We said goodbye to Italy yesterday travelling north from La Spezia along the Med coast through Monaco and up to Nice. It was a really nice ride with some really spectacular views of the coast and the little coastal villages. Overall thoughts on Italy are positive - great food, lovely people (for the most part), awesome scenery and some amazing history. But they do seem to move at their own pace and that, especially, takes some getting used to.
So now we're in Nice for until the 31st and so far, I'm not that impressed. It's quite lovely here but there's not a lot to do if you're not a beach person. And with my pastey white skin, I am most definitely not a beach person. The beach is lovely though - much nicer than the ghetto Nice that Bobby, Wendi and I trudged through last November. The hotel is in a great location but it a little "basic" - but right near everything so I really can't complain. I've met up with some of the Ozzies that I was travelling with earlier so it's nice to catch up and see how there trip has been.
With all the Ozzies I'm now almost required to head down under at some point and do a tour. I've met people from all over so I'm all set with accomodations pretty much wherever I go. So maybe that's my next trip...
Next stop is Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. I'll let you know how that goes.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
My Dog's Are Barkin'
I've been in a place called La Spezia for two days now (actually a day and a half). Spent the first half day just walking around checking things out. There's really nothing special about La Spezia except that it's a gateway city for Cinque Terre - which are these five small towns build into the hills along the Med coast of Italy.
The thing with Cinque Terre is that it's a 14 km walk (that's like 7 miles) along the hills of the coast to get from town to town. At first I was like, "Screw that! I'm not walking seven miles up hills and over rigged terain just to see some sea side villages." But I've made new Busabout friends and they were all doing it so I sort of went along. Let me tell you, it was absolutely the right decision. The hike was a pain in the arse in some places but the scenery was absolutely worth it. These five villages are just so beautiful and they each have little beaches that you can swim in to cool down between stretches. It was one of the highlights of the trip so far - I took a ton of pics which I will try to upload today (no promises).
I'm going back today just to go to the beach and have a bit of a chill day - as my legs are hurting a bit from all the hiking. Then tomorrow I'm going to grab a train to Milan just to check it out. It's fairly cheap from here, so I figure what the hell. I've heard mixed reviews but it's worth it just to say that I've been there. Then it's off to Nice for three days.
The thing with Cinque Terre is that it's a 14 km walk (that's like 7 miles) along the hills of the coast to get from town to town. At first I was like, "Screw that! I'm not walking seven miles up hills and over rigged terain just to see some sea side villages." But I've made new Busabout friends and they were all doing it so I sort of went along. Let me tell you, it was absolutely the right decision. The hike was a pain in the arse in some places but the scenery was absolutely worth it. These five villages are just so beautiful and they each have little beaches that you can swim in to cool down between stretches. It was one of the highlights of the trip so far - I took a ton of pics which I will try to upload today (no promises).
I'm going back today just to go to the beach and have a bit of a chill day - as my legs are hurting a bit from all the hiking. Then tomorrow I'm going to grab a train to Milan just to check it out. It's fairly cheap from here, so I figure what the hell. I've heard mixed reviews but it's worth it just to say that I've been there. Then it's off to Nice for three days.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Scene of the Crime
So I left Rome three days ago and I miss it already. It really is one of my favorite places to visit - so much history and beauty. I have to admit that Italians aren't necessarily my favorite people. They're a little rough around the edges for my taste - always yelling at each other with the hands a flappin'. It can be a little disconcerting. But overall Rome is still on my top 10 list.
Left Rome and have been in Florence for two days now. For those not in the know, Florence is where my Dad had his accident last Novemeber - hence the scene of the crime. I've spent some time walking around today and I actually stumbled upon the intersection where it all went down (or at least I'm reasonably sure it's the intersection). I took pictures which I'll upload here as soon as I get decent internet (Italy and Internet do not go well together apparently).
I saw the original sculpture of David and the original "Birth of Venus" as well as some other famous art. Other than that I have just been walking around taking it all in - it's a pretty city but not my favorite. I probably wouldn't come back again.
