When we last reported on Pat and Paul’s grand adventure, it was the middle of the night in Amsterdam and I was writing furiously while I waited for the adrenalin rush from our exciting departure from Copenhagen to subside.
Today started with a big breakfast before we began wandering for the day. You may have noticed that we start many a day with no plan, just wait to see what develops. Amsterdam was no exception. We set off from the hotel, Paul with a fresh battery and card in his camera, me with a tight grip on our map of the city. Before leaving the hotel we both checked our train tickets for the departure time so we would get to the station on time.
Our walk took us back and forth across canals and down narrow, cobblestone streets. Sunny weather on a Sunday makes for a busy city. It was a good day to own a company renting bicycles, running canal boat tours or feeding hungry folks at a sidewalk cafe. Everyplace was busy. We didn’t even try to go to any of the museums as the ques everywhere were of Disneyland proportions, I expect the museum were very crowded.
We did take a break from our walking tour to go on a canal boat ride. It is a great way to experience Amsterdam. We were able to see more of the classic narrow little houses, many leaning to the side, a few lean a bit over the street. Some are so narrow, I can’t imagine how tiny the rooms must be.
On our walk back to the hotel we found ourselves in the Red Light District. It didn’t take much to figure out we had found it – stores with sex toys, live “theaters” with graphic photos and signs to lure you in. And then there were the working girls. It was easy to spot them, they weren’t dressed like the tourists (they weren’t wearing much more than I did when I came out of the shower this morning). Many had signs on their windows telling folks that photos were inappropriate. We were a bit surprised when one working gal poked her head out and asked if she could ask us a question. She wanted to know what we thought of people bringing their children, in the grade school to middle school age group, to tour the neighborhood. Paul and I told her didn’t think her neighborhood was the place for a parental discussion about the facts of life. She was clearly appalled about children visiting the area. Perhaps it is bad for business. We did ask her about business. She said then going rate is 50 Euros or about $70. If you use your brains she said she can make about 600 Euros a day. If you want to buy a lady’s services, she recommended discussing details and agree on the price. She also told us that some of the ladies are known to take a gentleman’s money and not fulfill her part of the bargain.
After our visit with the working girl, it was time to retrieve our luggage and head to our train. Throughout the day we checked our tickets, so we knew our train left at 1916. Arriving at the station, we checked the board for our train and the track. The only train to Brussels we could find left at 1853, or in about 5 minutes. We took off at a run, or as fast as two old people dragging suitcases can move. The first class cars were at the far end of the train, so we threw our bags and ourselves aboard figuring we would work our way to our seats after we caught our breath. To start, the door to the back of the train was locked and the car we could see was empty. So, we sat down on jump seats in the door end of the car, out where folks gather when their stop is next. As folks came and went we improved our spot until we were both out of the traffic pattern of folks getting on amd off the train. After about an hour, a train employee finally came by and checked our tickets. I asked when we could move to our reserved seats. She started to say at the next station, then she looked at our tickets again and let us know we were on the wrong train. The good news was that the train was going to Brussels and they wouldn’t throw us off the train.
We did arrive safely, checked to see which track our train to London will be on, we found our hotel without any trouble and are not planning any more adventures for tonight.
