Back to food!
This is my lunch in Barney's Uptown.
There are a couple of Barney's in the 'Dam. I swung by one on my way to checking in, to buy a muffin. It was close to my hotel and I knew I'd soon be safe and sound. I ate half, giggled a bit, then slept for 3 hours. I figure this was the journey rather than the cake though. I certainly had stronger ones later.

Barney's Uptown is not a coffeeshop, although there are Barney's coffeeshops, but describes itself as "smoker-friendly". It is certainly scoffage-friendly. The table of four American (maybe Canadian?) 20-somethings next to me were skinning up. I was being conservative and didn't. They probably left a tip though (tips are not expected in Amsterdam - rounding up any change to the nearest Euro is considered decent. They have a good minimum wage).

And then the Bitterballen. Not great. Maybe one or two, but not a whole plateful. Just too much and no variety to interest the palate. I had these for lunch on the day I left. Maybe my mood didn't help - I had two heavy bags with me. But I wouldn't recommend them, except to maybe a group of four, who would probably enjoy the amount they had. They came with mustard (as did the burger above) but it wasn't enough to make them interesting. Again, the place was a canalside bar and I was welcomed like a long-lost sister. Actually forget the long-lost - the barmaid was far happier to see me than my sister ever is. I was her first tourist of the day apparently.

Note in photo - my purse (wallet? change purse?) from Kitsch Kitchen. My book - I only took the Stephen King out with me and therefore it took me six days to read. And tulip bulbs in the plastic bag on the table.

...OMG! ...Sundae!!!!!!!!


You went to a sex club??????????

Back to sightseeing.
Here is the Westerkerk. I did not do it justice. It looms over all the streets in the vicinity. Looms? No, that sounds grim. It's just so beautiful. The bright colours catch the sun and it made me smile from streets away. The closest I can come to for similar pleasure is seeing the blue-grey dome of St Paul's (London) from a distance, and then rounding the corner on a side street and there it is.

Just gorgeous.

It is so close to the Anne Frank House. I can completely understand why she found the chimes so comforting. It was either that or go mad :)

In the shadow of the Westerkerk is the Homomonument. Yes, it's what it sounds like. Designed as three triangles it represents and commemorates the gays who died in the concentration camps (who had to wear a pink trinagle). I took some pics, but they're just not that photogenic. They were designed to blend into the existing surroundings, and they do. Very moving though.

S
UNDAE!

YOU WENT TO A SEX CLUB??????????????????????

Canals!
Finally!

These are all of "my" canal - the Singel.
It's the first of four canals that girdle Amsterdam. It was originally a moat, so it defines the city centre to the West.

The second pic shows the rise in the road as a bridge approaches, as mentioned previously. Also the amount of bicycles and the Dutch practicality - the day before it was raining, there were NO chairs and tables outside that bar!

I did chick. And I had lots of sex. And oral.
Do you still love me?

And finally....!

Another view of canalside living - of the just-add-sunshine Dutch variety.

I pixellated one woman's face because she was looking stright at the camera. Probably trying to pull me, the cheeky mare.

I love you even more - if that's possible.

What a braveheart!

I echo Dana and Bri's admiration of your s-exploits, SG. Wowzer! Much braver than me, and thanks for writing about it (everything you ever wanted to know ... etc ...).

Niiiice. Care to explain further? :p:

Ha!
No, no lady-loving in the 'Dam.
Although I met a very cute Canadian girl who gave me her email address. I lost it :(

Color me impressed, SG. Good for you!

I have been contacted by a PhD student who is writing her dissertation on women using the sex industry - as opposed to the usual subject of men. She wants to interview me. She asked me via a PM on the site I logged onto to get the details of the club (I posted there for advice under a different name than I use here)

Yay!
I'm a case study!

I answered in the affirmative, but am waiting on a reply.

I spoke with her tonight at length.
I hope all the above is correct because I did give her directions to this thread for background info :)

It was a completely painless and even enjoyable experience.
She raised some questions I really had to think about, and allowed me to reconsider everything that happened.

If I can swing it (pun intended) I will be going back to the 'Dam in September.
Or maybe half-term if I'm putting in more hours at school, as I sincerely hope to be by then. Not to go back to the club, just to walk those streets again and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Talking about it brought it back.

