La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I remember being in Amsterdam (the Netherlands, not New York) for the first time in the early 1970s. (I had previously been in Amsterdam, New York, for the first time.) One night, I stumbled upon the Red Light District. I was a fairly innocent 20-year-old, who wouldn’t come out of the closet for another 7 years, and I found the women in windows fascinating. It wasn’t such a tourist attraction at that time.
Yesterday, here in Fuengirola, I passed a nearby hotel that has a sunbathing area above street level overlooking the Paseo. The sunbathers are behind glass and what I saw this time reminded me of Amsterdam’s Red Light District. I wonder if I should have knocked on the windows and asked prices.
Speaking of memories of Amsterdam and innocence: One night, I was returning very late to my hotel from my friend’s apartment at 6 Prins Hendrikkade. While I waited for the tram, I was tired and leaned against a traffic-light post with one foot propped on it. A very handsome “older” man (he must have been at least 35) walked by and gave me the once, and twice, over. I immediately knew what he saw and my mind went into panic mode. My posture changed. I turned away. I realized my pose made me look like I was on-the-make. My fashion sense didn’t help. Brown denim bell bottoms. A beige “cowboy” style shirt with a green yoke, the rage at the time. Marshmallow shoes. Someplace else I might have just looked trendy. Against that post and after midnight, I looked like I rented by the hour. I can still remember the ready and willing look on that handsome guy’s face and how his expression and pace changed when he saw me panic. If I knew then some of what I know now… I probably wouldn’t be alive.
On an entirely different subject: I sat in the hall yesterday afternoon so the cats could explore. A little bird landed on an outside windowsill and the cats were obsessed. This morning after their treats they both sat by the door demanding to be let out.
Recuerdo haber estado en Ámsterdam (Países Bajos, no Nueva York) por primera vez a principios de los años setenta. (Ya había estado en Ámsterdam, Nueva York, por primera vez). Una noche me topé con el Barrio Rojo. Yo era una chica de 20 años bastante inocente, que no saldría del armario hasta dentro de 7 años, y las mujeres de las ventanas me parecían fascinantes.
Ayer, aquí en Fuengirola, pasé por un hotel cercano que tiene una zona para tomar el sol sobre el nivel de la calle con vistas al Paseo. Los bañistas están detrás de un cristal y lo que vi esta vez me recordó al Barrio Rojo de Ámsterdam. Me pregunto si debería haber llamado a las ventanas y preguntar precios.
Hablando de recuerdos de Ámsterdam y de la inocencia: una noche regresaba muy tarde a mi hotel desde el apartamento de mi amigo en el número 6 de Prins Hendrikkade. Mientras esperaba el tranvía, estaba cansado y me recosté contra un poste del semáforo con un pie apoyado en él. Un hombre “mayor” muy guapo (debía tener al menos 35 años) pasó y me miró una y dos veces. Inmediatamente supe lo que vio y mi mente entró en pánico. Mi postura cambió. Me di la vuelta. Me di cuenta de que mi pose me hacía parecer como si estuviera en proceso. Mi sentido de la moda no ayudó. Pantalón campana denim color marrón. Una camisa beige estilo “cowboy” con canesú verde, furor en aquella época. Zapatos de malvavisco. En otro lugar podría haber lucido a la moda. Contra ese poste y pasada la medianoche, parecía que había alquilado por horas. Todavía puedo recordar la mirada dispuesta y dispuesta en el rostro de ese chico guapo y cómo su expresión y ritmo cambiaron cuando me vio entrar en pánico. Si supiera algo de lo que sé ahora… probablemente no estaría vivo.
Hablando de un tema completamente diferente: ayer por la tarde me senté en el pasillo para que los gatos pudieran explorar. Un pajarito se posó en el alféizar de una ventana exterior y los gatos quedaron obsesionados. Esta mañana, después de sus delicias, ambos se sentaron junto a la puerta exigiendo que los dejaran salir.
• That’s where I could have gotten off.
• Mi “esquina.”
• Con mi padre en Luxemburgo. Nunca nos llevamos tan bien como en ese viaje. El outfit pero con zuecos.
• De regreso a Ámsterdam después de pasar tiempo con la familia. Llevo los zapatos de malvavisco.
• ¿¡¿Lo ves?!?
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Every photo a treat! And a story to chuckle by 🙂
Judy C:
It was fun to put together.
Great kitty pix! Though at times I tried my best, I was never mistaken for a rent-boy. Alas…
wickedhamster:
It was the clothes!
