First Holland Holiday (2)
When I walked into the living room Marco opened his eyes and smiled. I know it seems kind of trivial that I'm telling you that, but
I wish I could describe the way he looked. He wasn't grumpy, not at all. He looked like his eyes were smiling. It was kind of like
looking at one of those freaky pictures, you know, the ones where the eyes follow you everywhere you go. As soon as I walked in he
looked at me and smiled. No matter where I went, every time I looked back, his eyes were still smiling right back into mine. Now I
could get all sentimental and say he was just so happy to wake up in his own home with me there. But with my luck, he probably just
farted or something. and like a baby, it caused him to smile. hahaha (If you don't mind, I'm gonna stick with my first guess).
We sat talking for a little while, then he started to get up to make some coffee. When I told him that I already made some and I'd
get him a cup, he sat back down and said, "You did? Wow! Thank you Dawn." Now anyone that knows me, knows I do NOT know
how to cook, not in the slightest. So when he was drinking his coffee and said, "Sweetie, this is the best cup of coffee" I had to
laugh. He was being so nice, I just hoped he realized it was probably a fluke and would never happen again.
The entire day we pretty much just got settled and laid around the house. We unpacked, Marco did all the laundry, we played
online for a little while, and basically just relaxed. Eventually Marco went out to rent some videos and get some groceries. We spent
the rest of the evening laying on the sofa together watching movies.
The next day Conny and Jan took off of work and we all went to Amsterdam for the day. Marco had always made it very clear how
much he hated the city of Amsterdam. So knowing this, I never planned on going while I was there. But Jan had called the night
before and told him that they were taking us. End of conversation. (hahaha Jan is totally cool!) It was about a 30-45 minute drive
from Marco's house. I enjoyed the ride so much. They were telling me everything about Holland that I could possibly want to know.
And Conny, she's just awesome. While Jan and Marco were filling my head with stories of Holland, she was asking me everything
she could think of about how I lived, and what my life was like here. Marco and Jan had both told me how interested Conny was in
America, so I was more than happy to tell her anything she wanted to know. She had actually just gotten back from New York City
not too long ago. She and a few of her friends went for a holiday. And since I'm from NYC, this made the conversation even more
enjoyable.
We spent the entire day walking through the city, shopping, and talking. Now Marco, Jan, and Conny all speak English (very well
I might add), but I was always nervous when I would go into a shop to buy something, that the clerk wouldn't understand what the
hell I was saying. With this in mind, I always made sure Marco was right next to me when it came time to pay. Oh yeah, it was also
because I had no friggin clue what the Dutch currency was. For all I knew, something could have cost $1.00 and I would have
handed them $50.00!
After hours and hours of shopping (of which I believe Marco hated every minute hahaha) we decided to stop for dinner. I'm not
really too sure what it was that I ate, but it was good. Except for the crab-toes in Ireland, which I ordered myself, Marco had always
ordered my food for me. He knew the few things I liked, and the long list of things I didn't, and always did an awesome job at never
ordering me something that would make me gag.
I was having such a nice day with them. This was better than I had ever imagined. Not the city, but being with Marco and his
family. (He has a brother also, John, married to Irene, but I didn't meet them on this trip). They were truly the most easy-going
pleasant people. So hospitable and friendly towards me. It wasn't sinking in that I was actually here with them. And to be honest,
that feeling of excitement never really left.
After we ate we walked and shopped some more. Now, all day they had told me that the route we were taking would have us end
our day in the Red Light District, then head for home after that. Each time I heard them say it, I just kept thinking, well ok, I guess
that's some super shopping area or something. Ummm WRONG! hahaha
There we were, walking along, window shopping, just like we had all day. We were at the end of a street and turned the corner to
start on the next one. As I had done all day, I walked and looked into the windows of the shops, seeing cards, souvenirs, clothing,
food, etc. So when the first window I looked into on this new street contained a beautiful woman standing there in only a pair of
white panties and a white lacy bra, with one of her boobies out in her hand as she fondled her own nipple, trying to entice people
walking by to come to her .... well, I was in SHOCK! I almost tripped over my own feet! My mouth dropped wide open and I
couldn't contain my thoughts. I simply said, (Very Loudly) "OH MY GAWD! Did you see that?!" Ok, why were they all laughing?
