haarlem
fri 22-jul-05

Singel Canal Amsterdam - 22.jul.05

Today with no plan of what to do, I hopped on the train to Amsterdam. When I found my way out of the train station - this is the first thing I saw:

Yes, a Tupperware store - right out side of the station. Seriously think about it? OK, lets pretend you are a local and use the train to commute to and from work. Do you suppose you'll stop and buy a bowl on your way to the office? Maybe American tourist nostalgic for the 50's stop in. Maybe the Dutch have a thing for tupperware.

The Dutch, actually I think it is all Europeans, have a thing for underwear. Everywhere you go there are underwear shops. Selling the most wonderful things. Some simple but luxurious - European "Granny Panties" I guess. And many wicked sexy little things. Today I was in a very upmarket department store - they had a half a floor devoted to underdrawers and bras. Some lacy unmentionables were locked in cases displayed like jewels with the price tags concealed.

(Aside: In one of the cases was a very nice crystal - how shall we say it on this PG-rated Blog - female pleasure device - this device had its price tag exposed. Said device cost 75 euros - and where tags normally have sizes this thing said SIZE: ONE. Now that doesn't seem right. Maybe some ladies would like a larger one.)

Is this sick or what - here I am in the home of some of the great art in the Western World - any what am I doing - checking out the La Pearla underwear section. No photos. Figure they might have busted me. And, as I said it was a very classy establishment.

An Apology to the Dutch. I was all set to have a nice rant about having to pay to pee. Then I realized that these people have universal health care and physician assisted suicide. For that I would cheerfully pay 50 cents to pee.

I suppose they consider our every man for himself health care system to be absolutely barbaric. And while we are on the subject - I have not seen a single ad for any prescription drugs on TV. Also, no ads for adult diapers. So, Holland. I apologize. But for 50 cents, I did expect the potty to be special!

No fine meals today. Had a chocolate tart and double espresso at the department store for lunch and cheese, bread and apple for dinner in the Vampire Garret.