Sex. Drugs. Heineken

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Ok, so everything you hear about Amsterdam being crazy with drugs, sex and, well, drugs and sex; it's all true. The place was a complete and total gong show. Amsterdam is a beautiful city, the canals are just gorgeous, but I'm sure that if you're reading this, all you really want to know are the tales of sex and drugs.

The first night I arrived to the hostel, I met up with some Aussies who would soon become a close group of friends (Zak, Cheynee, Chris, Rowen). We had some drinks at the hostel, and headed out to check out the red light district. Along the way we also hit up the neighbourhood's friendly "Bulldog", which deals in the Coffee Shop business. After a brief layover at the Bulldog, we continued our quest into the red light district. In case you are unfamiliar with how it's all set up, the red light district literally has alleys (the narrowest in Amsterdam) full of windows, in which prostitutes dance and entice you to come in (occasionally, the doors are open and they hit you with things, like their whips for instance, as you go by). The blatent sexual currency was a little intimidating at first, but it's sort of one of those things you just get used to, once you learn to avoid eye contact at all times. Anyways, we went into a show, at the Moulin Rouge, no less, and I'm sure if I posted what happened within those 4 walls, I'd be promptly banned from realtravel, so you'll just have to ask me when I get back and I'll tell you all about it.

The show involved ribbons, candles, and a banana...need I say more.

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The next day we headed out to the Heineken brewery, which was a blast, and finished the night off at the hostel, drinking 55 cent Amstel from the supermarket, which was the best investment so far of the trip. On the last day, the group of us headed out the Rikjsmuseum, which houses a couple of Rembrandt paintings, as well as some other Dutch art. Nothing too exciting, but a nice change from the debauchery of the nights before. It was tonight that we said goodbye to Chris and Rowen, as they headed to Cardiff, while Zak, Cheynee and myself laid low and enjoyed a night off (comparatively speaking). Anyways, in the morning, I headed off for Brugge, and you can read about that in the next entry. Pics of the 'Dam to come.