Amrita's World: Seeing Life Through My Eyes: Open Your Mind, Open Your Heart, and Embrace it: Amsterdam: An Interesting City to say the Least

“Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin.” - John Green

So I thought this quote was a good way to start my post about Amsterdam, because that is the truth: When you hear about Amsterdam, all you really hear anyone talking about is the red light district and the plethora of legal weed which is around every corner. And although this is a huge part of the draw to Amsterdam, I'm sure those who live and visit there more frequently will say there is more to this city than that. However this quote brings up a good point as to why prostitution and marijuana are legalized in this city.....the government did this as a way to prevent people pushing hard drugs on the streets, they figured if they legalized marijuana and prostitution, and allowed it to be regulated by the government, they would have more control on it, and the locals would not bring in the crime, sleaziness, and drugs that other cities deal with by having them do it in sneaky ways so as to not get caught.

We arrived in Amsterdam pretty late today, as it was a really long drive from Berlin over to Amsterdam, so we really only had one evening in Amsterdam. Our tour guide Carly took us around the red light district when we first arrived, and gave us the run down of the different "districts" (ie- they have different lanes for the young, old, skinny, fat, transgender, and other types of women). It was quite interesting to say the least, I mean literally every corner you turned and looked was a sex shop, sex museum, sex show, girl in a window trying to get you to come into her "Red Door", I mean it was honestly not my thing, but it was great to say I saw it and have been to the all famous "Red Light District". Anyways, after our parade through that area, we also saw Dam Square which is the main square of Amsterdam for people watching and just hanging out.

You smell weed everywhere you go in this city, and the "coffee shops" are not intended for your espressos, lattes, mochas, etc. these shops are where you go to buy and smoke your weed. Again, these are around every corner as well. If you want actual "coffee", you better go to a cafe. LoL!

It was so funny, they have weed in everything in this city, weed brownies, weed cookies, weed flavored ice cream (I don't know it may have actually had weed in it, not sure, just saw the parlor which sold it).

After Carly took us through, and explained to us the deal with the coffeeshops, she let us loose in this crazy sinful city to do as we please. Unfortunately, due to the time of day it was, we didn't really have a chance to see any of the museums or other sights in Amsterdam, as they were all closed. I really wanted to see the VanGogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. Me, Chrissy, Alvix, Mel, and Asa did head over to the Anne Frank house to see if we could get in before it closed, but the best we could do was get a picture outside of it as it had already closed for the day. We then walked our way over the bridges and canals, and went back through the red light district (since it's totally different the later the night gets), and we ate at this really good Asian restaurant called Wok n Walk!!! Yum! That's all I can tell about Amsterdam, because just like Vegas.....what happens in Amsterdam, stays in Amsterdam!!!! ;)