I’ll make my apologies now for the fact that I have no photos from this trip – I’ll do my best to make up for that with my descriptions!
[basically I just smoke sativas or crosses the whole time – not into indicas except at bedtime. I’m also a big fan of quality hashes – sativas like Temple Ball and the finest Moroccan – throughout this report just assume I’m constantly chugging on a fat one!]
Simply knowing that I was booked to come to Amsterdam at the end of November was not enough to satisfy my wish for delectable smokeables last week (serious drought in my home area) so I hatched a devilish plan for a quick flit to my fave destination: I would take the channel tunnel and drive there, stay overnight in the car and come back late the following day! Awesome plan! As I also thought I’d leave time on the way back for a stop off at the Calais hypermarket I dropped a text to a friend of mine asking whether she wanted me to bring her back some cheeses, wines etc from Calais… Soon as she heard what I had in mind for the trip she begged me to delay by one day so she could come too! So instead of leaving in the wee hours of sat morning we left about 2.30am on Sunday.
I’d never taken the channel tunnel before and had no idea how smoothly the whole thing worked so I left an extra hour for our journey to the terminal which was just as well as I’d forgotten about the clocks going back (I always do!!). We arrived and drove onto the train literally 2 minutes before it departed – RESULT #1! The train they put us on I later found out was the one they use for trucks and vans which is why it seemed so HUGE! The thing is really quite space-age – ultra smooth and quiet and 35minutes later the doors open and you drive directly onto the motorway – all checks by both UK and French authorities having been carried out on the embarkation side.
We had plenty of fuel so no stopping off as is usual after the longer ferry crossing (what a pain in the arse that is – never again!) and we began the 226 mile trip. Three and a half pleasant hours cruise later – roads almost completely empty at that hour - and we drove into Prins Hendrikkade to look for somewhere to park near to Central Coffeeshop as it was now 6.30am and Central opens at 7. We ended up circling the block a couple of times looking for a spot – then found one just behind Haarlemmerstraat. Went to pay for parking and found that parking in the centre is free til midday on Sundays!! RESULT #2 At 4euro50c per hour at all other times that meant we’d ‘saved’ 25euros so we decided to celebrate that by making our first stop Barney’s instead of Central (far as I know these are the only two that open at 7am – would be pleased to hear about any others???)
Barney’s is more expensive than Central but at least you can smoke inside and the gear is a notch up from Central anyway. We were standing outside the shop as the guy unlocked the door! Poor dude didn’t look thrilled to have customers demanding his attention so soon! We bought 1g each of Hawaiian Snow (lovely pure sativa), Utopia Haze and G-13 Haze and a couple of peach Loozas.
[Note: the fruity Looza drinks are seriously good to guzzle when stoned - trouble is, they contain less than a 1/4 litre so tend to disappear in 4 sips at most. At 2-2.50 euros each it’s easy to go through ten quid just on juices between 2 people in every shop you go to! I recommend going to one of the many Albert Hein supermarkets and buying the 1ltr bottles of the same fruit nectars – I carry one of those in my daypack along with water and a few munchies. I like to eat well when in Amst but I object to spending a fortune on the crap I eat between meals – that’s a waste of good smoking funds!!]
Anyway, now nicely off our tits we departed Barney’s for a wander which took us via a bakery to Stones in Warmoesstraat – the one on the opposite corner from Baba. Cant remember what I bought in there – white widow I think @ 7euros a g – awesome value! We didn’t stay long as all the really comfy seating was taken and we still hadn’t had breakfast. We decided to head back to the car to move it to the Park & Ride and then come back into town. On arrival at the car, however….no car keys! Checked all pockets 3 or 4 times….gone! Oh Shit! My mental state went from utterly chilled out one moment to a sharp feeling of tension in my temples and a deep inhale as I contemplated the level of hassle involved in getting an emergency car locksmith out on a Sunday etc etc. With K there to repeat the mantra ‘don’t worry. Whatever happens we’ll solve it’ I soon reached a state of (half)acceptance and we retraced our steps to Barney’s where the budtender looked at me wryly as I entered the shop before handing over my keys! The relief!!! Quick! – Get the car to Sloterdijk P+R and back for food and relaxation! (6euros for up to 24hrs inc free return travel to Centrum – if you use it, take your barrier ticket to the square, glass, manned booth to receive your travel tickets – you have to bring these back when you collect the car).
Seven minutes train ride later we’re in central station and it’s time for a bee-line to Grey Area which opens in 10mins (12noon) - car keys now stowed in a zipped pocket!! Arrived Grey Area 12.15 and queue was too long so we dropped into Foodism just a couple of doors down. Both had really delicious Panini on good quality bread with chicken breast, avocados, salad, sauce etc and beautifully toasted – 5.50Euros each – very tasty and good value. RESULT #3!
