Amsterdam, The Eternal Temptation

Amsterdam: miracles and temptations. Writing about Amsterdam is very easy, there's so much to tell. Writing about Amsterdam is very difficult, there is much to tell ... .. Where to begin? Amsterdam, everyday miracles. It is Sunday. One o'clock in the afternoon. In the Basilica of St. Nicholas, in front of Centraal Station in Amsterdam, was officiating at the Mass in Castilian as apostolic Roman rite. Usually visit the temple five hundred parishioners, included thirty children preparing for First Communion. Also attend some of the Latino transgender nights often encourage the city and tourists, those eternal confused and curious. We are all Spanish speakers, but not all legal residents in the Netherlands. At two o'clock, on the steps of the temple, opening a market that offers arepas, hand cheese, sausages, puddings, pies and sweets Creoles. Meeting, taste, friendship and news passed from mouth to mouth. In Amsterdam speaks English and the second language is Dutch or Dutch. In the third place we can put into Castilian. Unofficial statistics say that in Amsterdam there are over fifty bars, restaurants and shops where they speak Castilian, and also danced with passion sauce, reagatton, zouk, tango and flamenco.

Red, red, pink. Behind St. Nicholas or Sinterklaas, the patron saint of the city from the thirteenth century, is the Oudekerk, the old church of this saint who could not remove the alteration or reform at the end of the sixteenth century. Oudekerk The building is as old as Amsterdam. It was rebuilt many times, but kept the original location. Today is the heart of De Wallen, the red zone, the Red Light District, the famous windows. In Dutch the word Wallen signifcant fall into temptation. On one side is the Prostitution Oudekerk Information Center, PIC, a civil organization that provides information on the sexual services that are rendered in Amsterdam. The PIC is an initiative of the former prostitute Mariska Majoor Dutch. Its serene beauty combined with local offering erotic souvenirs, printed in several languages ​​and the valuable information provided by their experience. The center answers questions from those who wish to offer servicos sexual, and also those who may seek the curious, who have the desires under control but want to know the details.

Usually walking around a curvaceous blonde named Petra. She is president of the guild of prostitutes, the institution that fights in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and offers advice on legal and tax issues of these workers and freelancers. The windows where prostitutes work are on display seven days a week for the twenty-four hours. These stalls are rented by the hour in periods of 8 hours. There is a masonry pedestal where you put a mattress, a sink and toilet. The space only has the basics and cleaning is perfect but no luxury. In Amsterdam there are three red zones with this system, but the bulk of the offer is sex in clubs, apartments, private parties and of course the Internet. Oudekerk around, and next to the PIC, are located the black prostitutes. On the other side but hidden in the maze of streets cross, there twenties southern and eastern Europe. The bikinis are minimal, a chest that looks out free jumps out of the bodice. The attitude is provocative, even when one of these women expressed disdain or pretend not paying attention.

The wait is tense, they tend to stand very long challenging on the heels sitting on high stools or playing with different poses. There are closed doors ajar. Sometimes two professionals share a single post to see who comes alive with the task and with the price. Men prolong the conversation: There are many details that potential customers want to know. The eyes explore the anatomy and did not seem to Babel as many languages ​​are heard here. There are moments of peace in the streets when several of the booths closed its doors and extends the heavy red curtain that provides privacy and allows the agreement to start. There is a gap between the seven past five p.m., dinner, the only hot meal is usually taken in the Netherlands, and the time required for family reunification. Payment is in advance and in cash. The condom use is rigorous without exception. If there is any inconvenience the police arrive, which is always present with uniform officers if surveillance cameras located in the streets. Photos and videos in the red zone is prohibited. Are we all?

Or are all homos? Each year in the first week of August, without fail, is performed gay pride march in a parade the aquatic Prinsengracht, downtown on the banks of a canal which is the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam's busiest. The boat parade starts at noon and around Amsterdam is installed on the banks of the canal to enjoy the show of colors, ease, music, song and dance. In 2008, highlighted the flowers and fruits. The festivities start a week earlier and conclude a week later. They gays and lesbians from around the world and the boats are names of multinational companies that sponsor the parade of gay and lesbian employees. However, the Amsterdam gay population plus five percent, about forty thousand people. The holidays are public and all are welcome. Amsterdam-bye! In the ink run out of writing thousands of words related to the windmills, tulips, bicycles, cheese, wooden shoes, beer, diamonds, rock and roll, the day of the queen, marinated herring , the giant pancake, embroidered cloths, ships, architecture, and who knows what else.

Amsterdam was the city's medieval miracle of the year 1345 and for two hundred years attracted pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela style or Lourdes. After the Reformation was one hundred years of commercial splendor and in those years the historic town was built. Was the time of Rembrandt and his Jewish customers, the time of the pioneers of Myflower who met in the Noorderkerk, the time when the Huguenots were dreaming of the French Revolution. Amsterdam, today, is known only for sex, drugs and rock and roll.