One of the unavoidable ‘sights’ of Amsterdam has most definately got to be the red light district. You can’t avoid it – and neither should you. It’s beautiful in twilight…the surrounding canals reflecting the neon lights of varying shades of crimson and not-so-crimson lights of sex shops, hotels and dwellings…just have a look:

I’ve not taken any pictures of the girls as the pimps minders don’t take too kindly to it (neither will the girls)….suffice to say, there are always bad apples amongst the good. Some of the girls baring their wares just made me wonder at the varying levels of depravity fetishes in the world. There were, of course, those pretty lingerie model quality Eastern European looking girls. In glow in the dark undies, some shaking their bon-bons some shaking their buns. And then there are those that look fairly past their sell-by date and frankly, quite creepy. Then there are those who had one too many croquette (the dutch looooovess their croquettes), looking more like stuffed sausages in a S&M outfit than attractive…..about what this season’s thigh high boots are making my legs look like. None of them were doing boring hobbies like knitting or reading though – guess that ruins the illusion.

Their rooms are another matter. It looks like something off Prison Break. Gone are the illusions, a bare tiled room decorated with a single bed, a basic sink and a toilet bowl. Oh, some of the rooms had sunken baths…probably more expensive.

I’m not too sure if it’s because of the credit crunch, but there are loads of rooms for rent. Yes, the sort of red-lit rooms. It’s strange – the credit crunch would’ve essentially pushed more girls into the world’s oldest profession, but on the other hand, the punters would be cutting down on their ‘treats’, therefore more fishes in a smaller pool thus ‘vacancies’.

I do wonder though if they have some sort of union – I believe that the price of the room comes with the protection of a minder, probably some big hunk working in the peep show shop next door.

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