Amsterdam - Saturday May 20, 2000

The day started again with a big and good breakfast before Josiane, Catherine and I gathered for an hour boat cruise along the canals.

Before we went, we eventually got around to cross the Red Light district. That was quite an experience as well... People had told me about it, but being there in real life makes a totally different impression.

(If you're interested in knowing what kind of impression, read what follows, if not, jump to the next paragraph.)
I looked through the window and saw a pretty girl --quite undressed, I have to say; with a sad look on her face. That's when I realised it wasn't what I expected. What I expected was exactly how I imagined it when it was told to me : seeing without being seen. And there, I felt very indiscreet. As if this girl was being exposed --which she was, you're right ; but as if I was peeking and it was an unhealthy feeling.)

The excursion was very pleasant. Gave me an extra occasion to take pictures :-) There's a tape depicting what we see along the cruise (in Dutch, German, French and English) that the driver stops and plays.

The next step of our day was to go to the Rijksmuseum. Josiane and I boarded the tram and realised after a half hour that the damn thing wasn't nearing the museum! We had taken the other direction... :-( We made the full trip, and again and after almost an hour of tram we arrived at the Rijksmuseum. It was 6 p.m. and it had closed an hour earlier :-( So we took a tram again and returned.

Later this day, I checked in the new hotel, Groenendael's on Nieuwendijk. Tarred with the same brush, this hotel resembled the Schirmann , but the cheapest version of it. The triple room that I was to share with DanielD and Thierry had the same type of furniture. The showers were on the landing (one on each side) and the toilet was on the opposite landing. The bed was comfortable as well. It had larger windows (there was a roof window at the Schirmann's).

It was dinner time by the time I got settled. So I was Mac Donald's-bound. Nice dinner. Familiar actually, no surprise :-)

Around 10 p.m. I was in my bed, almost asleep. DanielD was to arrive soon. I styleng>woke upat the sound of a knock on the door. Sleepy, I opened the door, to realise the knock had been made on the door of the next room... DanielD arrived a half hour later, fresh and clear, ready to party. Well I wasn't. He went partying alone.

Hotel on Singel	a street near the red district	Sint Olofskapel (location of the AC)	Yawning cat and Josiane	A narrow canal
Three red lights (...Yes, look closer...)	A male 'model' and Josiane behind	Canal in the red light district	Part of the red light district	A canal and bridge
A canal and some church	Nieuwe Kerk	Street urinal (No, I ain't obsessed...)	Josiane & Catherine beside an old street lamp	Condomerie (And 2 potential customers)
2 forlorn buildings	Oudekerk tower	Chris looking for a hotel near the red light district	Hi Chris! Surprise!!	Near Oude Kerk
Jesus loves U near the Barbizon Palace	Josiane and Catherine, before boarding the boat	Coralie, before boarding the boat	Home boat spotted from the canalboat	No Parking here (At any time?...)
View from the canalboat	VanGogh's bridge	Home boat spotted from the canalboat	Enjoying this sunny saturday on their boat	Canal bikes
Flying Dutchman	View of canal from the canalboat	Some church	The Messina Sisters	Mounttoren from the canal
A sailing ship	View on canal and bridge	View on Centraal Station from canal	View on Centraal Station from canal	View on Sint Nicolaaskerk from canal
View on Sint Nicolaaskerk from canal	View from quay, Ouder Kerk tower behind	* * * * * * * *	Strange street-sign 439x640	My new room at Groenendael's
Coralie (nice one...)	Coralie smiling (dark)	* * * * * * * *	Coralie smiling (dark)	Coralie (...Yes, again...)

Here continues my photo album...