Last weekend was Pride Weekend in the gayest city in the world. On a spur of the moment idea about a month ago, we decided it's time for the Purples to visit Amsterdam. For this mission we recruited Nunzi the Canterbury Cowboy, Pretty in Pink who came all the way from Finland, and a sweet French baby-dyke, so sweet she'll make your teeth hurt. After a couple of days walking around Brussels with PiP and Nunzi (a little shopping, a little culture, a little creme brule), it was finally time. First thing Saturday morning, our merry little group headed north on the train to Sin City.
The parade started at 14:00, and we had just over two hours to burn after getting there. So we browsed through a gay bookshop, went into another shop looking for toys, had lunch in a cafe, and finally started following the scantily clad boys and the sleeveless shirted baggy panted dykes (and leather strapped men and drag queens and pink wigs and old fags and aging dyke couples and dogs with rainbow flags etc. etc.).
So we found a spot on the canal (the parade there is on boats), and for the next two hours watched an array of boats made up in a Rembrandt theme (some more Rembrandty than others..). Each boat had loud music (one even played Diva). Most had half naked men on them (to the delight and frustration of the straight PiP). The canals were full of little boats tied to the shores, with little picnic groups, happy families drinking and watching. And loads of people everywhere - on the street, on bridges, on the side of the canal, in boats. Maybe when you don't have a political agenda anymore, the parade can just be a huge fun party for everyone to take part in - gay, straight, et al.
After the parade we aimed towards the women's street party. While the rest were fueling up during the day with gin and beer, finally a coffee shop for yours truly, and the walk continued. In front of the street party we settled down for a bit of bird watching. One joint shared with the Cowboy was enough to send my out-of-shape mind off, half detached from the surroundings, staring at the lovely ladies all around.
As we carried on walking, we caught up with some of the parade boats, and some old fashioned music acts, which inspired wifey and PiP into a wild waltz in the middle of the streets, which in turn inspired me to fall for the wife all over again.
And so, after ten hours of fun and games, we were back on the train. Tired and satisfied, we finally came home (to a very ecstatic dog). Pretty in Pink left bright and early Sunday morning, and we had the whole day to waste with the Brit, which we did very efficiently - watching the entire 1st season of Sugar Rush. On Monday morning the missus was back to work, and Nunzi the Cowboy was on her way back to Cants to pursue her new-found hippie lifestyle.
All in all, a fabulous weekend!
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