On a side note - I've lost my crazy Ozzies. Florence was the last stop we had together before going separate ways. I'll see some of them again in a week or two when I head to Switzerland but for others is was the last time. I'll miss my little friends from down under. They are great people and it was nice to spend time with them. So now I have to find new friends - which really isn't that hard since you end up talking to all the poeple on the bus anyway. It's just a matter of finding people that I genuinely like versus people I can stand for a period of time. We'll see how it goes (either way I'll have people to hang out with and that's what matters).
I leave Florence tomorrow and head to La Spezia which is the gateway to Cinque Terre. I don't even really know what Cinque Terre is apart from a park of some sort - but it's supposed to be very pretty and on the water. So we'll see how that goes. I'm either there for 2 or 4 nights, I haven't decided just yet. I might try to get a train to Milan just to say that I've been there. But I'm sort of lazy when it comes to the planning of side trips so I probably will just stay in La Spezia.
After La Spezia it's off to Nice for a couple of nights and then on to Switzerland (Lauterbrunnen and Lucerne). From there, I might head back to Munich then to Paris and back to Nice to continue on into Spain. Or I might just go straight back to Nice and into Spain and save Paris for the end. Decisons, decisions....
Hope all is well with my peeps back home. I'll post again soon.
Left Rome and have been in Florence for two days now. For those not in the know, Florence is where my Dad had his accident last Novemeber - hence the scene of the crime. I've spent some time walking around today and I actually stumbled upon the intersection where it all went down (or at least I'm reasonably sure it's the intersection). I took pictures which I'll upload here as soon as I get decent internet (Italy and Internet do not go well together apparently).
I saw the original sculpture of David and the original "Birth of Venus" as well as some other famous art. Other than that I have just been walking around taking it all in - it's a pretty city but not my favorite. I probably wouldn't come back again.
On a side note - I've lost my crazy Ozzies. Florence was the last stop we had together before going separate ways. I'll see some of them again in a week or two when I head to Switzerland but for others is was the last time. I'll miss my little friends from down under. They are great people and it was nice to spend time with them. So now I have to find new friends - which really isn't that hard since you end up talking to all the poeple on the bus anyway. It's just a matter of finding people that I genuinely like versus people I can stand for a period of time. We'll see how it goes (either way I'll have people to hang out with and that's what matters).
I leave Florence tomorrow and head to La Spezia which is the gateway to Cinque Terre. I don't even really know what Cinque Terre is apart from a park of some sort - but it's supposed to be very pretty and on the water. So we'll see how that goes. I'm either there for 2 or 4 nights, I haven't decided just yet. I might try to get a train to Milan just to say that I've been there. But I'm sort of lazy when it comes to the planning of side trips so I probably will just stay in La Spezia.
After La Spezia it's off to Nice for a couple of nights and then on to Switzerland (Lauterbrunnen and Lucerne). From there, I might head back to Munich then to Paris and back to Nice to continue on into Spain. Or I might just go straight back to Nice and into Spain and save Paris for the end. Decisons, decisions....
Hope all is well with my peeps back home. I'll post again soon.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Florence
Hi All. I'm in Florence now and Internet access is worse than Rome so don't know if there will be lots of posts or not. We'll see if I can find free Wifi in the city.
All is well and I am going to be spending the day walking around and looking at all the art. I'll let you know how it goes.
All is well and I am going to be spending the day walking around and looking at all the art. I'll let you know how it goes.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Happy Birthday Bob
This post is a day early but I'm going to be on the bus all day tomorrow and might not have a chance to post. So everyone who's still reading this boring blog, wish my brother Bob a very happy birthday tomorrow.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Roma
Hey all. Sorry this one is so short but internet access at the hostel in Rome SUCKS. But I am in Rome and going crazy seeing everything again (but going into stuff this time).
I'll right more when I have more time and better internet.
