Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: ?February1970: Amsterdam, Holland: They Will Tear You Apart in the Red-Light District

Dear Barb:

Well its caught up with me all this cold and damp weather as I awoke with a sore throat, a cough with a headache. For a change it is a beautiful sunny day. I went downstairs and had three cups of coffee and returned to the room.

I have tickets to the symphony this afternoon. I went last night again. On Wednesday I am seeing the ballet “Giselle” with Margaret Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev. On the 16^th there is a Bach organ recital in the big concert hall and I will see that one too.  I should have stayed in a hotel near all these cultural events as I spend most of my time there. That guidebook on Amsterdam is very helpful as I consult it planning my excursions. It tells what streetcars to take to get to destinations. Clothes and purses are cheap here but not like Spain. It is tempting but I would rather spend my money on concerts. I will go for a stroll and buy some oranges and chocolate should I have to stay inside all day.

Love Mum

I went out and this is what I got for $4.38. Three huge bottles of Coca-Cola, 2 large bottles of grapefruit juice, one orange juice, three bottles of Heineken , a plate of white asparagus with a twist cap (15 cents each) half a pound of meat salad, a large pack of mints (to suck during the concert), two packs of gum and two large soft buns to eat with the salad. The store was beautiful with rows and rows of salad. I would like to eat them all. I put the stuff outside my window as it is the same as a refrigerator. I’m coming home after the symphony and will go to bed as I am feeling so lousy. I will have a beer, salad and asparagus in bed. Tomorrow I will go to the second and bookshop and buy some books.

I am glad I came here but I wished I had someone to talk to like I did in Spain. I just can’t sit alone in the hotel bar! The Dutch are more reserved than the Spaniards. They certainly stare at you but don’t talk. I am used to the currency here now. I am spending money here like water especially on the concerts. They ae so much cheaper than Montreal and I love them. I was to go the flea market today but feel so lousy. I am now going out to find a bookshop.

This is a perfect hotel for me as it is in the centre of town. I can walk to most of the main attractions and it is just a few minutes walk to the streetcar. Please do keep my letters.

I bought a green long sleeved wool seater with a V Neck in Spain and wear it most days. It is comfortable and warm.

I am going out to wander around a bit. There is so much to see I wish I had someone with me to share it with.

I tried a few times the different gins that the Dutch drink straight and there are different colours. Ugh. I can never finish them. But it makes one warm in this cold and damp weather. There has been a knock at my door twice. I guess they want to come in and clean so I will finish this later

Later

I took a walk this morning and nearly froze as I was wearing shoes and not boots. Here in Amsterdam the weather is different each day. The worst is when it is windy and raw. I just missed the tram on way home but am now safe and warm in my room trying to thaw out. I did visit a grocery store. The vegetables are cut up and ready to cook. Trays of chopped carrots, onion, parsley, cabbage-everything. Two big Coca-Colas were 28 cents and here in the hotel one small one would cost 28 cents. Six oranges were 28 cents lovely and big. No fruit comes with these Dutch breakfasts.

The hotel is in a middle-class district and I will tell you more about it when I come home. God help me Barbara I am frozen. I should buy a bottle of booze for such occasions. I went to the Dutch people’s home as they had invited me. They were so shy and the kids were cute. We had some really good coffee and an apple pastry she made with chocolate. They took me home and we went through the red-light district. Awful. They sit in the window with sort of a spooky blue light on them in low cut dresses and some standing outside in red slacks holding umbrellas up. I had wandered down there the other day and didn’t know where I was. I felt uncomfortable and everyone seemed to be staring. Something told me I shouldn’t be there It is funny that I knew that inside. My host said it was not safe there especially for young girls..never never go down there. The women would tear you apart.

Love Mum