This was my second visit to Amsterdam. What a city! When you arrive by train, there is nothing more exciting than stepping out of the train station into Damrak street, and watch it strech in front of you full of people and cars, sorrunded by the Damrak canal and knowing that the Red Light district is only a block away. 

My first night I spent it at the Kabul hotel on Warmoesstraat, a really scary experience! Read my little story on Tuijenhorn to find out as to why. The next morning I moved to the Anco Hotel in the heart of the Red Light district, it is only about 5-10 minute walk from the station and it was clean, reasonable prices and friendly.  My room was the size of a large walking closet and I had to share the bathroom with the other three rooms on the floor, but I could not beat the price and I was not there to spend time in the room anyway. I had a room on the front, facing the canal and across on the right, I could see the prostitutes trying to get work through their windows, and on the left, the beutiful Oude Kerk church.

Train Station across the Damrak	Looking down on the Damrak from the hotel window	The train station across the Damrak	The one in the middle is the Kabul Hotel as viewed from Damrak St.	Out on the Main Canal
Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam
Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Magere Brug	My room at the Anco	The Anco Hotel
Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Homomonument dedicated to the gay victims of the Holocaust
Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam
Sign in front of Anne Frank's Home	Red Light District	Red Light District	Red Light District	I think I may have time for a quickie...
Red Light District	Red Light District	Red Light District	Keep your eyes on the road Harold!	Hollywood smoking pot with the Oude Kerk on the background
Hollywood smoking pot	Koninklijk Paleis	Koninklijk Paleis	Koninklijk Paleis	Amsterdam

There is a fabulous little street by the name of Warmoesstraat where some of the gay bars are located, Internet cafes, sex shops, food places and coffe shops where you can buy some pot and slow down a bit.

I got a chance to see a sex show with girls in it! Rather disturbing what women can do with their vagina. On the show I saw, a woman came out naked on stage, dragging a chair, sat on it, spread her legs exposing her vigina (you can imagine my shock!), then proceeded to light a cigar, which she placed on her pussy (lit side out) and proceeded to smoke it to the rythm of Dinah Washington's "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." 

Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam
Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Amsterdam

My friend Bekker lives in what is commonly know as The Hague, although the proper name is Den Haag, and it is about a 45 minute train ride from Amsterdam. This city is the seat of goverment for The Netherlands. Bekker has a lovely apartment not far from the train station. I stayed with him for a little while. The city is very classy and very expensive as well. They have a fantastic boarwalk on the ocean, with great restaurants. The city is also very modern in comparison to Amsterdam.

Bekker's Place in The Hague

Bekker's Place in The Hague

Bekker's Place in The Hague

Bekker's Place in The Hague

Bekker's Place in The Hague