By the Side of Amsterdam

I love the way Amsterdam feels. It's like I am wandering through a maze of canals and bridges with no specific place to go but plenty of beautiful sights and shops to stumble upon. 

After soundcheck, we picked up "Real American" hotdogs and my Amsterdam favorite, Stroopwafels before traveling to the Rijks Museum. Upon arriving, we realize that  it just happened to be their grand reopening meaning, the tour was free and also that everyone and their mom was in attendance. We waited in a Space Mountain-length line as workers passed out free cans of diet coke (amazing) and brochures. Once we got inside, the masses of people clogged the hallways like cars in rush hour on the 405. Most of the rooms were roped off keeping you on the narrow path and about 15 feet away from the paintings. For a near-sighted lady like myself, this put me at a disadvantage. Luckily, I was able to see Van Gogh's self-portrait up close which made the whole experience worth it. 

The concert that night at Melkweg was amazing. It was so great to see my hubs perform again. The capacity of the venue was smaller than I'm used to seeing them play, but the intimate room was a nice change. There were girls screaming with glee, like I've never heard them before, the sound was almost not human. Every time I return after being away, I feel like things have changed so much. The sound is tighter, the performance has evolved and the crowd reaction is exponentially greater. I am surprised that it continues to be surprise me.  

The band getting in a young fan who couldn't get a ticket.

The venue.

The line into the show.

That night, after the show, we dared to enter the infamous Red-light District. When in Rome, I say. It was dually a strange and normal experience at the same time. It was just their "normal." The whole thing wasn't as provocative as I expected, seeing the women dressed no more revealing than the go-go dancers you see in a Las Vegas casino. Yes, there were many men there for the true purpose of the Red-light District but there were also plenty of tourists, like me, that were there for the "Amsterdam" experience. The fun ended when I actually watched a man negotiate with a woman on a price. That was my cue to hit it.