http://www.youtube.com/v/ZpZbWgg2ZMM&hl=en&fs=1&hd=1
All right, that got a little bit wetter than expected. The day started out dreary, a shameful break from the lovely weather we've had for the last few weeks, but nothing that could upset the people of Amsterdam. Music played everywhere, the trains were packed.
As always it was quite the chore to find a decent spot from which to actually see the parade boats, but even when they were blocked from view by houseboats along the canals and vast throngs of people with umbrellas, there was still plenty to see and hear to get into the spirit of things.<!--more-->
Sadly the rain only intensified and we decided to head home. Some chores needed doing at home before the boyfriend's dad comes to visit tomorrow, and we're not really partygoers either, so we skipped on the myriad street parties that popped up left and right like mushrooms. Some of them discretely served mushrooms, come to think of it.
Still, the craic was good and the spirits high, and seeing that diversity made me proud of my city. In the stretch of two minutes' walk after leaving the station I overheard conversations in Korean, Greek, Swedish, French, Hebrew and Arabic, and those were only the ones I stood a half-decent chance of identifying by sound. Old folks wrapped their grandkids in ponchos before hoisting them onto their shoulders to wave at transvestites on stilts, who gave them flowers and candy in return.
The parade boats were ingenious and colorful and filled with people of all ages and inclinations who didn't seem to notice the chilly rain nearly as much as us oglers on the sides of the canals. The police (pink in blue!) and army (pink in green!) were represented, most of them in uniform. The mayor of Amsterdam endured substantial fussing by drag queens, and there were plenty of pretty dull boats with just ordinary people enjoying some music,
Wet though it might have been, I'm thoroughly pleased we went out. Time for a shower :)
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