I'll right more when I have more time and better internet.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Castle of St. Stinkus
The rest of Prague finished without any major incident. A truly beautiful city – probably my favorite so far (but that will change once I get back to Rome). After Prague we went to Vienna. The guy on the bus told us all about Vienna and how it’s real easy to go to Bratislava, Slovakia from there as a day trip. So the group of crazy Ozzies and I decided we would do that one day while we we’re there.
We met up in the morning and on the way to the bus station I realize that I didn’t bring my passport with me (yes I know I have a habit of doing this). In this case, it turns out I didn’t need it so all was good. We got over to Bratislava and all the signs were in whatever they speak there (Slovakian?). So we just made stuff up (the castle of St. Stinkus for example) until we found a tourist info center that had maps and descriptions in English – though our explanations were more fun. We walked around the city center and saw the old buildings and such (it was really pretty), grabbed some lunch and then headed over to see the castle, which was uphill as these things tend to be. The uphill wouldn’t have been so bad if it weren’t so freakin’ hot. It was around 32 Celsius (which is around 98 Fahrenheit my Ozzie friends told me). After the castle, we found a cool spot under a tree in a little park and we all fell asleep for about an hour. Then we headed back to Vienna.
Just roamed around Vienna the last day, took some pictures and hung around. It was a great, lazy sort of day. Vienna is really beautiful as well (it’s all really pretty over here – except Berlin). I got some great shots which I will post when I can. We got into Munich yesterday afternoon and it’s been raining since. Don’t know how much I’ll get to see in the rain, but I’ll keep you posted.
We met up in the morning and on the way to the bus station I realize that I didn’t bring my passport with me (yes I know I have a habit of doing this). In this case, it turns out I didn’t need it so all was good. We got over to Bratislava and all the signs were in whatever they speak there (Slovakian?). So we just made stuff up (the castle of St. Stinkus for example) until we found a tourist info center that had maps and descriptions in English – though our explanations were more fun. We walked around the city center and saw the old buildings and such (it was really pretty), grabbed some lunch and then headed over to see the castle, which was uphill as these things tend to be. The uphill wouldn’t have been so bad if it weren’t so freakin’ hot. It was around 32 Celsius (which is around 98 Fahrenheit my Ozzie friends told me). After the castle, we found a cool spot under a tree in a little park and we all fell asleep for about an hour. Then we headed back to Vienna.
Just roamed around Vienna the last day, took some pictures and hung around. It was a great, lazy sort of day. Vienna is really beautiful as well (it’s all really pretty over here – except Berlin). I got some great shots which I will post when I can. We got into Munich yesterday afternoon and it’s been raining since. Don’t know how much I’ll get to see in the rain, but I’ll keep you posted.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Gypsy Biscuits
So Prague is even more beautiful than Amsterdam was (pictures to come). I love it. The locals are a little rough around the edges but, for the most part, friendly. The architecture is amazing. The weather has been a little weird - from sunny and hot to raining and cold to dry but windy back to sunny and hot - all in a couple of hours. And we thought New England weather was unpredictable.
Spent yesterday on a walking tour covering the city - the new and old city plus the castle and surrounding area. It was pretty cool and I got a ton of pics that I still need to go through and then upload - but that gives me something to do on the bus to Vienna.
I've managed to hook up with a bunch of wacky Australians, or Ozzies, as I've been told to call them. They are truly a strange bunch of people but a lot of fun to hang out with. After all, how can the descendants of English criminals be anything less than a lot of fun? You'll see some of them start popping up in the pictures as I post them.
There's a particular Russian from Australia that none of them seem to like to much as she's a bit "off." I've talked to her and she isn't playing with a full deck - that much is clear. They've labeled her "gypsy biscuits," which makes zero sense but makes me laugh none-the-less. Every once and a while I just say "gypsy biscuits" in my head and I chuckle a little.
Well that's it for now - sorry it's not too exciting. I've uploaded the Berlin pics and organized things a little, so now if you go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjacome/sets things will show up in sets so you don't have to scroll through all the pictures you may (or may not) have already seen. The pictures from the Flickr site also feed the slideshow that shows on the right hand side of the page.
