Sunday may the 29, 2005.

Main impression:
Amsterdam visit.

Odor:
The smell of hashich going out of the cafes.

Color:
Red and flesh, the red neons of the "Red Light" and the flesh color (all possibles versions) of the wemen in the windows.

Flavor:
The calzone for lunch was quite good.

Sound:
The Rasta music is what best describe the Amsterdam feeling.

Texture/sentation:
A great liberty feeling, everything is permited as long as it's done in the respect of others.

Day summary:
I had planned to meet the americans couple that I met at Pipaix for a Wesvleteren visit. Since I didn't know the sector of their hotel I got out from the wrong subway exit so I got to their hotel lobby at 9:40 instead of 9:30. They said that they would wait until 9:45 but finally got out a bit earlier (I saw them again tuesday going out of Cantillon and they told me they left early thinking I wouldn't be there) so I miss the visit.

Instead of loosing my day, I went to the central station and looked at the destination. Checking my free days and the places I wanted to visit I asked for a two way ticket to Amsterdam. The week-end fare is only 39€ instead of 78€, I jumped in!

First impression of Amsterdam... I never have seen so much bicycles beside at the Montréal "Tour de l'ile", wow!

I choose to take a tour of Amsterdam in a sight seing boat but I have to eat first (it's almost 2:00 PM). In front of the first coffee house that I cross, I see a cloud of smoke getting out of the door as a customer get out... Yes, it's hashich, the sweet smoke don't let a doubt.

After a good Calzone I do the boat tour and learn a lot of informations on this city. Did you know that Amsterdam has more than 2500 permanant boat-house spread in more than 100km of chanels?

Amsterdam is a beautifull city, a sence of freedom float in the air that i didn't find anywhere else. After the boat tour I looked for souvenirs as I walked along the pedestrian streets. I sudenly find myself in the "Red Light", directetly beside a chuch wemen, more or less young, more or less beautifull, tries to interest customers by showing their charms (or whats left of it) in their windows.

Personally I have notting against prostitution, as long as it's not a pimp or the russian mafia who get the profits. I think it should be legalised and controled to make sure that wemem who chose that field of work are not abused against their will and that it's all done in a secure and safe environnement. People reproach these wemen the fact that they sell their body but isn't it the same thing (to a different level) as someone working on an aseembly line or in construction?

I only took two photos of the "Red Light" and from far, we don't see the window's ladies since it's not apreciated and I respect that wish. If you ask if as a single guy I choose to take advantage of their services, I will answer no, make love to a women who check her watch or count the crack on the cieling have notting to get me in the mood.

After a fast "fritur", return to train station for the 8:20 PM to Brussels, arrived at 11:30 PM.

You may ask if 6 hours in Amsterdam worth the trouble to do 6 hours of trains (the special 39€ fare was not an express) and the other costs? Definitively yes, and I will not miss a chance to go again, for a few days if possible.