Queue was still horrendous at Grey Area when we left Foodism so nipped round the corner to Amnesia. Bought Amnesia Haze x 3g – very tasty. Now at this point I suddenly got a serious dry mouth going on so walked up to the bartender and did my best (rubbish) impression of Jason Statham in lock stock and asked for “two of your most refreshing drinks” to which the bartender replied “Two refreshing drinks coming up!” – I watched him put ice and pineapple juice and mint into a blender and present me with two interesting looking glasses decorated with a sprig of fresh mint – me and K both took long sips and then at the same time went “Wow! That is amazing!” – for indeed it was! The funny thing is that the drink is actually called ‘Refreshing Drink’ on their snazzy new drinks menu – we ordered another almost straight away as it was the most amazing accompaniment to the finger-thick biftas we were chugging away on one after another! There are several other ‘classy’ drinks like this on their menu – definitely worth a try!
From here onwards I can hardly remember the order in which we visited places as we were so baked the whole time it’s now become a blur. I DO remember that we went to Baba, Dampkring (the handboogstraat one) and Rokerij at some point before passing Central and picking up some pretty good pre-weighed deals: Amnesia Haze 3g for 25euros and Super Pollen 5g for 25euros. RESULT #4!
By the time we realised we were hungry again we just happened to be near Burger Bar (junction of Nieuwendijk and Kolksteeg). I’d read about this place only recently on this forum and thought the Wagyu beef burger had to be tried.. OMFG!! If you like beefburgers you have GOT to try the Wagyu beef burger at this place! It’s reared by the Japanese in some incredibly obsessional way – like they dress the cows up, treat them like royalty, feed them special food including beer!! – I kid you not! Anyway- at 8.90Euros for the basic burger it’s well worth the taste. Both me and K were blown away by how tasty this thing was. As for the fries…well, they are double fried but this is done very well and they are not greasy at all – again, just about the best fries I’ve ever tasted! This was extremely good stoner food!!! RESULT #5!!
With bellies full it was time for a walk over to Dolphins in Kekstraat – I love this place for its downstairs seating area and I also love the White Dolphin, of which I bought a couple o grams – nice sativa high – a good top-up at this point!
Bearing in mind we hadn’t slept since Friday night we were pretty wasted by about 9pm so headed back to Sloterdijk, collected the car and drove out to the nearest motorway service station to sleep in the car for the night (I had explained to K that it was gonna be a rough-it trip and she was cool with that). Still, a few strategically placed cushions on fully reclined front seats plus a sleeping bag each plus eye masks and earplugs and we were snug as the proverbial bugs! Slept 12 hours solid and both woke at about 10am completely refreshed! RESULT #6!
With only 6hrs til we planned to leave (allowing time to stop at Calais hypermarket on way back) we headed straight for Sloterdijk again, parked up and 10mins later we’re in Centraal Station again. Though largely a blur on Monday I do remember that we made it to Happy Feelings, Coffeeshop 36, Barraka (where I always go for the Super King hash – an excellent fine Moroccan at 15/g – I paid 12.50 /g for 5) and Central again to collect some more well-priced goodies.
A couple we had chatted to in Dolphins the previous day had told us about a place called The Green Light Restaurant near the station where you could eat, drink beer and smoke weed too (eating not compulsory) – this was to be our munchie stop before setting off for Calais. Place was quite pleasant tho the food wasn’t up to much – wont be repeating the food bit but will definitely remember this for future last minute beer/spliff! It amazes me how, even after 15 trips to this town I keep finding ‘obviously good’ places for the first time! Maybe I shouldn’t be amazed tho given how much I smoke when I’m there – about a g/ every hour awake!
As 4pm neared, however, our thoughts turned to ways of delaying our departure and we reasoned that as 2 of the Calais hypermarkets were open til 10pm we could afford to leave 45mins later so dipped into Coffeeshop 36 for a last doob and a Tropical Looza!
Our last stoner-decision meant that we caught the worst of the rush hour traffic leaving Holland and lost 45mins travel time – with no stops at all we arrived at the hypermarket at 8.55pm – wicked! …. But they have changed their opening times and BOTH the buggers were shutting at 9pm and turned us away! Damn! No booze, cheeses, hams etc…but hey, what the hell?! The money I saved in the supermarket will buy quite a few goodies on my return trip at end November when I shall be there the weekend just after this year’s Cup finishes!
That’s it then, folks! Sorry again about the dearth of photos but I WILL be taking my camera and a notebook next month so next travelogue will contain the all-important details of prices and piccies from each stop.
Til next time…..
Love & Peace
First travelogue: 25-26 Oct flying visit!
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Goosey Joe
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got to be honest mate, thats commitment to the cause! Good work on the driving plan, didnt know the tunnel was so easy.
What was your pick out of the smokes you had?
What was your pick out of the smokes you had?
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Goosey Joe
- Posts: 38
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Thanks!CannaSir wrote:Goosey- best smokes were the Super King hash from barraka and the hawaiian snow weed from Barneys.
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Pauli Wallnuts
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nice reporting, spare of the moment trips are always fun, how much did you pay for the tunnel? when i drive there i always take the ferry cos its half the price
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Pauli Wallnuts
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is that through the eurotunnel website, or is that a turn up & pay deal + is it cheaper to go in middle of night?CannaSir wrote:tunnel was 58quid including 2 days breakdown cover. ferry was 50 without the cover!
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cattales1960
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