Funny in retrospect! But a bit nerve wracking at the time. Sez boud
Boud:
I was shaken and so, clearly, was the other guy. But what a memory.
A couple of museums in Amsterdam are on the list for next spring’s adventure.
David:
The best museum experiences. What a city!
Looks like we were both busy looking at beach and pool eye candy!!!
Been to Amsterdam twice. Adore it!!! My friend wants to celebrate his 50th birthday when it hots in two years. So another trip might be in the works.
But I know nothing about the red light district of course.
Mistress Borghese:
Of course… We would love to get back. One of these days. It’s an easy trip from here.
I’ve never heard of “marshmallow shoes,” so I’m glad you included a picture. They’re not quite what I was imagining — big and white and rounded!
I’ve often had a similar thought about being young and naive. If I hadn’t been that way, reacting defensively to most pick-up attempts, I might have had more fun but I might not be alive now. It’s a strange thought.
Steve:
I loved those shoes and I remember them being very comfortable. Most of the guys I knew who were much more “wordly” are dead. I think about that often.
Oh, Amsterdam! My fave city on earth (bar London) – and we’ll be there again in seven weeks…
Once I finally came out at 21, I was far too busy giving it away to be a rent boy 😇😇😇 – especially in the ‘Dam. For years, I practically lived in Thermos Day and Thermos Night saunas off Leidseplein. As for the Red Light District, the gay hotel we stay in is right in the middle of it! Jx
PS Those cats are hilarious…
Jon:
We both love Amsterdam. Another visit is long overdue.
Funny how naive we were back then. What a funny experience it was for you!
Wondering what the cats would do if they actually did come face to face with a bird……
Jim:
Dudo caught and killed one and caught another which we managed to save. One of the reasons for the glass curtain; it keeps the birds out.
In 1969 February to be exact, I and 50 other university students chartered a plane to The Netherlands to explore many business corporations etc. So we ended up in Amsterdam at the end of the trip ~ Dam Square + red light district. I knew that this was going to be an eye-opener evening for sure. This was part of my “coming out” in life which came to fruition 3 years later (Hey Jim I’m talking about you 😉 ! ) to do so.
ron troke:
1969. The year of Woodstock!
I’ve enjoyed catching up on your posts. I am still quite under the weather and looking forward to the day the Covid haze ends. I had marshmallow shows too!
Michael:
Oh, thank you for knowing marshmallow shoes! My Covid haze lasted about 3 weeks. I hope your feeling better very soon.
I look back at my youth and I am absolutely stunned that I am still alive. I’m not even kidding.
Never had a cowboy shirt or marshmallow shoes, though.
Those two pictures of Dudo and Moose are calendar worthy.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
When I think back to some of the decisions I made (or just let happen) it’s amazing I’m still here. Wilma from Belize suggested an animated GIF of those two pics. It didn’t dawn on me.
I also made my first visit to Amsterdam in the early 70s, as a teenager. I was much more impressed with the idea of legal marijuana than by the red light district.
Is that the sock equivalent of a tattoo sleeve on that guy?
Kelly:
A tattoo sock! I love it. I’ll just buy a cotton-polyester pair. It’s funny that, although I was a pot smoker, I never did so in Amsterdam.
I love The Boys staring up at the window, but when they turn and are looking directly at me, I get The Twins in The Shining and now I’m scared!
Bob:
The boys do give that The Shining Twins look often.
You made me think of the movie Midnight Cowboy, though that didn’t take place in Amsterdam.
Kirk:
Yep, that was on my mind, too. Thankfully, I’m nothing like John Voigt.
Like Kirk, I will think of this story as your “Midnight Cowboy” moment!
Debra:
Just think of me as Joe Buck (before Jon Voigt proved himself to be such a jerk).
I’ve never been to Europe but your story reminds me of watching TV shows documenting what goes on Nevada brothels.
I was maybe seventeen ot eighteen watching it but it was incredibly fascinating.
I had never had a girlfriend at the time, thought I was unattractive, so the idea of going to a place like that was appealing on that aspect. Especially the lineup that they would tease on these shows.
Never been to Nevada at the end of the day to experience that myself. But it was a fantasy for a young me, lol.
Adam:
Heidi Fleiss was supposed to open a gay men’s brothel about 15 or so years ago in Pahrump, Nevada. I was very curious, but it never materialised.
up to no good, that’s certain !
Urspo:
I hope they make some good money.
I tried to start an only fans page…several men offered me money to shut it down. *smirk*
Sassybear:
Ooh, a new way to make some money. Get them to pay you to stop doing it. However, that would never happen in your case!