Amsterdam, Netherlands

Me at the Heineken Brewery - before I got trashed!
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The first words that come to mind when you think Amsterdam are "Red LIght District".  So of course... after stepping off the plane, dropping my small bag off at the hostel I take a nap.  I'll need my rest! Then, I head over.  It's much like you'd imagine... think greenwich village busy, except every few doors there is a red light above a window.  Behind the window is a red curtain or a woman prostitute.  Sorry girls, no boys behind the windows.  I wonder why?  Throngs of men, women, and couples line the small streets and look in the windows.  And every now and again one enters.  I never see anyone come out... maybe there is a hidden back door Lonely Planet doesn't tell you about?  Or maybe I'm preoccupied looking elsewhere.

Some colorful buildings behind a canal
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Also littered throughout the Red Light District are Coffee Shops.  These are not to be confused with Coffee Cafes.  Coffee Shops are pot shops and you smoke hash, pot and anything else you desire in them.  You can't buy mushrooms in the coffee shops, but you can buy them next door (usually).  The whole place looks and definitely smells dirty.  No one allows you to pee in their establishment so this smell greets you too.  A sight to behold for sure, but clearly not the place to hang out in Amsterdam.

All the buildings that line the canal are 5 stories high and super thin... I?d never fit!
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I spend most of my days and nights at myriad cafe's that are spread throughout the city and dot canal lined streets.  People watching abounds.  Bicyclists, Japanese tourists, Dutch businessmen, potheads, all walk hurriedly by.  Numerous cigarette smokers puff all around me while taking in the sights.  The city is very San Francisco-like in terms of weather.  No hotter than 70 degrees during the day... cooler most days.  Slightly warmer nights than SF... best of all light until at least 10pm.  As you can imagine, due to the long light... happy hour here is loooooong.  Good thing I've been practicing!

I think my shot is better than the postcard
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It takes me almost 2 days to get through the worst of my jet-lag.  During this time I am in a daze... tired when I should be awake, woozy when I should be sharp.  The hostel affords no easy opportunities to meet people so I make my way through the city solo.  I rent a bike, which lifts my spirits.  No better way to get around A'Dam.  I quickly see much of the city as it's quite small.  It's a very beautiful city.  I reckon its 1/2 the size of SF w/o hills.

MuseumPlein behind the VanGogh Museum.
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The next day I head to Anne Frank's House and make my first friends, Pia and Paolo who are brother and sister and are traveling through Europe together.  They just got in from Spain... where Paolo ran with the bulls!  I jot this in my notebook... must remember to do this next July.  Anyone crazy enough to join?

I head over to the Heineken Brewery the next day and spend most of my afternoon there.  It's a cheesy Universal Studios-like experience except you get to drink beer while doing it.  I meet 7 Californians, a Swede and an Aussie named Chloe.  The families keep giving us their drink tokens and we greedily accept.  I leave with quite the hangover.  Chloe tells me of a pub crawl going on that evening.  I leave with the intent to go, but pass out well before it starts.  These two days show me the way to meet people is by doing the touristy stuff.  Well, at least I can meet other tourists.  Still working on how to meet locals.

Guess who at one of the French Fry shops. I'm going to need to work out heavily after this week!
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The next night I am well rested so I hit the Ultimate Party (aka Pub Crawl). As soon as you walk through the door, <bam> shots!  And it never ends.  I meet the coolest people so far.  Paul (in the first pic with me) is from Brisbane and has been traveling while working odd jobs for the past 2 years!  He's an inspiration.  His friend Lisa (the one with the tongue ring) shows up for the weekend. She's living in Wales and just came down to party.  We also hang with Kobus and Alli (from The Hague), Molly and Charlotte (traveling Aussies), and Dawn, Sophie and ReAnn from Ireland.  They are all 19 and want to guess my age.  I'll let them and they guess 27!  I call them crazy and tell them they were way off.  I'm 28 ;-)

Melissa, our bartender on Saturday night
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I hang out with Paul and Lisa again the next night.  We all took 3 hour naps after the Pub Crawl and we're drinking heavily again.  We find a small pub with two cool bartenders, Melissa (pink hair) and Aisha.  A half a dozen tequila shots later on my way to the night bus... I walk by one of those darn french fry shops that are open until 4am.  I refrain from getting a large fries... and buy a medium instead.  I never did figure out how to walk by one of those without going in.  Maybe the Red Light women should sell fries.  Would be good for business.