, that it blocks out the stench from the garbage!
I'll tell you something else for nothing though...... I'd say the reason they legalised marijuana here, is cos you've got to be smoking it to think the hookers look attractive.
So anyway, we did what the tourists do and gawked and laughed, then took a canal cruise, then of-course ventured into the famous sex museum for a squiz. If its pornographic material you're interested in viewing, then we can now tell you from experience, that you'll see more in the souvenir shop next door than you will in the sex museum.....it was total cr*p.
So that was our adventure in Amsterdam. There were some nice parts to the city, and the variety of food they sell is amazing, and hey, we cant bag a city for doing what it does best now can we....everything you've heard about it is completely true, so atleast they're living up to expectations....good for you Amsterdam!

Okay, well its back to work for both of us tomorrow, so probably wont have much goss to report back on til we head to Scotland and Ireland in about 3 weeks, but I'll keep you up to date if anything interesting happens til then.
Thanks for reading!

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Photos

Has anyone seen my bike??
The entire city rides bikes everywhere, possibly cos they're too high to drive cars???

Canals...the only resemblence to venice
Me posing in front of one of the canals

More canals
They do have some nice architecture, and they are all on a lean, just like venice

poser
Mick posing out the front of the Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam, where we had a meal.

canals again
These pics were taken whilst on our canal cruise

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[Jade]

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