It is not my first time in Amsterdam, I have been here before, I have been around the place in the usual pace. Literally getting a glimpse of the city when there is no luxury of time.
The stories of the red light district? The almost naked sex workers on display by the brothel windows? I have heard about them a lot of times from different people. It's just that when I was there, the windows were all closed. I may have been too early. I mean, who goes on a place like that at 8 in the morning??? ...on winter time??? I did not even know where to look, everything looked so normal and common. And that was it. My curiosity was disappointed.
Recalling my first visits to this city, I saw the village, the church and other points of wholesome interests that molded its history. But today, when I thought I knew all I needed to know about the place and no shock will ever befall me - I was wrong! I was not ready for what I saw, Not at all!
Imagine a normal shopping street in Europe, with all the nice things, clothes here, novelty shops there, and just beside the pastry shop with very nice display of breads and other mouth-watering pastries was a shop of sex toys displaying different sizes and colors and well, actually, they are in every corner, in between shops and marijuana cafe's.
Graffiti on the wall.
Of course, the whole world knows by now that prostitution (prostitutes do pay taxes here) and marijuana use (at a certain limit) is legal in Netherlands. There are strip shows and raucous bars in the district, it's a city of vice and lust.
I was there with my friend, Romy - the witness to my horrible reactions all throughout. 😊 (I know some other crazies who will actually pay to see those reactions so they can make fun of me for the rest of my entire life! LOL!). Okay, i'm not being a hypocrite here, I was sincerely astounded. My brain was not ready to digest everything I saw for the first time, it was nowhere near my expectations. This place is not for everyone. But just wandering around the red light district on a sunny afternoon was an experience for the books!
What's the difference between hemp & hash again?
There are numerous sex and marijuana museums. Strip show clubs were open and there was also an ad outside - it says there that if you want to peep on a hole for 10 minutes to see an act, you pay 10 Euros - I was like, Seriously???? Do normal people with the right frame of mind buy these things? Well, reality check. The business is there and its selling.
We headed to the direction of the women on the brothel windows. And while appreciating the architecture (which I was honestly more interested in), I noticed the air had a certain scent that was new to me. I asked what it was, my friend told me not to breath in too much - it's the weed, and she laughed a little bit more.
The image on the right are brothel windows where the prostitutes are on display. When curtains are closed - they are busy with clients.
From where we stood, I saw ladies behind glass windows on their bright skimpy lingeries. We moved closer, took the alleyway and I think we hit the A Class girls side, could be the more expensive ones, young with perfect body shape, flawless skin, tall, barbie-like beauties. I took a quick glance each time we passed by one because for me, it was really awkward to look. I was actually nervous to be in the place. Who knows if suddenly somebody goes berserk somewhere - because this is just the place where such things can happen, police are on patrol everywhere which makes it feel safer. Its like an urban area where things are just normal but actually aren't the normal "normal".
Warning: You are not allowed to take pictures at the ladies on the windows. If you insist, you can expect to see your camera flying to the canal. Oh, you do not want that!
Despite trying to make things funny as we wandered around, I felt sad, its too much for me. I can't help to see the blank stares of some of the women on the windows, its such a pitiful view.
Anyway, if you should visit, remember that there's much more to Amsterdam than just the red light district.