Spent yesterday on a walking tour covering the city - the new and old city plus the castle and surrounding area. It was pretty cool and I got a ton of pics that I still need to go through and then upload - but that gives me something to do on the bus to Vienna.
I've managed to hook up with a bunch of wacky Australians, or Ozzies, as I've been told to call them. They are truly a strange bunch of people but a lot of fun to hang out with. After all, how can the descendants of English criminals be anything less than a lot of fun? You'll see some of them start popping up in the pictures as I post them.
There's a particular Russian from Australia that none of them seem to like to much as she's a bit "off." I've talked to her and she isn't playing with a full deck - that much is clear. They've labeled her "gypsy biscuits," which makes zero sense but makes me laugh none-the-less. Every once and a while I just say "gypsy biscuits" in my head and I chuckle a little.
Well that's it for now - sorry it's not too exciting. I've uploaded the Berlin pics and organized things a little, so now if you go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjacome/sets things will show up in sets so you don't have to scroll through all the pictures you may (or may not) have already seen. The pictures from the Flickr site also feed the slideshow that shows on the right hand side of the page.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Bye Bye Berlin, Hello Prague
I didn't like Berlin so much. The best thing about it was the poeple I met there from the bus and the room. The city itself has a lot of history with the Berlin wall and Communism and all that - which was really interesting. I took a walking tour that was really informative and showed all the major points of interest from WWII and the Cold War. But the buildings are all so new (because the city was bombed to the ground bascially) and generic - thanks to soviet contruction. It's rather dirty and the Berliners just didn't seem all that friendly. So I'm glad to be out of there - don't think I'd go back (but never say never).
Got into Prague last night and had a chance to look around. It's seems much more my speed from a tourist standpoint. Lots of old buildings, a castle, great bridges - just what i'm looking for in a European city. Plus things are pretty cheap here, though they're still on their own currency (the Czech crown) which is weird. It's sort of like how the Lira used to be, things cost like 500 crowns but that comes out to something like $25. So I went to the ATM and got 2000 crowns out and it just gave me this one 2000 crown bill. You feel rich for a while.
Got into Prague last night and had a chance to look around. It's seems much more my speed from a tourist standpoint. Lots of old buildings, a castle, great bridges - just what i'm looking for in a European city. Plus things are pretty cheap here, though they're still on their own currency (the Czech crown) which is weird. It's sort of like how the Lira used to be, things cost like 500 crowns but that comes out to something like $25. So I went to the ATM and got 2000 crowns out and it just gave me this one 2000 crown bill. You feel rich for a while.
I'm bound to get some great pictures here. I'll post them as soon as I can.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Welcome to Berlin
We spent the day yesterday on the bus - which was surprisingly OK. I was a bit worried about the 10 hour bus trip but it was pleasant. Got to sleep a lot and the company has a guide on it who points out different things in the city you're going about to visit. We got in around 6 PM and got checked into the hostel.
The people in the room are a bunch of Australians (apparently this Busabout thing I'm doing is big down under - even though it's an English company). They're very nice though and we ended going and grabbing dinner together. After that we just spent the night in the room talking. Nothing too exciting.
This hostel has free WiFi so I was able to get my pictures uploaded - I've put them on Flickr rather than the other place I was using as Flickr has a better upload program. The new link for pictures is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjacome/ They're all just thrown up there for now as I haven't quite figured out how to organize them just yet. I'll work on that later. London is first Amsterdam starts after that.
Until next time...
The people in the room are a bunch of Australians (apparently this Busabout thing I'm doing is big down under - even though it's an English company). They're very nice though and we ended going and grabbing dinner together. After that we just spent the night in the room talking. Nothing too exciting.
This hostel has free WiFi so I was able to get my pictures uploaded - I've put them on Flickr rather than the other place I was using as Flickr has a better upload program. The new link for pictures is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjacome/ They're all just thrown up there for now as I haven't quite figured out how to organize them just yet. I'll work on that later. London is first Amsterdam starts after that.
Until next time...
