"Amsterdam" a Amsterdam Travel Page by sue_stone

Friday night

Our hotel was located only a few minutes walk from the central station, on the edge of the Red Light District (RLD). On Friday night we wandered through the RDL to see what all the fuss was about. It was certainly entertaining - the main strip (no pun intended) runs along either side of one of the many canals and was crowded with tourists and dodgy drug sellers. The street is lined with sex-shops, venues for live-sex shows etc and red-fluro light rimmed window after red-fluro light rimmed window of scantily clad temptresses, of all ages and size, standing in the
windows. Many of the windows conveniently opened right onto the street, so if you wanted to get better acquainted with one of the lovely ladies, they just open up the window, you can slip inside and then pull a curtain across the window.... You had to feel sorry for the fellows who, once satisfied, came back out onto the street, via the window, only to be met with the
cheers of the passers-by!

Just out of the RLD, in a big square called Nieuwmarkt, we came across a great looking bar/restaurant with lots of outdoor tables, so we settled down for a Heineken or two and watched the crowds walk by.

Saturday we wandered through some of the older areas, saw the narrowest house in Amsterdam - it is 2m wide and 6m deep, and then had a huge breakfast at a fancy old cafe in Dam Square. This is the
main square in Amsterdam, and is home to the Royal Palace, the National Monument and plenty of pigeons.

We then continued to wander through the streets, looking in shops and checking out the Flower Market along the Singel Canal (besides flowers, they sold thousands of bulbs of all sizes).

Then it was time to head back to Dam Square for lunch outdoors at a modern cafe, timed perfectly to watch the annual Flower Parade go past - made up of differently themed floats covered in flowers.

That night we had a quick dinner, and then still eager to experience all Amsterdam had to offer, we headed to Casa Rosso, reputedly the best live sex show in Amsterdam (www.casarosso.com).
The show took place in a small theatre style room. There were 7 "acts" to the show, though you could stay as long as you liked If you wanted to watch the same acts over again. There were 3 "novelty" acts and 4 "live sex" acts.

Sunday morning and the sun was shining. We went on a 1 hour canal cruise, which included commentary about places of significance along the way.

A post-cruise coffee was then in order, followed by a visit to a grand shopping mall built in the old Post Office. By now the sunny day had taken a turn for the worse and brollies up, we wandered around the quirky Jordaan region of the city and walked past Anne Franks House.

Then after more food, we just had time for one more wander and a quick coffee at a very funky cafe called Latei, which also sold stacks of household goods and things from days gone by.

Time then to head back to the airport, quick browse in the duty free, 45 minute flight back to London and then a one hour wait in the customs line at Heathrow... oh to have an E.U. Passport!!