1st Trip 2010 Feb

[Kenshiro]

Day3
Another wake and bake (again I'm up before everyone else)

oh yeah

So it's a bus to Leiden and a train to Haarlem.
We arrive and walk out of the station I wasn't sure what to expect but it felt quite underwhelming with a bus station opposite the train station building.

I refer to my ACD notes of streets and CS (absolute lifesaver back then) we bumble around finding most shops were closed at the time we were there, we are both disappointed but my friend decides to bring out the negative vibes so I try and block him out not wanting to spoil the experience.

Thanks for this, it brings back good memories for my first trip to Leiden. I usually travel to Amsterdam solo, this time was a trip with my wife to her cousin's house in Leiden. Usually my first stop is a coffeeshop, this time we spent a full day sightseeing all of Leiden's highlights. It's a beautiful city with a lot of interesting history. We were relaxing in a bar when around 4:30 her husband asked if there was anything else he could show me in Leiden so I quickly responded 'Coffeeshop please'. I too, was shocked and dismayed to learn they didn't open until 5 PM!. I acclimated and managed after that but it was a great eye opening experience. I will be seeing them on my next trip for a Saturday dinner and Sunday at Keukenhof this year, can't wait but I have to remember to arrive with provisions

We climb the death ladder(stairs) up to the bud tenders bar ...

great image

We're both ready to move on but my friend out of nowhere wakes from his mute presence and starts moaning about wanting a "Proper English breakfast" again (give me strength!)

We go in search of a "Proper English"... I try taking him to Greenhouse Lounge but after getting a table he decides he doesn't want to pay the price...we move back into the street on our search and he continues to mutter his disbelief of prices and lack of English breakfast.

We stumble across the Bulldog energy shop..crazy decor and surroundings and erm choice music...I stupidly choose the Super Lemon Haze and pay a ridiculous amount for it...we grab a weird tall table with a type of partial leaning stool/fixed seating and try to get comfortable.




This place is very busy...I make my joint of SLH and I'm taken back by the energetic buzz hit from it...I raise it in the air with my arm pumping in appreciation along to the crazy dance music.

It's getting late and my friend starts to complain so we head back for Centraal to move towards Leiden again ready to go back to the hostel.

The BD Energy Shop and Lounge, that's my joint! I usually drinks at the Energy Shop, agreed better cannabis values exist elsewhere. Also, inside it is often crowded, then hopefully outside is nice enough to enjoy. Nothing better than to sit there and people watch and have one of their staff bring you a E1.5 water every hour or so. English Breakfast? You could have went next door to the BD Lounge where it's on the menu. I also agree Amsterdam prices can be a shock but this can be found for around E10.

My friend wasn't prepared to pay more than €7 for breakfast...this added difficulty!

[LLMReb]

Great read, sCn. Wish i knew you were in Leiden. The Indo food there at Sumatra is the best! Leiden Loop is an enjoyable stroll, too. Beautiful town with great University and picturesque windmills.

Bummer about your companion. It is a real challenge to find even an adequate travel companion. It is a near impossibility to find a compatible companion, and the one time I found a compatible companion, I married her!

Nevertheless, you have great memories and a great writing style. Excellent read. Next time I highly recommend solo and stay in AMS.

35 more days until I fly over! I hope to see your continued contributions to the board.

[MJ420]

Great report. Sorry your friend didn't have a good time.

[Kenshiro]

Great read, sCn. Wish i knew you were in Leiden. The Indo food there at Sumatra is the best! Leiden Loop is an enjoyable stroll, too. Beautiful town with great University and picturesque windmills.

Bummer about your companion. It is a real challenge to find even an adequate travel companion. It is a near impossibility to find a compatible companion, and the one time I found a compatible companion, I married her!

Nevertheless, you have great memories and a great writing style. Excellent read. Next time I highly recommend solo and stay in AMS.

35 more days until I fly over! I hope to see your continued contributions to the board.

Thank you for the kind words, truly flattered.

My 2nd trip solo report has started on this board now so you can check it out if you like.. I have another solo report to add and then a recent (Jan2017) trip report with my gf still to come

[Kenshiro]

Great report. Sorry your friend didn't have a good time.

Thanks

[cornish pixie]

'partakes in the fine art of flower consumption' This made me chuckle. Nice report mate. How come it took so long ? lol

[Kenshiro]

'partakes in the fine art of flower consumption' This made me chuckle. Nice report mate. How come it took so long ? lol

Thanks! I've used the site for info since that first trip (2010) but never paid notice to the forum to be honest!

I picked up on it through coffeeshopmenus.org and decided to join....after reading the many other travelogue entries I felt inspired...I felt I had some good experiences to share...Also I wanted to practice before my April trip for a travelogue on the go!

The sites (including coffeeshopsmenu.org) have provided me with a lot of assistance and I like to give back where possible.

