We got to the Dam, the main square that was the first dam built to make the town from a river. Three shepherds in red shirts brought their flocks together and the rain fell. Heavily. I for one did not bring an umbrella on this morning. Quite a few people didn't. The tour guides had some red ponchos for sale for 1-50. It was cheaper than the 5 euro Amsterdam umbrella others were running to buy from the souvenir shops. I put on my poncho. It was far too big for even 2 people together but did the job.
We did all the main areas, starting at the old church. The church is next to the red light district so sailors could repent their sins. She showed us lots of interesting site with interesting facts. Everything was done with a terrifying amount of energy and humour.
She went over the history of the Netherlands and how they became so tolerant and progressive. When ever the tour guide mentioned how forward thinking Hollanders are, I thought back to the cab driver on the first day.
We went quickly through the red light district without seeing too much. She told us about the old prisons and torture methods. She explained about current legislation changes for drugs and the technicality of what and wasn´t legal here.
When we got to the Jewish quarter we got a call from home. It said that our 14 year old pup Jess was not in a good way. She was in hospital with a twisted stomach, after a recent history of more and more things going wrong. I could tell from their voice that it didn't look good.
For the rest of the tour I tried not to think about it, but it was hard. The whole group stopped for a break at midday. I had veg soup with a twisted pastry. After that we went through the coffee shops streets and she explained which were the best.
We all chatted on the way to and from places. She was an American girl ho had been there for a year. She didn't speak any Dutch yet. I thought that was odd and decided if I was ever in that situation I´d make it a priority to learn at least some of the language.
As we walked the rain came and went. So too did my poncho. I smiled to myself at my enormous, red, ridiculous poncho.
We finished the tour at the Anne Frank house. She told a sad but moving story about the two day Amsterdam wide strike during the war in response to Nazi violence against their Jewish brothers and sisters. It was meant to be an example of the accepting and progressive Dutch nature.
The tour itself was free and people were encouraged to tip what they felt it had been worth paying. Some gave nothing, which I didn't like because she was very good at her job. She put so much effort into it. So we gave her money for it.
We went to get some chips as a part B of lunch. I justified this greasiness to myself with the really healthy soup I had for part A. We hung out at the hostel for a few hours.
The group that did ythe tours also did a pay tour (only 8euro though) of the red light district. We met the group at the train station and I´m glad we did. It was fascinating. It wasn´t just leading us through the streets to see the windows.
The tour guide was a psychology/ sex studies student from the US who new a lot about the area. He was friends with some of the girls. He even went around our tour route before hand each time to apologise in advance to every girl we would be passing. Everyone knew him in the area from all these things. He talked about facts no other guide would go into.
He started out by letting us know the only 2 words we should be using are sex worker and prostitute if we really needed to. He was adamant about it.
He talked about the union they belong to and the way the job works. About how the girls deal with everyday life, keeping two lives and such. They usually only do it for up to three or 4 fours, often as a leg up. They can make upwards of 100,000 euro a years (thats just what they claim on their tax returns). It is legal since 2000.
They rent the widows from 7 companies. The service includes security if needed, plus a lady bringing them fresh towels, energy drinks and snacks. Apparently there are no pimps for the window girls, only entrepreneurial women. They chose the clients and refuse far more men than they take on. They get free health checks and no girl will work without a condom.
Some sex workers even work for the government. Amputated and scarred Veterans can get government sex workers to visit their house, all under the free Netherlands health care system.
Our guide warned us ahead of time not to take photos of the windows. They did on both tours actually. It is the biggest no-no, even bigger than using naughty words. If you try sneak it you will be seen. Then if you´re lucky you´ll be hit with a beer can or stiletto. Not so lucky the guards smash your camera and throw it in the canal. We all heeded his advise.
The girls themselves. Girls in underwear in windows. After a while it was just that. Window after window. Like the guide repeated again and again: its just a job here.
Good tour, I really enjoyed it. The tour ended at Belushi´s bar at the Amsterdam leg of St Chris Inn (where we stayed in Paris). We all got a free jaeger shot. Not in the best mood for staying out, we left soon after.
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