Amsterdam

So, leaving Posterholt, it was off to Amsterdam for drugs and debauchery culture and sightseeing.

It’s a funny old place really, and a lot of the houses seem to be just about to fall over… (even more so since they put in a tunnel and didn’t adequately check for subsidence!)

Two things you might notice in the above photo. The rubbish – ‘cos the cleaners are on strike – and, way harder to see (might even be impossible at that resolution) – most of the houses have hooks at the very very top. See, if you want to move house – the way to do it is to winch it up via those hooks (and a rope you can hire from the council??! I think)

Anyway – went for a wander through the streets. I was just taking a picture of some canals (not this pic)…

… when Maaike said “Perhaps you shouldn’t – we’re in the red light district. I had actually been quite oblivious (just thought it was a little seedy). However, when you actually look about and see the girls purveying their wares in the windows – well, it’s quite obvious where you are. Slightly unsettling too.

What was more unsettling was going to the World Press Photography exhibition in the old church. This picture of a young Israeli man throwing wine over an old Palestinian woman was, I thought, horrendous. Not as brutal as many of the other photo’s – but it’s incredible what humanity can do. Or – what humanity can be taken from people.

Sigh, anyway – Amsterdam was a groovy city – would be fun to spend some more time there perhaps!