Today's highlight: things in the redlight district...
Zanna took me to the redlight district today, and I have to say it is the weirdest place I have ever been. It is right next to china town (the two overlap on a few streets) and mixed in with a whole bunch of high fashion design stores. So, there is an area of town with neon signs that make it look like Burbon street in New Orleans, advertising everything from hot sex to hot and sour soup mix. Like I said, it's very weird. I was shooting Holga again today, so sorry I don't have any photos to show you, but really a picture wouldn't get across the feeling nearly well enough. You would have to be here to see the awkward looking middle aged American tourists trying hard not to look up from their maps as they walk by a window where a 20 something woman is spreading her legs and making cat calls. It would also be hard to photograph the junkies crouched in sun drenched alley ways, shooting up while just around the corner a woman bikes along the canal with her two children. But I have to say the strangest thing was watching a 50 something man "shop" for a hooker at 3 in the afternoon. First he went and knocked on one woman's window, she opened her door and he proceeded to look her over like some kind of livestock. He pinched her legs and actually looked up her skirt... but stopped short at opening her mouth and checking her teeth. Then, he shook his head and walked away. The cherry on top of it all was that the girl in the window next door opened her door and flashed him her goods. I guess competition amongst the girls is steep.
China town has some good stores though, there is a great Asian food market, where you can buy woks, sauces, noodles and salted duck eggs (I thought about it, but I passed on those). The redlight China town is actually very close to the central station and the really tourists hub of the city, but just a little too far to the left to be fashionable. At least for the time being. There are prostitution houses being shut down for not following the laws, and newer, higher class stores are moving in. The hub of the city is a gross place, there are fast food store (McDicks and Burger King...) and all of the same clothing stores that we have in North America. And as strange as I think it is to have half naked girls flashing old men in front of impressionable young people at 3 in the afternoon, I hope that the North Americanized downtown core doesn't spread into this unique neighbourhood.
Bugs are coming out in Amsterdam, I know because they keep trying to make a home in my teeth. I've been hit in the face about ten times, and always just before intersections, or when I'm passing another cyclist. I believe there is a fly conspiracy... but I could be imagining it.
I've heard a great saying from Judith. When someone here is easily offended people say "well, don't they have long toes", in other words it's easy to step on their toes. I thought this was great, mainly because VanRooyen feet have very long toes (I use mine for pinching annoying people) and since I was a kid, I was told I have my grampa's Dutch toes :) Irony at it's best; my grampa was one of the most patient people I have ever known.
One last tidbit about today- there does exist a car smaller than a smart car. They are made to only go 45 km/h and they drive in the bike lanes. I guess they are classified liked a scooter, and people can drive them at 16 (you have to be 18 to drive a car here). I have to say, they are pretty cool, and are good for comic relief. They are the original clown car.
Anyway, I am now tanned, freckled and wiped out from too much sun (it was 26 here today) so I am going to bed. goodnight all
Sorry about there being no picture today, but the website is being finicky and won't let me upload for some reason. I'll show you something nice tomorrow.
with love
Emma