Why weren't any of them as shocked as I was? What the hell? And OhMyGawd, here's another window with another woman! Holy
shit, what was going on?! By this time they were laughing incredibly hard. But as we continued down this street-o-hookers, they
explained to me that this was the Red Light District. Prostitution is not only legal there, but the friggin hookers are in a Union! No
Shit, I'm not lying! They also have to have monthly medical exams to be sure they are disease free. All men have to do is walk up
and down the street until they see one they like, then knock on the door, pay the money, and boom! Done deal. Amazing!
So on we walked, smack dab in the middle of hooker-central. I was still in shock, and still laughing. But then, I remembered
something Marco had told me a long time ago. (Honey, if you are reading this, close your eyes ok? Because I know you will say,
"that is private, why must you tell everyone?" hahaha) Anyway, when Marco was 15, he and his friends were on the beach, and they
bet him that he wouldn't go 'have a window woman'. They would not only pay him, but pay for her as well if he took the dare. Now
c'mon, a 15 year old male? What the hell do you think he did? hahaha The part that is the funniest though, is that when he was done
he left, but then realized he left his keys in there and would have to go back to get them! hahaha Then had to lie to his mother on
why he was late coming home that day! So now, remembering this, I went up to him and quietly asked him if THIS was the kind of
window shopping that he did when he was 15. He laughed and said, "Yes." Needless to say, I smacked him hard on the arm and said
"Marco!" hahaha He just laughed and said, "What? I did nothing wrong." (He's so cute =))
We ended our day in Amsterdam by stopping to get a few drinks at of course, an Irish Pub. This city is cool, because it uses
'canals' (I can't remember what they are really called) along with roads throughout. It's hard to explain, but just picture a set of city
streets running in a horizontal and vertical grid. Along every street, a little lower, is water going the same directions, with places to
dock and stairs leading up to the street all along. There were just about as many people using boats to get around as there were
people in cars. Some just out cruising around, some out doing normal tasks (like grocery shopping), some were on 'party boats' that
you can rent by the hour, and we even saw some fancy dinner cruises. They showed me a lot of the older buildings that had loading
docks still attached. In the past, boats would travel the water, just like trucks would now, as a way for merchants to get their
supplies, trade, whatever they needed to do. (Yay, I actually remembered something they taught me) Anyway, we sat outside
drinking, talking, and watching the boats go by, and having a good time while doing so. Continue
I wish I could describe the way he looked. He wasn't grumpy, not at all. He looked like his eyes were smiling. It was kind of like
looking at one of those freaky pictures, you know, the ones where the eyes follow you everywhere you go. As soon as I walked in he
looked at me and smiled. No matter where I went, every time I looked back, his eyes were still smiling right back into mine. Now I
could get all sentimental and say he was just so happy to wake up in his own home with me there. But with my luck, he probably just
farted or something. and like a baby, it caused him to smile. hahaha (If you don't mind, I'm gonna stick with my first guess).
We sat talking for a little while, then he started to get up to make some coffee. When I told him that I already made some and I'd
get him a cup, he sat back down and said, "You did? Wow! Thank you Dawn." Now anyone that knows me, knows I do NOT know
how to cook, not in the slightest. So when he was drinking his coffee and said, "Sweetie, this is the best cup of coffee" I had to
laugh. He was being so nice, I just hoped he realized it was probably a fluke and would never happen again.
The entire day we pretty much just got settled and laid around the house. We unpacked, Marco did all the laundry, we played
online for a little while, and basically just relaxed. Eventually Marco went out to rent some videos and get some groceries. We spent
the rest of the evening laying on the sofa together watching movies.
The next day Conny and Jan took off of work and we all went to Amsterdam for the day. Marco had always made it very clear how
much he hated the city of Amsterdam. So knowing this, I never planned on going while I was there. But Jan had called the night
before and told him that they were taking us. End of conversation. (hahaha Jan is totally cool!) It was about a 30-45 minute drive
from Marco's house. I enjoyed the ride so much. They were telling me everything about Holland that I could possibly want to know.
And Conny, she's just awesome. While Jan and Marco were filling my head with stories of Holland, she was asking me everything
she could think of about how I lived, and what my life was like here. Marco and Jan had both told me how interested Conny was in
America, so I was more than happy to tell her anything she wanted to know. She had actually just gotten back from New York City
not too long ago. She and a few of her friends went for a holiday. And since I'm from NYC, this made the conversation even more
enjoyable.
