Amsterdam musings

*Update* I added pictures yayyy!

Hallo! Hoe maakt u het y'aaaallz!

I am in the bibliotheek Amsterdam right now, and I have to say (sorry Airdrie Public Library!) that it is the MOST INCREDIBLE library building I have ever set foot in! It is huge and brand new. There are escalators and white ikea-ness things everywhere. Shelving is both circular and rectangular and it is set up with a massive circle overlooking the main area, flanked by computers all the way around. Computers are free to use and you don't even have to sign up. I'm in heaven. There is a cafe and exhibits, photography adorns all the walls and there are these massive lights that look like jacks (from the kid's game). So needless to say, there is no reason for me to feel pressured to go out on my last night in Amsterdam! I'm gonna hang out here ;) So lots of things have happened. On thursday I walked throughout the whole centrum of Amsterdam, walked along canals and little alleyways. I bought an ice cream and wandered around (wishing I could shop OMIGOODNESS!) I took a red light district tour because I figured that it would be the only way I could see it -- in a tour group. Plus then you get the history of the area. I am proud to say that I could be one of the last people to see the area, as a planned shutdown is scheduled for June. Who knows how true it is, but they have already shut down quite a bit of it. It was crazy to see the ladies in the windows, lit by blacklight and making eyes at every guy who passed. Funny because in the middle of it, in the area where there is the most activity, there is Oude Kerke (old church). haha seems that when the sailors came in to town, they could go and hire a lady (the going rate is around 75 canadian dollars right now) and then afterwards, confess their sins and go on their merry little way! After a guy decides on a prostitute, they will negotiate a cost through the window (I saw quite a few of these negotiations going on) and then she will close her curtain, turn off her red light and let him inside. The girls will rent the rooms for around 150 euros for an 8 hour shift. It was craziness. After the tour you get free shots of jaager (and then 1euro shots thereafter), and let's just say I had an interesting night with rad people I met (students my age - a nurse and a lawyer). It was great! Yesterday I went on a 3 hour tour of the city, had the first (and BEST) falafel ever, and then went to Anne Frank Huis. Amazing. I went back to Cat's place (but she was leaving for Berlin for the weekend, and left me her keys!) So now I am there alonnneeeee. But it's nice because I met alot of people through couchsurfing here, so I went out with them last night. I went to the Van Gogh museum this morning, and then went to the Oude Kerke which was showcasing the World Press photos 2008. This was intense and it was juxtaposed with the soberness of the church they were housed in. I guess the pictures travel around, one girl told me she saw them in Prague. Tomorrow I am heading to Rotterdam to visit Sarah Watson. I will stay for a couple of days and continue on to Cologne! I want to go explore this library some more :) My phone number is (this is the entire number you have to dial): 0031616393711 (it is now a netherlands phone number). I only have a certain amount of Euros on it right now but I think if I get a call from overseas it doesn't cost me very much. Keep in mind that I am like, 8 hours ahead of you guys though. I love you, family.