Other A'dam Sights We Saw (maria)

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June 24th 2010

Published: June 17th 2011

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Red Lights

regulation

Anne Frank Huis - very powerful and moving museum. It has preserved the business and living areas- the boys indicated they would like to read the Diary.
Amsterdam's Red Light District is concentrated around the Oude Kerk, but "red" lights can be seen elsewhere as well, as we discovered during our daily adventures exploring the city. We occasionally would walk past barely clad pros on display in their windows. "Look at me, but no pictures please! As you might expect, this is a conversation starter with 12 and 14 year old boys... regulated prostitution, bouncers and "menus".
Moving on... We toured the Ajax FC Stadium (pronounced I-ax) The club is referred to as "Oranje" and were named after the mythological hero Ajax, a Greek who fought in the Trojan War against Troy. In The Iliad, Ajax was said to be the greatest of all the Greeks (next to his cousin Achilles). According to most accounts, Ajax died by committing suicide. Thus, unlike Achilles, he died unconquered. Hmmm...
We also enjoyed Amsterdams Historisch Museum which is currently housed in what was the convent of St. Lucien, and later an orphanage for boys in 1580. The museum charts the city's development; its early

Chess

history of religious and secular charitable roles; trading by the Dutch VOC; contains a model of the 1673 Amstelsluizen (wooden sluice gates and pumping stations that ensure A'dam canals do not stagnate.)
There are numerous flea markets, open air spaces and lots of people watching. We have seen a lot, but there is so much more to see. We shall need to come back!

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