Holy shit... so it's been a crazy seven months in this crazy place... and almost 15 kilos less (hahaa, and that's only fat-i don't dare count the amount of the green stuff ) might i mention.... but i'll tell any of you, if you want a good intensive ass-kicking that awakens all six of your physical (and spiritual, even mental) senses this is the place to come. if you have thousands saved and can stay at a five star marriot, good for you-but for those of you looking for a break from what we consider to be reality for a dose of something really fucking different, this is the place to come. ANYTHING is possible in this fucking city... not just geographically speaking because of it's central location (both globally and continentally speaking ;-) but because of the people, types of people, tribes of people that move through it continuously every year.... a few hundred years ago this was the Jerusalem of Europe with a predominantely Jewish population, with an old history of Jewish wealth and trade... thusly infused with a shitload of culture that much of the last two generations have forgotten completely (for the sake of adopting the less savoury, though more marketable American one)... I'll have to say that the majority of the kids here (anyone under 30, with the usual exceptions-a lot like the states, actually) arent worth the 150Euro Pumas they strut around in... but many of their parents, and especially grandparents, have some shit to talk about! if you've seen "Band of Brothers" or "Schindler's List" etc, you'll know what I'm talking about.... and these people SURVIVED! and they're the ones (their kids, mostly) that fought for many of the liberties locals and tourists alike get to enjoy now... THESE cool folks are the ones that make Amsterdam what it is, but are also the same people the city (and even national) government are trying to push out with insane property tax rates, and even a proposal to eliminate the rent limit (giving owners the right to jack up prices as HIGH AS THEY LIKE!).... this leaves older folks living off of the state and their own hard-earned pensions, further out of the city into old-model housing projects, or even further into the (cheaper) outlying villages.... and who might the government want this property for anyway? the high-priced, high-tech gismos and gadjets (and the people that make them and sell them) that seem to be polluting every sane corner of this damned planet.... So the Moral of this story is; that even though you escape one flavour of shit in the states there's a whole other smorgasbord awaiting you here, and if you can fight it out (i must say, i feel almost as though i am giving up) you come out completely changed (or scarred, as my kiwi-buddy Mark puts it, and he can talk, he's been here six years or something).... Good luck kids.... travel and exchange your ideas, and alter the consciousness of this planet, as this is the ONLY possible way for REAL change and REAL peace!!! :::::::::::::::Blessings:::::::::::::: Sweet Sangre P.S. I'm out on the 16th, so if you're here before then and want to hang out -maybe for new years or some shit-hit me up. wandering_boheme@yahoo.com
Well i am sorry to hear you are leaving. It was fun following you throughout your stay in Holland beginning with your pleas of salvation from that one dude to your later confidence; telling us where to shop and eat and smoke. Write down those stories the omas and opas told you. Soon they will be all gone. Take care and be good. And if you cant be good, have fun.
Yes, I too have read your A'dam threads and cheers for the insight and help, etc. I'm sure you have many stories to tell. Good stuff Sweet Sangria
hey boys.... hahahaaa, you guys are great.... yeah, i do have a lot of stories to tell, but it's gotten too cold, too poor and i really need some regular ass (and i don't trust anything here enough to even sniff ;-).... not to mention all my friends are home..... when you're broke here it's tough to make friends, and that's been the toughest, but leant a lot of chances for intense periods of insight.... now, i go to Cali (YAY!) in about two weeks and will work to pay off the good person that is saving my ass, then become a WWOOFer (www.wwoof.org) and go work on some organic farms in cali (maybe elsewhere in the states)..... but mostly to get away from this nipple-crystalizing-cold and get some REAL sunshine for a bit.... hahahaaaa maufman.... are you single? can we hook up? you're cool ;-)