Thursday, July 03, 2008
doei do Amsterdam
Apparently that's one way to say goodbye in Dutch. So today was my last day in Amsterdam as I leave early tomorrow morning for Berlin. I also need to make a correction to something I said in an earlier post. The girls in the windows are sectioned into specialties (like the supermarket). So when I said they were all unattractive and couldn't give it away for free in America, apparently I was in the "heavy set black/hispanic" girl section. I needed to go over to aisle 6 for the pretty white girls. My bad and I apologize whole heartedly to the working girls of Amsterdam - some of you are very pretty hookers.
Today was sort of gray and dreary, so I finished doing the museums I didn't have time for yesterday. After that I just sort of hung out at a cafe and had a coffee or two with these little biscuit cookies they give you.
Overall, at this point in the trip this is waht I've learned. I freakin' hate tourists. Doesn't matter if they're American or British or Pakistani - black, brown, red, green or white - I hate them all. Now that's not really a surprise since I generally loathe other people but when you become a tourist you immedately think that the whole universe revolves solely around you. Now that can't be true since it's scientific fact that the whole universe revolves around me - it's been proven again and again. So I know these people are wrong.
So don't listen to any of those stories about beastly Americans in Europe. Every tourist in Europe is beastly. They stop right in front of you while walking, the congregate on the sidewalk like they own it, they bump and push and have a complete disregard for the poeple or things around them. To combat this (and because it's fun), I've started "accidentally" walking into people when they stop in front of me. Now, I try to reserve this only for the worst offenders (and especially for repeat offenders). It's pretty effective.
The Dutch poeple, however, are very nice. In cafe's and bars they've been very friendly and everyone speaks English - so that hasn't been a problem.
I've also learned that my parent's brought me up right. I watch these kids in the hostels and all I want to do is give them a smack in the head. They're rather rude and uninterested in anything that doesn't involve liquor and/or drugs. I asked some of them how they liked the museums or the architecture and all I got were blank stares (since they get up at 3 PM everyday they haven't seen much). Seriously, I'm beginning to worry about the future of humankind. I want'everyone with kids to go give your kid a smack in the ass when you're done reading this - it's good for them.
Well that's it for me. I'll be travelling most of tomorrow so probably no blogging or emailing for me. I'm still working on getting the pictures uploaded.
Today was sort of gray and dreary, so I finished doing the museums I didn't have time for yesterday. After that I just sort of hung out at a cafe and had a coffee or two with these little biscuit cookies they give you.
Overall, at this point in the trip this is waht I've learned. I freakin' hate tourists. Doesn't matter if they're American or British or Pakistani - black, brown, red, green or white - I hate them all. Now that's not really a surprise since I generally loathe other people but when you become a tourist you immedately think that the whole universe revolves solely around you. Now that can't be true since it's scientific fact that the whole universe revolves around me - it's been proven again and again. So I know these people are wrong.
So don't listen to any of those stories about beastly Americans in Europe. Every tourist in Europe is beastly. They stop right in front of you while walking, the congregate on the sidewalk like they own it, they bump and push and have a complete disregard for the poeple or things around them. To combat this (and because it's fun), I've started "accidentally" walking into people when they stop in front of me. Now, I try to reserve this only for the worst offenders (and especially for repeat offenders). It's pretty effective.
The Dutch poeple, however, are very nice. In cafe's and bars they've been very friendly and everyone speaks English - so that hasn't been a problem.
I've also learned that my parent's brought me up right. I watch these kids in the hostels and all I want to do is give them a smack in the head. They're rather rude and uninterested in anything that doesn't involve liquor and/or drugs. I asked some of them how they liked the museums or the architecture and all I got were blank stares (since they get up at 3 PM everyday they haven't seen much). Seriously, I'm beginning to worry about the future of humankind. I want'everyone with kids to go give your kid a smack in the ass when you're done reading this - it's good for them.
Well that's it for me. I'll be travelling most of tomorrow so probably no blogging or emailing for me. I'm still working on getting the pictures uploaded.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA!
