April 14, 2005
Amsterdam: Not for Straight Faces
People can't keep a straight face when the word "Amsterdam" exits my mouth. Amsterdam is more than legalized marijuana and prostitution! (But not much more.)
A statue of Anne Frank.
The bookcase that concealed the annex and delayed Anne Frank's capture.
Anne Frank's first diary.
The Rijksmuseum itself was closed, but the fountain in front was open for business.
The coffeeshops sell cannabis, hash, and even coffee.
Smartshops sell mushrooms and paraphenalia.
Racks of offensive postcards are as ubiquitous as the experiences they advertise.
Women sell themselves and potential customers give window shopping a deeper meaning. Photos are prohibited in the Red Light District. That statement is supposed to justify the substandard quality of these photos.
I used to collect railroad spikes and quiver at the thought of witnessing an oncoming train. In Amsterdam, trains pass in the middle of the cobblestone streets. (There's time to move out of the way.)
Bikes. And more bikes. And people on bikes!
DJ Harry Dee spun old skool drum'n'bass mixed with reggae and hip-hop two nights in a row at The Flying Pig Downtown.
I shared a room with Caz and Nitya for a couple of nights at The Flying Pig.
Seeing Burger King and McDonald's is simultaneously comforting (familiarity) and disappointing (homogenization of culture).
There are canals all around the city.
