We last
saw our stalwart strolling shoppers sitting on the patio of a café on DAM
Square, waiting on the rest of TE10 to show up for the Red Light Tour with
Lealu of That Dam Guide. Her real name
is Leandra and we knew her as Lealu last year for our walking tour of A’dam
prior to RiverCruise 2016. Constant
mispronunciation of Lealu caused her to change it to Lee.
Janice of
J&D had set up the tour for us with Mark, the owner of That Dam Guide and
on our suggestion, requested Lee.
After
several texts back and forth, we finally hooked up with TE10 just as Lee
appeared and after introductions around and big hugs for us, we headed out to
tour the “Erotic Zone” of A’dam.
Since A’dam
was a major port at the end of the Rhine river, the crush of many sailors in port
looking for diversion led to the establishment of the Red Light District, which
of course surrounded the Oude Kerk or Old
Church [where there is Sin you must have Salvation]
The
Dutch, being practical, realized they couldn’t eliminate prostitution so they
decided to control and regulate it containing it in a certain central areas.
Lee was
her usual peppy self and after patiently waiting for TE10 to finish their
intra-group discussion, she began our stroll through the centrum and into the
Red Light district, with stops at various points of interest, including Head
Shops, specialty condom shops, and of course De Wallen, the largest and most well known Red Light District [RLD] in Amsterdam, lined with windows illuminated with Red Lights in which the “Sex Workers”
displayed themselves, as provocatively as possible in order to initiate a
negotiation and subsequently a “sale”.
It was
another spectacular Lealu… err… uhh Lee presentation. Her in-depth tour, with specific insights
into the origins, and details of the area including the rules and how the
regulations are enforced were spot on and of great interest to the group.
Links
about the Red Light
district explain most of it including this Guide to the Red Light
and this Behind
the Red Light District
Suffice it
to say, TE10 was overwhelmed with Lee’s tour with questions flying left and
right but she handled it all like the pro she is.
Lee concluded
the tour by walking the group to the Barbizon hotel on the outskirts of the RLD
for a “comfort stop” prior to bidding us a fond farewell, with warm Hugs for
Chucky and DL for the recommendation.
Since it
was 10PM and still daylight, the group disbursed to find their way back to
their respective hotels to prepare for tomorrows Embarkation Hustle or last
minute Tchotchske shopping.
Chucky
and Dragon Chic walked the Templeshifs back to their bus stop and headed to the
#26 Tram stop for the short ride back to the Lloyd Hotel.
Once back
in their cozy room, Chucky finished getting everything packed for tomorrow and
the trip to the passenger terminal.
More on
this tomorrow… time to crash.
Ciao 4 Now
Uncle
Chuck & The Feeling much better Thank You,
Dragon
Lady
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