Netherlands - F.T. Burke

I start walking through the maze of streets, canals, little market stores, humanity moving in all directions everywhere―tourists, sailors, beautiful women, locals, prostitutes, and the ever-present hippy brethren. (Wanderer, page 36)

Canals are everywhere in Amsterdam. I’m going to take a short canal boat ride through the maze of canals. I take a seat and look out on the waterway. The traffic on the canals is just as busy as the streets. We glide at a slithering pace as I wave to some people in a passing canal boat and they wave back. This is cool. What a place to be. (Wanderer, page 36)

Amsterdam is a vibrant port. I notice groups of sailors all making their way down some narrow streets. (Wanderer, page 36)

Amsterdam Aerial Panorama

I decide to leave the night club and saunter through the city. The air is soft and warm. I walk in meditation along the swiftly moving streets. I feel the flow of the city like it is a gentle stream. I sit by a canal that leads out to the Amstel River, and watch the soothing flow of the waterway. My state of mind is at the stoner level once again. (Wanderer, page 47)

Amstel River at night

Paradiso

The leader of the Hog Farmers is Hugh Romney. What a killer-diller of a guy. He’s a clown prankster leading the show. I hear his new name is Wavy Gravy, coined by B.B. King. (Wanderer, page 51)

I’m soaking up a little culture as I walk through the Rijksmuseum―the National Art Museum of the Netherlands. (Wanderer, page 43)

I’ve seen about two dozen Rembrandts in here. The Night Watch. The stunning beauty of artistry is everywhere. (Wanderer, page 43)

Tram

Train Station

I decide to walk to the train station, which is near the hotel. The train station is shut tight, no access till the morning. I notice a band of five desperadoes sitting in front of a little café trailer parked in front of the train station. They are all huddled together as it is getting cold. I can feel the winter nip is coming. (Wanderer, page 53)

What a freak scene, just a different day. Wow! People really enjoy themselves in an unrestrained hedonistic way. Just going near the red light district can be too much at times. It’s like I’ve entered some naughty paradise. I choose to pass up the revelry opportunity this time, and keep on moving down the streets of Amsterdam. (Wanderer, page 44)

Susan obliges my request by writing her information on a bar napkin. We walk out of the bar into the hotel lobby and share a small embrace with a passionate soft kiss. Then she goes off to the female side of the hotel, as I turn to look for my room on my side of the building. (Wanderer, page 49)

Dam Square

We get off the trolley as it crosses the Amstel River from the Old City, walking just a few blocks to the big Gate and we are at the huge Brick Brewery. (Wanderer, page 45)

Heineken Beer

Rijksmuseum Exterior

Rijksmuseum – Outdoor Chess

I hear the crescendos of whooping and hollering and vulgar carrying on from the mass of shipmates. I decide to follow along to see what has all of them so jacked up. Within blocks of the port and train station is the famous Red Light District. It is legal for prostitutes to sell their services out in the open here. (Wanderer, page 36)

The young lady of the night proceeds to take off her negligée. Now she stands before us in her window wearing just a bra and panties. Her crowd of onlookers has increased exponentially it seems, as I find myself squeezed in tight with the other fellas. (Wanderer, page 37)

I stop to view a lady of the night in her window, along with several rambunctious seamen. The beautiful buxom brunette plays to her audience. She wears a silky black see-through negligée that reveals her bra and panties, as she stands and poses in her three-inch, black high-heel pumps. (Wanderer, page 37)

I hear the crescendos of whooping and hollering and vulgar carrying on from the mass of shipmates. I decide to follow along to see what has all of them so jacked up. Within blocks of the port and train station is the famous Red Light District. It is legal for prostitutes to sell their services out in the open here. (Wanderer, page 36)

I look in through the picture window and see her bedroom. The prostitute then closes her curtains and turns off her red light. She is busy at work right now. The crowd dissipates as guys look for new sights to see. (Wanderer, page 37)

We walk the few blocks to the establishment. Glen breaks out some hash and I supply the pipe. We toke a few times before entering The Paradiso. (Wanderer, page 57)

Later in the day, as early evening comes, I’m ready for my night out at The Paradiso. Upon entering the establishment I immediately notice The Hog Farm, a commune from the States who have hit the road. (Wanderer, page 50)

I walk to the nearby train station and get a ticket to Oostende, Belgium. The short train ride allows me to escape Amsterdam with half my sanity still intact―hopefully. (Wanderer, page 62)