Sorry I can't be there to celebrate with you. Hope you have a great day and make sure Dad buys you the big lobster.
Everyone wish my mom a happy birthday.
Hey Ray, it's mom's birthday - hurry out today and get her something nice.
Everyone wish my mom a happy birthday.
Hey Ray, it's mom's birthday - hurry out today and get her something nice.
Praise Jeebus
OK, so I’ve been in Amsterdam for two days now and I haven’t gotten high once. Are you proud of me momma?
I have, however, been walking for about 5 hours a day and taking a ton of pictures (over 300 easy). It’s just so freakin’ beautiful, well most of it (but more on that later). I got here around 9 AM on the bus from London.
Warning: NEVER TAKE A BUS FROM LONDON TO AMSTERDAM. Ever. For any reason. Enough said. It sort of made me wonder if taking the bus around Europe was a bad idea, but I’ve talked to some people here at the hostel who came in via Busabout and they said it was pretty nice. So I’ll reserve judgment and hold off on having someone mail me a Eurail pass.
This hostel is much better than the last. A lot cleaner with friendlier staff and more of a mix of people and ages. So when I got here Nikki picked me up at Amstel station and we headed back to her place. We caught up for a while and then headed out for a bike tour of Amsterdam. I didn’t even fall off once! Yeah me. Then because the weather was nice she took me to this hippy beach area. It was nice and weird at the same time. It was sort of like a shanty town with a make shift restaurant/bar. Everything decorated in psychedelic patterns – apparently it was very “Dutch”.
Then we headed out and met some of her friends for snacks/drinks and to watch the Euro Cup finals. Yes – I watched a sporting event (will wonders never cease). All her friends were nice enough to speak English for me which I’m sure was more of an imposition than they let on.
I’ve spent the last two days just walking around the city taking pictures. Just when you thing you’ve seen it all you turn the corner and there’s something else beautiful. It’s really amazing (and the city layout is totally confusing so I probably have 200 pictures of the same square). But I did take a canal boat tour ala Monica’s suggestion and that was helpful. But seriously, my dogs are barking and my footwear is giving me blisters. So I’ve decided to tone down the walking a little and make better use of public transport. It’s supposed to be lousy weather tomorrow, so I’m planning on doing the whole museum thing. It’s been so nice here weather-wise I wanted to make sure I did the outdoorsy stuff while I could. More later and I’ll post the pics as soon as I can.
So now on the R rated stuff (Mom, you can stop reading now). This Red Light district is completely disgusting. These girls, who are in no way attractive, sit in windows like store mannequins, and try to entice you to buy their "services". This enticement may come in the form a leg spread (ala Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct) or, to my surprise, the windows actually open (like doors) and they reach out and grab your unit.
Now I’m no prude, but getting your unit grabbed should never be a surprise (and never when your attention is somewhere else) – it ends badly. In this case in ended with me jumping backwards and tripping over the cobblestones behind me (cobblestones really have an issue with the Jacomes) and grabbing onto the hooker for balance – which just made us both fall down. So there we are on the ground while passers by laughed at us. She apologized for startling me (which I though was nice considering – even though it was totally her fault) and then tried to get me to have a go. I declined as I wouldn’t have had sex with her for free – never mind for money. The rest of the district, where there aren’t hookers, is all sex shops selling toys and porno. I just kept thinking, “Wow I know someone who would think he had died and gone to heaven to be here.” But I’ll leave him nameless so as to spare him any embarrassment – but you know who you are.
So I headed out of the red light district (I’m sharing a room with six people – what use do I have for porno) and went to sit in a square. While I was sitting there these two older women in red vests that said “Aide” come over and started talking to me – asking me where I was from and if I was liking Amsterdam. Then they asked me if I’d allowed Jesus to save me and I thought, “Jesus freaks just steps from the red light district?” Well I guess they know their audience. So, because my momma and poppa taught me to be polite, I said that I wasn't interested. But they weren’t taking no for an answer – which I guess is as it should be. You can't spread the word if you give up too easily. I mean Jesus did die on a cross – these ladies should at least be persistent. Finally they gave up when I told them that I thought Jesus was the son of the devil and that he was going to bring about the end of humanity. After that, I guess they figured I was crazier than they were and left me alone.
