Red Light Green Light Go

Another beautiful day in Amsterdam. It's a very interesting city. There is beautiful architecture and then not so, the canals are cool, but similar to Venice, dirty, the exterior of the historic buildings are filled with souvenir shops--I don't know, it's a little weird. I like it though. There are so many outdoor cafes and restaurants it's ridiculous. This is what all New Yorkers ache for once the weather changes. The best part about it is that the buildings aren't skyscrapers, so most places are in the sun until late afternoon. I'm thoroughly enjoying the sunshine! (yes I have on SPF mom--and it's reversing the signs of aging at the same time, thank you Oil of Olay!) So the cool part of my day today was my visit to the Anne Frank House. Very moving and extremely sad. I would like to say I can't imagine living in such a small, cramped space, but it was bigger than my studio, sooo. I'm probably going to hell for that statement. Oh well, add it to the list. (kidding, of course;) What was impossible to imagine was being trapped in these small rooms without the ability to step outside--ever, for fear of being captured by the Germans. The only time they saw the sun was through a small hole in the curtains, I can't imagine being so confined and how awful it must have been. After that I continued to walk around the city and then finally completed my tour today with a jaunt through the Red Light District. Hmmm, that was interesting. I felt like a lesbian, what else was a girl on her own doing walking down a street with hookers and such in the window? I was actually glad when the toasted rasta man asked me for a drink, I turned him down, ducked around a corner and got a drink on my own. I enjoyed a Heineken while people watching along one of the canals and patting myself on the back for my bravery. lol. Apparently my old age has turned me into a prude...I just don't need to see that, or the men practically stripping off their clothes before they get through the door. Anyways, I went and I saw and I can now mark the Red Light District off my list! Tour complete.