Now I know the ropes I'd stay further out - which will be cheaper.
Also the coach fares drop again in the Autumn, so I'd have a chance of getting a promotional fare (funfare) which could be a return trip for under $40 (approx). This is pretty much the same as a Travelcard to London from here* How could you say no to that?!

As ever, any Dwellars who can make it are welcome co-vacationers.
I'll even throw in my limited Travel Guide skills free of charge!

*Disclaimer - when I go to London my Dad drives me to the nearest Tube station and I use my Oyster card on off-peak fares. But the standard rail cost from Aylesbury is £20.

Is that turning into a paid job, then?

Curious about the questions and what opinions you held that may have changed

I sincerely hope it will, and my best shot at this or another school is to show experience as a volunteer as well as commitment and reliability within the role. It's a complete career change so nothing else on my CV is applicable to the position. I wouldn't be an automatic choice if a position came up in this school - I'd be up against anyone who applied from outside. TA positions are highly sought after by mothers with school age children.
For example about paying for sex (I didn't, but would I?) I decided "no" unless I could afford a full escort service ie a "boyfriend experience". Having had sex with someone I did not know was exciting, but not something I care to repeat. For me the real pleasure comes from one-on-one interaction. The look in a man's eye, a smile, the first touch.

I always used to daydream about setting up a brothel for women - ie full of men. The front would be a coffee/ bookshop which would function independently although probably at a loss. It would be staffed by friendly, attentive and attractive young men. Some women would come in for expensive coffee just to be flattered and charmed by the staff. Those in the know would be able to come upstairs for more if they wanted. The place would be spotless with dim lighting, scented candles, feather duvets and amazing showers. Services would range from kissing and compliments to massage (with or without extras) to full on rogering. And the man would bring you a cup of tea in bed after and hug you and show an interest in what you were doing for the rest of the day.

Of course it was only ever a daydream, but I now realise that it wouldn't work. That kind of attention would promote an emotional response in women and we'd have weeping and wailing when they realised it was all done for money.

End of digression, back to questions.

How I felt about going into a sex shop. I hadn't thought about my feelings before, it was purely a practical transaction. Also the differences if any between the shop designed for women and a gay sex shop I went into, and how they were the same or different to the non-gender-specific ones.

And what I thought of the prostitutes working in the Red Light District, which was again something I had not really considered. In the same way I've never really thought about my opinion of street sweepers or policemen or other people in visible roles. My eventual response was that they weren't there for me, my attention was not sought by them and they actually made me feel safer as a woman in that location. Although I probably wasn't that concise in the conversation - we talked for nearly an hour and a half.

Also she questioned me on the difference between going to a similar club in this country compared to Amsterdam. I hadn't realised but apart from practical concerns (I'd have to stay overnight somewhere and public transport is expensive from where I live) it just feels different. more seedy somehow. Which is completely unfair. Perhaps because it's so much more open and accepted in Amsterdam.

Those are the ones that stand out anyway.

I think that you've just hit upon job security: repeat, loyal customers. For those with the coin they could have an exclusive contract. Others would have to make due knowing that Wednesdays would be "their day" and the rest of the week they'd have to share.

Did thinking about the questions that were posed to you take any of the shine off the experience for you?

I visited Amsterdam about 10 years ago and had Dutch friends as guides. We took a compulsory stroll through the Red Light district and I had a paradigm altering experience.

As we walked past one window I saw a woman sitting there who was my ideal "type" (apart from being a hooker) and we caught eyes for a moment. She gave me a look that I've never, ever gotten from anyone in my life. She looked at me with such a look of admiration and thrill at seeing me that was absolutely sincere. As if she'd spent her whole life hooking just so that someday she'd meet me, the most important man in the world. The man she could worship and adore. And then she smiled and it was a warm, friendly, long lost pal kind of smile, not one of those slutty sneers that are supposed to be sexy. This woman looked wholesome, and in retrospect, I think that was her angle, she was dressed all in white lingerie. Probably a virgin bride thing, but whatever.

My Dutch friend turned to me jokingly and said "She had the eye for you."

It was then that I realized the allure of professional sex, it was about more than getting laid, it was about buying the fantasy, whatever it might be. She was selling "You are the most important man in the world."

I asked our Dutch host if women had a red light district for themselves, with men in the window. She looked at me amusedly and said, "No, anytime we want sex we can get it for free."

:lol: love the new sig, SN

You are a genius Monnie!