[free_phil_spector]

When I first started reading this I felt convinced your mate was sulking cos you spent the first two days 'not in' Amsterdam. Then you went to Amsterdam and he still grizzled so I figured he's not that much of a stoner and would rather be doing the sights. Then he shat out when you offered to split and do your own thing, so I reckon he's just a twat. Presumably you've sacked him off since - did you ever find out what his 'problem' was? There's surely an epilogue to this story

[Kenshiro]

When I first started reading this I felt convinced your mate was sulking cos you spent the first two days 'not in' Amsterdam. Then you went to Amsterdam and he still grizzled so I figured he's not that much of a stoner and would rather be doing the sights. Then he shat out when you offered to split and do your own thing, so I reckon he's just a twat. Presumably you've sacked him off since - did you ever find out what his 'problem' was? There's surely an epilogue to this story

As said he was a work colleague and we weren't actually close in anyway, we just shared an interest and I made a mistake inviting him! On our return to work he still continued to moan and I shared with his boss (who I was friendly with) that he was a complete nightmare.

It seems that he was a bit of a troubled fellow and struggled with many things in his day to day life (selling his games console to a pawn broker every couple of months and buying it back and repeating the process whilst also not paying his rent)

I had to ask him to sort out his personal hygiene on many occaisions on our trip....he still owes me money to this day

I've not spoken to him in many years and when i do see him in the street he avoids me sharpish!

[free_phil_spector]

As said he was a work colleague and we weren't actually close in anyway, we just shared an interest and I made a mistake inviting him! On our return to work he still continued to moan and I shared with his boss (who I was friendly with) that he was a complete nightmare.

The first time I went to Amsterdam twenty years ago was similar circumstances - a work colleague who I sometimes smoked with suggested it and we went. Despite ups and downs over the years, he and I remain friends to this day

I had to ask him to sort out his personal hygiene on many occaisions on our trip

I have two friends who I've learned over the years to avoid sharing hotel rooms with due to their titanic snoring abilities

[Jesscass]

Quality report, sNc, thank you a lot! Even is enjoyable after all those years ; those very years were a turning point qualitywise at coffeeshops and you should consider yourself lucky you were introduced to coffeeshop culture during the better days(after that: downhill).
By the way remember Sensi Star being around more at that time too, e.g. at Hunters back then(never been often but I like that type of strong stuff).
Like other said bummer about your partner in crime ; comes across like the stereotype couchlocked stoner sitting at home doing the same stuff over and over again since ages and rarely can handle new situations well, wonder why he went with you and what he did expect, too(obviously food like at home).
Next time choose wisely! Enjoy your upcoming trip, especially The Hague(you're on the right track there ; nothing to add)!

[Kenshiro]

Quality report, sNc, thank you a lot! Even is enjoyable after all those years ; those very years were a turning point qualitywise at coffeeshops and you should consider yourself lucky you were introduced to coffeeshop culture during the better days(after that: downhill).
By the way remember Sensi Star being around more at that time too, e.g. at Hunters back then(never been often but I like that type of strong stuff).
Like other said bummer about your partner in crime ; comes across like the stereotype couchlocked stoner sitting at home doing the same stuff over and over again since ages and rarely can handle new situations well, wonder why he went with you and what he did expect, too(obviously food like at home).
Next time choose wisely! Enjoy your upcoming trip, especially The Hague(you're on the right track there ; nothing to add)!

Thanks! Glad it brought some enjoyment!
My 2nd trip report is currently in progess and in this section (just have the final day to complete)

I returned again in 2011(another trip report to follow also) but then didnt get back again until January of this year! Obviously a lot has changed between that time and this will be clear through the reports and experiences.
Watch this space!

[Junglist Movement]

Very late to this one but damn I feel your pain with regard to the cunty balls who seemed to put a dampner on your trip.

I made this mistake a few times for various different reasons. Two guys I went with the first time (their first time in amsterdam) had run out of €€€ after the first day. They didn't say it outright but I figured when they didn't want to go for a beer or food, or rent bikes and somehow managed to hold on to a g for a whole day. I eventually asked them the score and they fessed up that they didnt realise that amsterdam is far from cheap. This of course prevented us renting bikes and doing a few bits that having bikes frees you up to do. I was happy to share my smoke but like your mate they had much more desire to chill and sleep at the accomodation with no real zest for adventure.

Second time was with the Mrs. She chose nice shoes which while looked classy (heeled), had zero practical effect when navigating the endless cobbleatone paths which further slowed us down. She had one of those ridiculously over sized scarves which required a pit stop every five minutes to readjust the king sized duvet she had wrapped arounfmd her shoulders. I finally lost it when I realised it took us 45 minutes to walk a 3rd of the prinscengracht. Had to have a tactical word once we finally reached easy times. Day time rules became sensible wear during the day when strain hunting. Nicer wear for the evininv when dinner n nightime activities come around. or if she prefered to do her own thing for a few hours while I did the cs rounds that was cool too.

A third time, the people I was with were not the type to awake up at 7, smash a gram into a joint and get going nice n early. Even complained that It was rude to start smoking so early and I should have waited until they were ready....3 hours later like.

So after some fine tuning if I'm travelling with people I let em know what the score is. I'm up and at them early, blazing hard early, and expect freedom to split up and do our own things for a few hours should the need arise.

I doubt I'll be doing many more trips with people other than the Mrs now. We have our nice routine now. Due to 2am starts and all night teavellong we drop into voyagers, grab a bag. Check in to which the Mrs refreshes for a few hours while I swing by a few spots to bulk up the stash. I return freshen up myself n then hard at it untill exhaustion takes us.

I don't think any place I've visited envokes such a strict no fucking about attitude. Every hour is precious to me and I need my freedom of I'm to really get a good strain hunt in!!