is is just me, dislike of warmoesstraat and red light d'
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cattales1960
- Posts: 2975
- Joined: Sun 25th Jun 2006 06:20 pm
- Location: Saint Louis MO
what do you think miss cattales1960?
What do you think about a thread for girls/women?
Where is good
where is dangerous,
where to avoid blokes hitting on you,
women friendly gay coffeeshops/bars etc?
Lesbian bars (I am straight but I am sure gay women would appreciate it)
dos and don'ts buying drugs bla bla bla
The first time I came with a girlfriend, about 7 years ago, on our own when we had just turned 20 and it was very different to coming with my 6'4 boyfriend. There were some places which we felt super safe (conscious dreams - trying every box of mushroom shop had - the guy said he never saw anyone take that many shrooms, lol)
and others where the warning bells rang and we legged it (my friend insisted on going some some French guys squat while we were tripping but it turned out to be a heroin den which gave me a panick so I made her leave with me...) there has to be a line not to cross somewhere... no?
These are quite obvious but I am sure others have good stories.
Would it be a bit much on this male orientated site?
We were on Warmerstraat in the meeting point which is one of the dirtiest places I have been. A single sex dorm makes a huge difference smell wise. Also the Meeting point bed had bed bugs and I was covered from head to toe in painful bites. Rank.
Any hoo tell me what you think.
(48 hours to go)
xx:idea: xx
Where is good
where is dangerous,
where to avoid blokes hitting on you,
women friendly gay coffeeshops/bars etc?
Lesbian bars (I am straight but I am sure gay women would appreciate it)
dos and don'ts buying drugs bla bla bla
The first time I came with a girlfriend, about 7 years ago, on our own when we had just turned 20 and it was very different to coming with my 6'4 boyfriend. There were some places which we felt super safe (conscious dreams - trying every box of mushroom shop had - the guy said he never saw anyone take that many shrooms, lol)
and others where the warning bells rang and we legged it (my friend insisted on going some some French guys squat while we were tripping but it turned out to be a heroin den which gave me a panick so I made her leave with me...) there has to be a line not to cross somewhere... no?
These are quite obvious but I am sure others have good stories.
Would it be a bit much on this male orientated site?
We were on Warmerstraat in the meeting point which is one of the dirtiest places I have been. A single sex dorm makes a huge difference smell wise. Also the Meeting point bed had bed bugs and I was covered from head to toe in painful bites. Rank.
Any hoo tell me what you think.
(48 hours to go)
xx:idea: xx
Mrs Peel
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cattales1960
- Posts: 2975
- Joined: Sun 25th Jun 2006 06:20 pm
- Location: Saint Louis MO
lol msled.. I went through this also when I first got on here and wondered where all the women are. Well they are here I found out and some very cool ladies I might add. A womans site would be ok. I would post there. I know what you mean about the woman going there with another woman. Thats how I did it last year and it rocked. me and my girlfriend.
I need a miracle everyday
Cool cool, I meant a thread here on this site as it is by far the best coffeeshop review site.
We could start a new thread in one of the categories for women, because at the end of the day it is a totally different ball game travelling for women.
What do you think? I would be interested to see if the smoking reviews are the same or not. Just another view that is all. I don't want to ostrasize anyone though.
I DID NOT MEAN MAKE ANOTHER SITE MR LEMMING SIR.
XX
We could start a new thread in one of the categories for women, because at the end of the day it is a totally different ball game travelling for women.
What do you think? I would be interested to see if the smoking reviews are the same or not. Just another view that is all. I don't want to ostrasize anyone though.
I DID NOT MEAN MAKE ANOTHER SITE MR LEMMING SIR.
XX
Mrs Peel
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cattales1960
- Posts: 2975
- Joined: Sun 25th Jun 2006 06:20 pm
- Location: Saint Louis MO
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islandgurl
- Posts: 1222
- Joined: Tue 30th Jan 2007 04:20 pm
- Location: Got my toes in the water, ass in the sand.
what if I like calling girls Sir?Lemming wrote:Actually, there are lots more girls here than it might appear. It's not always obvious from their names. Feel free to start a thread for all of the women to introduce themselves though.
I like that, now she's met me, Cat no longer feels the need to call me "sir"
I thought you were a boy.Sweet. Am chuckling away in bed with a massive cold I picked up on the way back from Dam, but arrived home to some rhino and sour diesel so can't complain too much.
only just seen this msg, even after all those emails. ho ho.
Mrs Peel
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cattales1960
- Posts: 2975
- Joined: Sun 25th Jun 2006 06:20 pm
- Location: Saint Louis MO
back to the topic:
I too have quickly tired from the RLD experience. While I can "deal" with the hobos and pushers both physically and otherwise, I find it tiring to be harassed by these folks. It makes it worse that I usually travel alone, which makes them zero in it seems. While its nothing traumatic, I have noticed they seem imho to be getting more aggressive/grabby -- that is not my thing and to avoid punching some guy out I tend to jut avoid the area, especially the bridges.
Hobos aside, the retail/food/sights in the RLD leave lots to be desired. What isn't downright cheap and gimmicky is utterly sleazy (and i consider myself to have pretty unique tastes). To me, crass and misogynistic does not equal sexy or exotic, the same thing goes for touristy and disposable.
The coffeeshops down there I could take or leave, having experienced much more enjoyable shops elsewhere in AMS and NL.
