Amsterdam and its Red Lights

not a prostitute

On Saturday night in Amsterdam I turned to Stephen and was all

"hey babe, want to go see some prostitutes?"

He hesitated, but then obliged...

such a good fiance.

Now before you get all,

I CANT BELIEVE YOU WENT TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH on me,

let me explain.

Prostitution is everywhere,

it may not be on as much display as in Amsterdam,

but it is worldwide.

One of the main contributors to the problem is those that keep the need for these "working" women alive,

and that is western men.

So whether we like it or not,

we encounter one or the other all of the time.
It is just easier to turn a blind eye to it in other parts of the world,
whereas in Amsterdam, it is right there in your face.

When I travel,

I love to immerse myself in the culture in a different way.

I am not really a museum go-er

(although the red light district could count as a museum...of sorts...)

and walking around historical monuments and castles sort of bores me.

I like to see what the locals see,

I like to know what is going on now,

and eat a lot of food in the process.

The Red Light district fascinates me..it is the psychologist in me. I can't help it.

It also makes me incredibly sad because you know most of those women are working as a result of being trafficked.

We all know about human trafficking,

I have good friends who work in the field to help save these girls who are being trafficked in the USA.

We can watch all of the documentaries on HBO we want and call ourselves aware,

but it is very different to see something like this in person.

I felt like I was walking through a Halloween exhibit or something,

not that the girls were scary looking,

in fact, they were actually quite stunning,

but tons of women behind individual glass windows/doors lit up with red back lighting,

trying to coax men to come to them,

was something straight out of a film.

Or just another Saturday night in any major city, minus the red rooms and money exchange..

Let's be honest,

girls dressed in little clothing trying to get guys to notice/sleep with them? 

Not exactly a foreign concept.

I also thought I would feel unsafe,

and I don't know if it is because my fiance is 6'5,

but I didn't feel the level of fear of getting hurt/stolen/robbed/or caught in the middle of a brawl as I thought I would in this area.

Most of the hundreds of people in the pretty jam-packed part of the city are young men

(a lot of American and British guys)

who are probably there on a stag night (bachelor party).

Surprisingly, there were a lot of women too (aside from the prostitutes, I mean)

and a lot of couples.

I am sure a lot of them were there because of the same curiosity that led S and I there.

But it is always wise to be careful, of course.

We got home and I researched the red light district.

How it started, how it has changed over the years.

Like I said,

I'm just fascinated by the whole thing.

And yes, the weed was plentiful.

We don't smoke,

but pretty sure it is possible to get a contact high.

Has anyone else been?

What was your reaction?

Would love you to share your experience in the comments for others, who havent been, to read.

*more on amsterdam tomorrow