Amster-"damned."

Driving into Amsterdam, I was instantly amazed by two things: the flowers and the bikes! Wow! They were everywhere! Flowers located in every window and all along the road, filling every median and planter as if it had rained seeds and they took root in every available spot. Rows of bicycles also lined the street and there were ramps designed specifically for bicycle parking, each filled with thousands of bikes. Once I got past this amazing spectacle, I noticed the house boats.

When I say house boats, you really have to shut your eyes and imagine the glory of living on a boat. These are NOT simply boats the people are living on. These boats have been permanently docked; they have gardens growing on the decks, grills and porch furniture, window boxes and the occasional balcony has been added to the side to expand outdoor seating. Through the windows you can see hanging pots and all the evidence of a permanent home. It took quite a bit of imagination to picture our family of six living in such tight quarters. I did imagine that it would have been a very charming way to spend a summer in college.

After cruising the river and taking in the scenery, we were met by our local guide. Now, when I travel, I like to take in the history and the culture of wherever I am. I want to see and do it all. I must say that the city of Amsterdam lost a bit of its charm when we entered what is known worldwide as the “red light district.” If you’ve lived 18 or more years, you’ve heard of this place. I think all young people are intrigued by the idea of a city where women, well, let’s say “advertise” themselves in small windows that line the street. They are scantily clothed, sitting in a room the size of a closet. We saw women talking on their phone, filing their nails, ironing and others were being overtly seductive.

These “closet windows” are scattered throughout the district which runs maybe 8-10 blocks. Also lining the streets are strip clubs, coffee shops, and koffee shops. Now, you may be thinking I have some issues with spelling, which, I do. However, let me explain…A Koffee shop actually serves coffee and a coffee shop is where you go when you need a new stash of weed. (This, along with prostitution, is legal)

Now, you can imagine we Americans wandering the streets with our mouths agape as our guide goes on and on about the attitude of acceptance throughout the city. Marijuana is legal and tobacco is not? Yes. Well, as a criminology major, I don’t have a huge problem with this. If you are going to smoke something, weed is less harmful overall to your body and people who use drugs will use them whether they are legal or not…but, I think that discussion is best left for another time.

As we continue through the district, our guide continues to point out the novelty shops, ie, condom shops, bong shops, to name few. She keeps reiterating the attitude of acceptance. I keep listening wondering where is God in all of this? She goes on and on about the health insurance for the “ladies” in the windows, the mandatory health checks every six months, the free supply of condoms and the tax breaks they get on the rent for their little windows or any clothing etc. they may purchase for their “job.” At the end of the tour, she asks us if we have any questions. Of course I do! So, I ask, “has there ever been any movement to change the lifestyle of Amsterdam.” Her answer went a little like this, “as I said, there is an attitude of tolerance here and if you don’t like it, you just take your little Bible, and your little dresses and you move your family out into the country and churn your butter there.” Well, I guess the attitude of tolerance only extends to the immoral. All other lifestyles or opposing viewpoints should get out because they will not be ‘tolerated!”

Our time in Amsterdam drew to a close at a local restaurant where I sampled the hodge podge and everyone else played it safe. How weird, I am usually the unadventurous eater! After a walk back to the hotel, I spent my time in the hotel reading the books in the bedside table (it wasn’t the Bible) trying to learn some real history on the city and relate it to the things I had seen that day. Needless to say when I left Amsterdam, I didn’t look back…next stop…

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Other Favorite pics from Amsterdam:

Is this a car?

Would you sit on this porch?

Bicycles, bikes, and oh yea, bicycles.