Overall, it's a good thing to see a couple times for the experience but definitely not reflective of NL or its culture or the other good things AMS has to offer. And, please, don't call me a prude -- I like plenty of wild and crazy places but I don't like the idea of a commercialized "adults only" playground with aggressive bums and hard drugs, etc.
I too have quickly tired from the RLD experience. While I can "deal" with the hobos and pushers both physically and otherwise, I find it tiring to be harassed by these folks. It makes it worse that I usually travel alone, which makes them zero in it seems. While its nothing traumatic, I have noticed they seem imho to be getting more aggressive/grabby -- that is not my thing and to avoid punching some guy out I tend to jut avoid the area, especially the bridges.
Hobos aside, the retail/food/sights in the RLD leave lots to be desired. What isn't downright cheap and gimmicky is utterly sleazy (and i consider myself to have pretty unique tastes). To me, crass and misogynistic does not equal sexy or exotic, the same thing goes for touristy and disposable.
The coffeeshops down there I could take or leave, having experienced much more enjoyable shops elsewhere in AMS and NL.
Overall, it's a good thing to see a couple times for the experience but definitely not reflective of NL or its culture or the other good things AMS has to offer. And, please, don't call me a prude -- I like plenty of wild and crazy places but I don't like the idea of a commercialized "adults only" playground with aggressive bums and hard drugs, etc.
Live everyday.
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cattales1960
- Posts: 2975
- Joined: Sun 25th Jun 2006 06:20 pm
- Location: Saint Louis MO
Interesting thread which I have only just read 
I agree with most things said about the RLD but I still love it and the atmopshere....maybe not as much as a few years ago - not sure if I have changed or the area itself. The coffeeshops are not the greatest but it does have a couple of special ones in The Coin and Old Church which are both great for a quiet smoke before a look at the ladies. Others like Baba and Sheeba maybe over priced but are still nice places to hang out for a short time or just take a quick 'rest stop' after walking.
I have stayed in the Greenhouse Effect Hotel twice before and the Old Nickel (which is pretty much on Warmoesstraat) and had no problems with either as far as noise or trouble.....the only noise I found a pain was the street cleaners at 8am - but I found that staying just opposite Pink Floyd too!
As for pickpockets, I have never had any trouble but am pretty good at keeping valuables in an inside or zipped pocket. And street dealers are actually quite funny (or at least an experience), can get annoying especially if they continue to speak to them but they only pick on easy vulnerable targets so I found strong confident words usually work in getting them to pester someone else, if it comes to that.
I tend to bump into the Kurt Cobain-looking homeless guy a lot (or Kurt Cobain on a bad day at least!) who is a pain in the ass as if you talk to him you will get him hassling you - and if you ignore him, he tends to gets angry and abusive. But like I said strong, confident and loud words have always got him away from me.
Either way, I look forward to a few more excursions in the RLD to come! But I have to agree that the rest of the city is a lot more pleasent and relaxing.
I agree with most things said about the RLD but I still love it and the atmopshere....maybe not as much as a few years ago - not sure if I have changed or the area itself. The coffeeshops are not the greatest but it does have a couple of special ones in The Coin and Old Church which are both great for a quiet smoke before a look at the ladies. Others like Baba and Sheeba maybe over priced but are still nice places to hang out for a short time or just take a quick 'rest stop' after walking.
I have stayed in the Greenhouse Effect Hotel twice before and the Old Nickel (which is pretty much on Warmoesstraat) and had no problems with either as far as noise or trouble.....the only noise I found a pain was the street cleaners at 8am - but I found that staying just opposite Pink Floyd too!
As for pickpockets, I have never had any trouble but am pretty good at keeping valuables in an inside or zipped pocket. And street dealers are actually quite funny (or at least an experience), can get annoying especially if they continue to speak to them but they only pick on easy vulnerable targets so I found strong confident words usually work in getting them to pester someone else, if it comes to that.
I tend to bump into the Kurt Cobain-looking homeless guy a lot (or Kurt Cobain on a bad day at least!) who is a pain in the ass as if you talk to him you will get him hassling you - and if you ignore him, he tends to gets angry and abusive. But like I said strong, confident and loud words have always got him away from me.
Either way, I look forward to a few more excursions in the RLD to come! But I have to agree that the rest of the city is a lot more pleasent and relaxing.
~ Is that a grinder in your pocket? ~
I have only been to the RLD a few times in all my visits to Amsterdam over the years. It is sordid and touristy but no worse than some areas of Soho and there are interesting places to visit there.
Those times have been mainly to visit the Old Church (has a great World Press Photography exhibition at the moment) or the Amstelkring Museum (hidden Catholic Church in the attic of a canalhouse).
The other day our Dutch relatives took us to a really old bar on Zeedijk called T' Aepgen or "in the Monkeys". Apparently the name comes from "a time when sailors, some of whom couldn't pay their bill, paid with monkeys brought back from the Dutch East Indies. The monkeys, often infested with fleas, passed these onto the customers." It was great, full of locals having a beer and a chat, not a seedy tourist trap at all.
Those times have been mainly to visit the Old Church (has a great World Press Photography exhibition at the moment) or the Amstelkring Museum (hidden Catholic Church in the attic of a canalhouse).
The other day our Dutch relatives took us to a really old bar on Zeedijk called T' Aepgen or "in the Monkeys". Apparently the name comes from "a time when sailors, some of whom couldn't pay their bill, paid with monkeys brought back from the Dutch East Indies. The monkeys, often infested with fleas, passed these onto the customers." It was great, full of locals having a beer and a chat, not a seedy tourist trap at all.
