Amsterdam- The Red Light District!!
Because of speech day and my rugby end of season pyjama dinner party I had to postpone my arrival in Amsterdam meaning that instead of catching the 11hour bus ride with everyone else I caught a 40 minute plane trip. I quite liked to idea of arriving without jetlag but I was travelling alone which tends to be a bit on the boring side. The journey was set off to a bad start when I walked from Bearwood to Winnersh station in the pouring English rain simply because I wanted to save money on a cab but to my dismay arrived at Winnersh completely soaked and had to change my clothes. I sat shivering in the station shelter yet I remained positive, it wouldn’t be long until I was on my way plus I had looked up all the train times and had a smooth efficient travel route to Gatwick airport. However upon arriving at Wokingham I was soon told a bus service would be replacing trains then after waiting for half an hour it was announced that the whole trip was cancelled and there you have it nothing is perfect! Anyway after pretty much going via London I made it to the airport and after a quick visit to M&S simply food I was ready and happy for the journey ahead. Regardless of the rush to get to the airport I still found myself sitting around for a good hour in the airport waiting room when I heard some familiar voices and I looked across at these three rough looking lads and who couldn’t have guessed of course they were Aussies. So as we were heading over to gate 1 I butted in a and asked “So where are you boys from in Aus?” and the first one replied Grenfell, I am at Uni in Wagga Wagga what are small world... and of course they were also going to Amsterdam!
Amsterdam itself was a fascinating place, filled with canals and over 1000 bridges. Yes we stayed in the oh so famous Red Light District at a hostel called The Heart of Amsterdam. We checked out the many local coffee shops that mind you didn’t sell too much coffee rather focused on hash brownies, space cakes, magic mushrooms and of course weed. It was hard to walk along the streets without seeing many prostitutes sitting alone in a window which they hire out for €100 a night. These windows are doors that open up to a little room with a bed… if the curtains on these windows are drawn you know that a prostitute is at work. Amsterdam also had a many museums and exhibitions to visit for a start the famous Van Gough lived in Amsterdam and many of his original artworks are still there today. On the contrary there were a many sex museums that consisted of hysterical and sometimes disturbing sculptures, photographs, paintings and live figures. However for me the most moving experience was visiting the Anne Frank Huis where we climbed to the attic and even looked in a mirror that I dare say Anne would have looked in whilst she was in hiding for about 2 years with 8 others.
Because of speech day and my rugby end of season pyjama dinner party I had to postpone my arrival in Amsterdam meaning that instead of catching the 11hour bus ride with everyone else I caught a 40 minute plane trip. I quite liked to idea of arriving without jetlag but I was travelling alone which tends to be a bit on the boring side. The journey was set off to a bad start when I walked from Bearwood to Winnersh station in the pouring English rain simply because I wanted to save money on a cab but to my dismay arrived at Winnersh completely soaked and had to change my clothes. I sat shivering in the station shelter yet I remained positive, it wouldn’t be long until I was on my way plus I had looked up all the train times and had a smooth efficient travel route to Gatwick airport. However upon arriving at Wokingham I was soon told a bus service would be replacing trains then after waiting for half an hour it was announced that the whole trip was cancelled and there you have it nothing is perfect! Anyway after pretty much going via London I made it to the airport and after a quick visit to M&S simply food I was ready and happy for the journey ahead. Regardless of the rush to get to the airport I still found myself sitting around for a good hour in the airport waiting room when I heard some familiar voices and I looked across at these three rough looking lads and who couldn’t have guessed of course they were Aussies. So as we were heading over to gate 1 I butted in a and asked “So where are you boys from in Aus?” and the first one replied Grenfell, I am at Uni in Wagga Wagga what are small world... and of course they were also going to Amsterdam! 
Amsterdam itself was a fascinating place, filled with canals and over 1000 bridges. Yes we stayed in the oh so famous Red Light District at a hostel called The Heart of Amsterdam. We checked out the many local coffee shops that mind you didn’t sell too much coffee rather focused on hash brownies, space cakes, magic mushrooms and of course weed. It was hard to walk along the streets without seeing many prostitutes sitting alone in a window which they hire out for €100 a night. These windows are doors that open up to a little room with a bed… if the curtains on these windows are drawn you know that a prostitute is at work. Amsterdam also had a many museums and exhibitions to visit for a start the famous Van Gough lived in Amsterdam and many of his original artworks are still there today. On the contrary there were a many sex museums that consisted of hysterical and sometimes disturbing sculptures, photographs, paintings and live figures. However for me the most moving experience was visiting the Anne Frank Huis where we climbed to the attic and even looked in a mirror that I dare say Anne would have looked in whilst she was in hiding for about 2 years with 8 others.
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