Window Shopping in Amsterdam
Written: Nov 29 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Friendly and laid back. People watching. Good food & drink.
Cons: Seductively seedy.
Drug dealers on streets.
No English beer.
The Bottom Line: I stood on the bridge looking up the canal at the fairy lights and beautiful girls, I thought I had died and didn't know if it was heaven or hell.
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| trapper_jim's Full Review: Red-Light District |
I guess most reviews are written by people from the West Side of the pond, but as an Englishman, I have much easier access to this particular "product". It only takes 70 minutes to fly from Manchester.
My first trip was by coach in 1986, the journey was tedious beyond belief especially considering I was press ganged into the trip by a group of friends and did not really want to go.
However, I enjoyed the experience so much, I have been back 14 times since.
My wife has accompanied me on 2 occasions and I once took four work colleagues, including two ladies for a weekend break. All the other visits were "Lads' Weekends"
In 17 years, very little has changed, as I grow older, (56)
the girls in the windows seem to get younger. The beer is drinkable, lagers such as Heineken and Amstel but no good English Bitter! Excellent food can be found just on the verge of the RLD, especially the Tango Argentinian Steak House on Warmoestraat, several Indonesian Restaurants and Spanish and Italian Restaurants.
With my work colleagues,I visited the Casa Rosso club, with the Phallic Fountain outside. The ladies in the party were fascinated by the proceedings, maybe because when they purchased cigarettes at the bar they were asked if they wanted them with or without cannabis. I am unaware of the choice they made. The doormen at the club are an entertainment in their own right. They speak many languages and sense the nationality of their prospects immediately.
The line used to us was "Genuine 100% Dutch Filth, sir, It's disgusting!!!" . We went in. However in some ways it was rather tasteful.
The windows with the prostitutes contain some stunningly beautiful girls, many of whom are very friendly and even if you do not become a customer will engage you in lively banter.
The different races tend to have their own areas. Behind the Oude Kerk are exclusively black girls, Stoof Steeg has Thai girls and Dollenbirden Steeg has blond East European girls.
We have spent a few amusing hours timing the clients who enter, the average seems to be about 11 minutes, the quickest being 7 min. Prices for this time about 50 euro, was much better when the guilder was the currency!
A word of warning, on Bloed Straat and Barndesteeg the more beautiful ones, especially the Thais are MEN. Known as Ladyboys, Katoeys or Travestis. I have met some of them off duty, in the Mekong River bar at the north end of Oudezijds Voorburgwal and the Saow Thai Cafe at the corner of Oudezijds Achterburgwal and Dam Straat.
They are charming friendly people, you would never suspect that they are really male. I so far have been able to resist the temptation of their professional services.
If you are in need of a proper massage to tone you up for days, a full Thai body massage is available at the Chiang Mai on Barndesteeg. Highly recommended. Mostly male clientele, but a lady colleague thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
There are three Red light districts in Amsterdam.
Number 2 is around the area of Singel and Spui Straat.
#3 is in an area known as the PIJP, just south of the Rijksmuseum. "entertainment" is much better value here than the main RLD and has a much more 'local' feel than the tourist trap.
Fortunately there is much more to Amsterdam than RLDs.
The pubs (brown bars) outside of the centre are friendly and welcoming, many have excellent food. Try Green Pea soup!
The museums are fascinating, the Concertgebouw has the best acoustics of any concert building in the world and its orchestra is one of the best.
My next trip is booked for April 2004 with three friends, two have not been before. I am sure they will enjoy it.
I can't wait!!
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
trapper_jim
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Reviews written: 1
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