August 08, 2004
saturday afternoon
A lazy Saturday afternoon was spent walking around Amsterdam, criss-srossing the path of the Pride Parade. Jacob not being one to stand for being stationary for long periods we took a preambulating approach to the Parade. Combined with some window-shopping in the '9-straatjes' and a pit-stop at one of our favourite brown cafes, we wound up the afternoon in a very relaxed manner on Frans Hals straat with Jacob asleep under the trees and us sitting back enjoying some relaxed people-watching and the odd cooling beer or glass of wine.
Around the parade this year has been much discussion of Amsterdam's losing ground as the Gay Capital of Europe. It is grumbled that Barcelona, Paris, London, Berlin have not only become more attractive destinations for gay tourists but are also actively pursuing the "gay dollar", something that the City of Amsterdam in its latest bid to distance itself from the sleaze-tourist is reluctant to do. It seems somehow that to promote yourself as a cultural destination precludes promoting yourself to gay travellers? And the medal for blind optimism must go to the guy who made the observation that while people might be going to London for the parties and the music, Amsterdam still has the "gezelligheid"!
Posted by Faith | TrackBack