Gotham

Amsterdam.

Someone get the Bat signal, this place needs help.

Drugs, prostitutes, cold, faulty architecture, and neon lights.

It makes Vegas look like Barney and friends

It's like the adult disney land. I

constantly felt like i was on a movie set, (for one reason or another).

the city is a sick twist of Sin and Beauty. all things that attract mankind and make double takes. No one frowns upon anything here. they look the other way, or take a hit.

If you ask me, It's like Venice, Just it's evil cousin.

the Canal system makes for a weak foundation throughout the city. Buildings lean and twist, as if they reflect the evil things that happen on the street below.

Before i left for Europe i spoke with my neighbor who is dutch.

"Go to Amsterdam, everything you hear is true"

It didn't take long for me to realize that statement is true.

Walk in to any of the hundreds of coffee shops in Amsterdam and you'll find every one to be different, but with the same purpose. Walk through haze of Marijuana smoke, the man behind the bar hands you a menu.

This is your drug dealer.

Now please choose from the menu. White Widow? Purple Haze? O.G. Kush? or will a "Space Brownie" do the job today?

Maybe the coffee shop isn't your "cup of tea". Don't worry, in Amsterdam they have one for you, literally.

Make your way into a "Smart shop," Neon Mushrooms and alien signs will lead you there. Amsterdam doesn't condone taking hard drugs, but here you can find the "soft ones". Magic Mushrooms, Salvia, XTC, Ephedrine, pills and drinks derived from poppy and coca leaves. Many of these smart shops have a back room filled with couches, tables, strange paintings, and graffiti. The shop owner will look at you and say,

"You can trip here, if you like."

Red Lights.

Hundreds of giant white Swans fill the canal that separates the Red light streets. Walking up one way makes you no more a saint than strolling down the other. Maybe these swans are here because i hear that for every good there is a bad. Maybe the swans are an attempt to balance out the things that happen between those red drawn curtains. Women Tap the glass, blow a kiss and wave a finger to come inside. A glass door opens and a man walks out with his belt undone, and his coat unzipped. Another, here, there, but they all look straight down.

The scene is something straight out of hell as black umbrellas make their way down the river Styx.

It was a great vacation. Definitely the darkest place i have ever been. It was something like what i would think an acid trip would be like... Who needs drugs when you can go to amsterdam? fortunately for some, you can get them there. It was A real eye opener to see how different the world can be. It was strange to see every rule i'd ever learned have no meaning. 180 degrees from where i'm from originally. now i'm off to make a Tim Burton movie.

Check out My Work at www.Austinlarson.com