We spent the entire day walking through the city, shopping, and talking. Now Marco, Jan, and Conny all speak English (very well
I might add), but I was always nervous when I would go into a shop to buy something, that the clerk wouldn't understand what the
hell I was saying. With this in mind, I always made sure Marco was right next to me when it came time to pay. Oh yeah, it was also
because I had no friggin clue what the Dutch currency was. For all I knew, something could have cost $1.00 and I would have
handed them $50.00!
After hours and hours of shopping (of which I believe Marco hated every minute hahaha) we decided to stop for dinner. I'm not
really too sure what it was that I ate, but it was good. Except for the crab-toes in Ireland, which I ordered myself, Marco had always
ordered my food for me. He knew the few things I liked, and the long list of things I didn't, and always did an awesome job at never
ordering me something that would make me gag.
I was having such a nice day with them. This was better than I had ever imagined. Not the city, but being with Marco and his
family. (He has a brother also, John, married to Irene, but I didn't meet them on this trip). They were truly the most easy-going
pleasant people. So hospitable and friendly towards me. It wasn't sinking in that I was actually here with them. And to be honest,
that feeling of excitement never really left.
After we ate we walked and shopped some more. Now, all day they had told me that the route we were taking would have us end
our day in the Red Light District, then head for home after that. Each time I heard them say it, I just kept thinking, well ok, I guess
that's some super shopping area or something. Ummm WRONG! hahaha
There we were, walking along, window shopping, just like we had all day. We were at the end of a street and turned the corner to
start on the next one. As I had done all day, I walked and looked into the windows of the shops, seeing cards, souvenirs, clothing,
food, etc. So when the first window I looked into on this new street contained a beautiful woman standing there in only a pair of
white panties and a white lacy bra, with one of her boobies out in her hand as she fondled her own nipple, trying to entice people
walking by to come to her .... well, I was in SHOCK! I almost tripped over my own feet! My mouth dropped wide open and I
couldn't contain my thoughts. I simply said, (Very Loudly) "OH MY GAWD! Did you see that?!" Ok, why were they all laughing?
Why weren't any of them as shocked as I was? What the hell? And OhMyGawd, here's another window with another woman! Holy
shit, what was going on?! By this time they were laughing incredibly hard. But as we continued down this street-o-hookers, they
explained to me that this was the Red Light District. Prostitution is not only legal there, but the friggin hookers are in a Union! No
Shit, I'm not lying! They also have to have monthly medical exams to be sure they are disease free. All men have to do is walk up
and down the street until they see one they like, then knock on the door, pay the money, and boom! Done deal. Amazing!
So on we walked, smack dab in the middle of hooker-central. I was still in shock, and still laughing. But then, I remembered
something Marco had told me a long time ago. (Honey, if you are reading this, close your eyes ok? Because I know you will say,
"that is private, why must you tell everyone?" hahaha) Anyway, when Marco was 15, he and his friends were on the beach, and they
bet him that he wouldn't go 'have a window woman'. They would not only pay him, but pay for her as well if he took the dare. Now
c'mon, a 15 year old male? What the hell do you think he did? hahaha The part that is the funniest though, is that when he was done
he left, but then realized he left his keys in there and would have to go back to get them! hahaha Then had to lie to his mother on
why he was late coming home that day! So now, remembering this, I went up to him and quietly asked him if THIS was the kind of
window shopping that he did when he was 15. He laughed and said, "Yes." Needless to say, I smacked him hard on the arm and said
"Marco!" hahaha He just laughed and said, "What? I did nothing wrong." (He's so cute =))
We ended our day in Amsterdam by stopping to get a few drinks at of course, an Irish Pub. This city is cool, because it uses
'canals' (I can't remember what they are really called) along with roads throughout. It's hard to explain, but just picture a set of city
streets running in a horizontal and vertical grid. Along every street, a little lower, is water going the same directions, with places to
dock and stairs leading up to the street all along. There were just about as many people using boats to get around as there were
people in cars. Some just out cruising around, some out doing normal tasks (like grocery shopping), some were on 'party boats' that
you can rent by the hour, and we even saw some fancy dinner cruises. They showed me a lot of the older buildings that had loading
docks still attached. In the past, boats would travel the water, just like trucks would now, as a way for merchants to get their
supplies, trade, whatever they needed to do. (Yay, I actually remembered something they taught me) Anyway, we sat outside
drinking, talking, and watching the boats go by, and having a good time while doing so. Continue
