Good Tuesday readers! I have just returned from a fleeting trip to Amsterdam over the weekend. My motive for going was for the Gay Pride festivities taking place from the 6th to the 8th and introducing another friend to the brilliant atmosphere that goes hand in hand with the festival.

I’ve been to Gay Pride before, I was probably about 13 and it was a gloriously sunny weekend, where we used trees to shelter from the heat while watching the amazing procession of decorated boats, blaring out music and involving the audience in simple, but oh so affective dance routines. Crowds literally line the main river of the ‘show’, if you get there late, you’re not going to see anything but peoples heads, unless you have the advantage of a riverside flat.

This weekend, that was the plan. However, with the one week back in June greedily hogging all the sunshine, this weekend turned out to be a very rainy one.
Nevertheless, we made our way to the river – successfully navigating our little map – on Saturday afternoon, to be greeted with crowds upon crowds. We found a nook under a tree, nestled in between bikes that line the streets we stood our ground and watched between others’ heads as the parade began.
If you’ve never been before, I can’t begin to describe the atmosphere and effort that goes into the boats with enough flair, this is an annual event, and they go all out. If the weather is nice it’s an amazing day, and while the rain didn’t hold the procession back, I have to admit that it did have more of a vibe when the sun was shining. Here are a few of my favourites;

I would make a point to go next year if you haven’t been before. Whether you’re gay or straight, whether it’s glorious whether or chucking it down – you’re going to have a good time. There is something going on somewhere every day of the weekend, it’s just up to you to track it down.

Another highlight of the weekend was the House of Bols. Bols is a flavoured liqueur that is served and sold in the UK, but is a little rare and probably unheard of by most (I only know it because we serve it in my club). From a well placed sponsor on the map, we tracked it down and ventured inside. For just 10euros you get a trip to the Bols museum, to learn as many facts about Bols as you can squeeze in (admittedly the museum section is rather short. I think there is 3 rooms total) plus sample each flavour by scent.

We were presented with a corridor lined with bottles, all attached to a vaporizer, you’re meant to guess the flavour, then lift the corresponding flap to learn what it actually is! We sniffed each one and chose our favourites. Then made our way into a night club esque room, by which I mean, a sofa, with ceiling to floor television screens of people dancing and sipping cocktails. It was rather surreal, and at the same time completely mesmerizing.

To finish off the ‘tour’ you get a complimentary cocktail, which you can chose via a computer and print the recipe to take home, you also get two ‘tastes’ which are shots of whichever flavour takes your fancy, then a further discounted cocktail if you want it. That’s the limit though… My Amsterdam cousin had previously said that her friends had taken advantage of the ‘all you can drink’ offer when it first opened, but it turned out that was, just an offer. Too much of a good thing it would seem.

There was also the pleasure of seeing my pregnant cousin! Just 10 weeks to go until she welcomes her first born into the world! It’s a shame she’s in Amsterdam or I’d spend every second of the day with the newbie! There are of course numerous travelling plans for the tot, I’m sure within the first few months she’ll have done more travelling than me with the relatives that are spread all over the world.

The rain tried and failed to dampen everyones spirits, even getting lost among the winding streets of Amsterdam in pouring rain didn’t wipe the smiles of our faces!

Still, nice weather for ducks!