I have, however, been walking for about 5 hours a day and taking a ton of pictures (over 300 easy). It’s just so freakin’ beautiful, well most of it (but more on that later). I got here around 9 AM on the bus from London.
Warning: NEVER TAKE A BUS FROM LONDON TO AMSTERDAM. Ever. For any reason. Enough said. It sort of made me wonder if taking the bus around Europe was a bad idea, but I’ve talked to some people here at the hostel who came in via Busabout and they said it was pretty nice. So I’ll reserve judgment and hold off on having someone mail me a Eurail pass.
This hostel is much better than the last. A lot cleaner with friendlier staff and more of a mix of people and ages. So when I got here Nikki picked me up at Amstel station and we headed back to her place. We caught up for a while and then headed out for a bike tour of Amsterdam. I didn’t even fall off once! Yeah me. Then because the weather was nice she took me to this hippy beach area. It was nice and weird at the same time. It was sort of like a shanty town with a make shift restaurant/bar. Everything decorated in psychedelic patterns – apparently it was very “Dutch”.
Then we headed out and met some of her friends for snacks/drinks and to watch the Euro Cup finals. Yes – I watched a sporting event (will wonders never cease). All her friends were nice enough to speak English for me which I’m sure was more of an imposition than they let on.
I’ve spent the last two days just walking around the city taking pictures. Just when you thing you’ve seen it all you turn the corner and there’s something else beautiful. It’s really amazing (and the city layout is totally confusing so I probably have 200 pictures of the same square). But I did take a canal boat tour ala Monica’s suggestion and that was helpful. But seriously, my dogs are barking and my footwear is giving me blisters. So I’ve decided to tone down the walking a little and make better use of public transport. It’s supposed to be lousy weather tomorrow, so I’m planning on doing the whole museum thing. It’s been so nice here weather-wise I wanted to make sure I did the outdoorsy stuff while I could. More later and I’ll post the pics as soon as I can.
So now on the R rated stuff (Mom, you can stop reading now). This Red Light district is completely disgusting. These girls, who are in no way attractive, sit in windows like store mannequins, and try to entice you to buy their "services". This enticement may come in the form a leg spread (ala Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct) or, to my surprise, the windows actually open (like doors) and they reach out and grab your unit.
Now I’m no prude, but getting your unit grabbed should never be a surprise (and never when your attention is somewhere else) – it ends badly. In this case in ended with me jumping backwards and tripping over the cobblestones behind me (cobblestones really have an issue with the Jacomes) and grabbing onto the hooker for balance – which just made us both fall down. So there we are on the ground while passers by laughed at us. She apologized for startling me (which I though was nice considering – even though it was totally her fault) and then tried to get me to have a go. I declined as I wouldn’t have had sex with her for free – never mind for money. The rest of the district, where there aren’t hookers, is all sex shops selling toys and porno. I just kept thinking, “Wow I know someone who would think he had died and gone to heaven to be here.” But I’ll leave him nameless so as to spare him any embarrassment – but you know who you are.
So I headed out of the red light district (I’m sharing a room with six people – what use do I have for porno) and went to sit in a square. While I was sitting there these two older women in red vests that said “Aide” come over and started talking to me – asking me where I was from and if I was liking Amsterdam. Then they asked me if I’d allowed Jesus to save me and I thought, “Jesus freaks just steps from the red light district?” Well I guess they know their audience. So, because my momma and poppa taught me to be polite, I said that I wasn't interested. But they weren’t taking no for an answer – which I guess is as it should be. You can't spread the word if you give up too easily. I mean Jesus did die on a cross – these ladies should at least be persistent. Finally they gave up when I told them that I thought Jesus was the son of the devil and that he was going to bring about the end of humanity. After that, I guess they figured I was crazier than they were and left me alone.
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