Gay Pride Boat Parade, Amsterdam, 2009,

Slept deeply and only woke up when I did, because of loud music on a boat going by on the Jacob van Lennepkade.

This is at the end of our road and this is when I realised today was the Gay Pride Boat Parade, really great seeing the boats at the end of the Haarlemmerdijk Dijk.

Remember 1997 it was quite a memorable year; we had friends over who we took up the end of the road to watch the spectacle.

We stood by a houseboat that had someone dressed as Cruella DeVille on the roof, he wore stiletto heeled long PVC boats and cracked a whip.

Every boat that came by he challenged and he would gyrate and crack his whip and the other boat would respond in kind.

A captivating and often fascinating sight, it was good to see Amsterdam’s gay face being so visible and attracting such crowds.

Hope the weather stays good so very one who comes to Amsterdam today has a great time, like the idea of happy people partying in the centre of town.

The boats start to leave up behind the Central Station, where they gather and slowly start to go down the Prinsengracht, the sound of the first boat approaching is very exciting as you get caught up in the high energy music pounding out.

The last time I went was in 2003 when it was a baking hot day and the canal was packed with people who had taken up their places hours beforehand.

That was the year before Gareth left Amsterdam and our friends Rosie and Jaya were over for a visit.

It was a great day, boiling hot and the Prinsengracht was packed, Gareth, who is gorgeous was attracting all the boats that went by to pause and flirt with him.

It was a wonderful sight, we all had a really good time, Jaya and Rosie enjoyed it very much.

http://www.nighttours.com/amsterdam/photos/videos.html

The mayor of Amsterdam is officiating at the weddings of five American-Dutch homosexual couples on a boat during the city’s Gay Pride festival, in part to challenge the United States to legalize gay marriage.
Mayor Job Cohen also performed the first Dutch ceremonies after the Netherlands legalized same-sex marriage in 2001.
The festival attracts hundreds of thousands of gay rights supporters to dance on packed streets in the city centre and watch colourful boat-floats parade down canals.
The marriage ceremonies today are part of celebrations of the 400th anniversary of New York-Netherlands ties.
Today we heard the boats going past on their way either to the starting point and their place in the parade or to take up their place along the route of the parade.

Glad the weather has not turned nasty and the boat parade went off successfully.

I am also personally happier today because Richie has bought me some new tops so I now have a whole heap of tops to wear which is brilliant.

It was something we forgot in parts, then Richie would look but not find anything suitable for me, and that is how I have worn the same four tops for the last year.

Notice since I have the option to wear something different that I feel better, which I do and I look better.

Plus the tops are not as baggy so there are no folds and creases under me as I slip and slide around in the bed.

And Richie does not have to adjust the shirt because it has moved and is hanging off my left shoulder.

I am much more cheerful since I can change my tops; the new ones also feel so much better

Than the four I have worn all year and that is because the new tops are soft to the touch and feel good on my skin.

Well I intend to enjoy the rest of the day, hope it is a pleasant day for everyone.