Friday, May 03, 2002

US Sailors Close Aussie Brothel

A battle group pulled into Perth and according to this article in the Mercury, the crews spent their time working out their frustrations.

I doubt it will make the news here in the States.

No big surprise there.

Not that sailors don't have well deserved reputations. If it was business as usual, the married guys were probably the first off the ships.

Select quotes from the Mercury:

Perth brothel owner Mary-Anne Kenworthy said when she realized her sex workers could not cope any more she closed Langtrees' doors for a day rather than risk the brothel's reputation.

Langtrees did a week's business in just three days after 5500 American sailors disembarked in Fremantle on Sunday, many of them stressed from their encounter with war, she said.

Stressed from their encounter with war, indeed.

More likely its a product of being cooped up for months on a floating bird farm.

Langtree's site is worth a gander.

I'm reminded of a sea story.

A friend of mine was on shore patrol in Marseilles, France. She was an ensign at the time.

(The most junior of the officer ranks)

Shore patrol is essentially a group of uniformed sailors -- sometimes with an officer -- who monitor popular port liberty areas to ensure the crew not only behaves, but is also not taken advantage of by locals. Think stopping bar fights, preventing dark alley rollings, and so on.

Marseilles has brothels frequented by sailors on liberty and they are part of the shore patrol routine.

However, when the group led by a female ensign started up the street, the madams refused entrance.

They eventually allowed the men in, but explained to my friend that if she were to come inside -- the customers would run out the back.

Men and their sensitivities never cease to amaze.

Click here for the Bohica on the Texas tradition of prostitution.

posted by Bohica at 8:31 AM