All of the houses in Amsterdam are three to five stories high, narrow and extremely deep. Each house is nothing more than an extension of the one next to it, making each block an endless wall of facades. So, if you stood on the ledge of the canal and looked at the house, you'll be decieved at the size of the building because you can't see how far back, or deep, the house goes into the block itself. From the front, it's a tall skinny building - but from the side, you'd realize that it's really deep! Lastly, in the inside of the peak of the roof, a large beam sticks out four to six feet, with a winch at the end. The beam is used to hoist furniture and large objects into the building itself and considering Roy's own narrow and steep staircase, it only stands to reason the logic behind such a contraption.

We took Bruce's camera to a One Huur Photomat place ( and the lady was really nice...for having to deal with us crazy Americans...). We ran out of time to go to the Rijksmuseum, so we went to the "Homomonument". This is an international monument for all Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered peoples throughout the world and a memorial on our own persecutions. Since the dawn of the Christian and Muslim religions, gay people have been persecuted by homophobia and hatred. And it's here in Amsterdam, one block from the Anne Frank House museum, that a monument stands remembering all of us. Unfortunately, our camera was in the photomat getting developed, so there aren't any pictures of this place.

It's rests behind the church with the steeple that Anne Frank looked upon while she was in hiding. On the courtyard, on the right, is a large platform shaped in a triangle - covered in a rose-colored marble. On the left, another large rose colored triangle, smooth and flat even with the surface of the courtyard. Between the two triangles, sticking out into the Harengracht Canal, a third triangle sits with hundreds of bouquets of flowers left by weeping lovers.

I cried a little (again) and Brucie hung onto my arm and we gave each other a kiss, with both of us realizing how we shouldn't take the moment for granted. We left, disappointed we couldn't find a postcard of the monument. If I find 'em...I'll get enough copies for everyone.

Later, we came back and picked up our photos. The lady pointed at me and said; "You're not very good with camera!! You stop chopping off heads!!" LOL! I took a pic of Bruce in front of Centraal Station and I got his head...but not his body...Along with tons and tons of blue sky!! LOL! I told him it looked like he was the "Kilroy Was Here Guy".

Tonight, Roy's making chicken in a white gravy with mushroom sauce for dinner. Afterwards, we're heading to the Red Light District and possible a stop at a gay bar for a brewski.

Please send replies to Yahoo - as I can read but I can not send out and this message is being sent gratis of Roy's wallet (money) and service providor.

Hugz and Love to all.

Mark and Bruce.