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Friday, November 27, 2009

The sound of my alarm jars me awake at seven thirty. I quickly hit snooze as I hear Rasa starting to move around. He leaves to care of his bathroom business. I take the time to deposit one of my bags downstairs. I roll a joint and smoke it while packing my other bag. Rasa finishes and I head in for the morning rituals. After finishing up, I decide to clean the bathroom. When I make it out Rasa is cleaning the kitchen. It is now approaching nine and we need to start moving. We have to be at the train station by eleven. We take one last look around and down the mountain of stairs for the last time. We get to the bottom and I am faced with a monumental problem. How to move eighty pounds of luggage across town to my hotel for the weekend with the bike? I decide to walk the luggage from the Hortus Botanicus all the way to the Leidseplein! Rasa takes off for Resin where we plan to meet before returning the bikes and heading to the train station.

Thirty minutes later I am walking out of the Nh Amsterdam Centre and my phone rings! I answer and it’s my client, did I ever mention this was a business/pleasure trip? Computer problems and he needs me now. So I walk as fast as I could without jogging to Rembrandtplein and into Escape where he is setup. After climbing some wicked stairs, I find him. Ten minutes of tinkering later and we are all settled out. He thanks me for being there so quickly and we agree that I will stop back by this afternoon to check in and pick up my passes for the Film Festival Award Show. Now back outside I check my watch and it after ten! Shit I jog back to grab that bike and pedal as fast as I can to Resin.

As I lock the bike, the rain starts to fall. I stop by the budtender and I want some White Widow, he says it shit and suggests something else. I grab a gram, walk into the smoking room and there is Rasa. He thought I wouldn’t make it before he left. I explain my side trip and start building his last smoke before he gets on the train. It has some Royal Jelly and Mystery Hash along with whatever weed I just bought and some bits from a baggie I found in my pocket. We soon leave and take the short ride to return the bikes. We make head straight to Centraal Station passing Resin again. We grab him a ticket and check the screen for the next train. There is one leaving now but we have to smoke! He skips it and opts for the train leaving in twenty minutes. We make our way to the platform and find our way to the smoking area near the end. We chat about what a great time we had as his train pulls in. We finally finish the joint as we walk towards his train; I bid him safe travels and goodbye.

Back out into the hustle and bustle of Friday in Amsterdam I head for Ben. I like the place, spent several mornings here this past spring. I look at the Lemon Haze and get a gram for 13E along with a coffee. I settle in next to the fish tank and put on my headphones. I roll a pure and spark it up as I play SimCity 2000! I know it’s low tech and old as shit but I only travel with my netbook and it won’t play COD. By the time my stomach starts to try and eat my tongue it is well after one. I head to Subway and have a quick bite. I decide to head to the hotel and check in.

After taking a quick nap I awake to a dark, wet and cold city. I get dressed and bundled up to head out. I stop to pick up the passes as I head for Basjoe. I enter to find SoulRider at the usual table. I grab a gram of, you guessed it, Bas Special along with a Looza. As I sit and start rolling a spliff SoulRider passes me the one he was smoking on. This goes on back and forth for the next few hours. Somewhere along the way I ask him who has the best spacecakes. “Well you must not read my trip reports then!” came his reply. Do you know how much I have smoked since the last time I read one of your reports!?! We get a good laugh in before he tells me Paradox, I do not remember how much weed in each one but it was a lot! Around eight, my stomach starts to signal me that I need food. I depart and say goodbye to SR as he may not be back out this weekend before I leave. I decide to grab a bite at La Grotte on Haarlemmerstraat. I make the walk over via Dam Square and the Singel.



I enter to an empty place. There were three people downstairs and a five people upstairs. I grab a table and order my food along with a Heineken. I pop across to Popeye’s and grab a gram of Pink Kush 15E/g.



I return as my food is coming to the table. I quickly eat and roll a spliff for the walk back to Basjoe. I am one of the last to arrive and score a seat at the bar, one of the last. I get comfortable removing my hat, scarf, gloves and coat. I start to roll what is left of the Pink Kush, which is a great heavy body stone, I have to move down a seat to make room for Tuttiflies. We sit and chat for an hour or so about how she desires to move to Amsterdam in 2010. I tell her I am in the research phase but I want to move here too. Soon it is almost midnight and I want to grab a snack before retiring for the night. I say my goodbyes and head out into the drizzle. I wish I still had the bike. I soon find myself walking into Dolphin’s for a gram of White Dolphin 10E/g.



I cross the street and grab some nuggets at McD’s before making it to the hotel. I eat, have a quick smoke and turn in for the night

Great write up Balou !

I love the pics of Popeyes and La Grotte at night.

Is la grotte a coffeshop or a eating establishment or both ? lol !

Definatly gonna go to la grotte !

Thanks for writing this report Balou, to be honest there is no way I could write one, everything just seems like one big hazey experience. How in the hell do you even remember all this anyway? you werent taking notes haha! Lookin forward to July!

RR wrote:Great write up Balou !

I love the pics of Popeyes and La Grotte at night.

Is la grotte a coffeshop or a eating establishment or both ? lol !

Definatly gonna go to la grotte !

Thanks. La Grotte was a coffeeshop long ago. They now just serve food and have a bar as well. The are affliated with Popeye's which is right across the street. Also Dampkring 2, Greenhouse Lounge, and Barney's are all close enough to pick up some gear to smoke. In the warmer months they open up wall of windows and it's the perfect spot to people watch.

Peace.
Balou

RasaLibree wrote:Thanks for writing this report Balou, to be honest there is no way I could write one, everything just seems like one big hazey experience. How in the hell do you even remember all this anyway? you werent taking notes haha! Lookin forward to July!

It hasn't been easy. I have found if I smoke a couple and look at a few pics before writing it all comes back. July will be crazy, so far I think there are four of us going. Maybe a couple of more tagging along.

Peace,
Balou

balou1999 wrote:

RasaLibree wrote:Thanks for writing this report Balou, to be honest there is no way I could write one, everything just seems like one big hazey experience. How in the hell do you even remember all this anyway? you werent taking notes haha! Lookin forward to July!

It hasn't been easy. I have found if I smoke a couple and look at a few pics before writing it all comes back. July will be crazy, so far I think there are four of us going. Maybe a couple of more tagging along.

Peace,
Balou

Werd, im coming be coming with a couple of heads too, were definately gunna have to plop down in Vondelpark and get lit and enjoy the weather! so psyched to be in Amsterdam in the summer again like my first trip!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

My alarm went off at nine and hit snooze till ten. I roll a spliff with what is left of the White Dolphin. I grab a shower, get dressed and head out into the drizzle. I decide that for the next two days I will try to hit as many shops as possible. I stop at AH for some OJ and pastries for breakfast. I finish my juice as I walk and look up and see The Other Side Coffeshop.


I take a picture, cross the straat, and enter Betty Too.


I decide on a gram of Kushage 12E/g and a coffee. I roll and smoke a pure joint as I listen to my music. I notice a mild stone creep up on me. The clouds start to break outside and I head back out into the cold. I quickly walk towards Rembrandtplein. I take a picture of Coffeshop Free.


While I’m in the area and not super high I decide to check on my client at Club Escape. Again up the spiral staircase that I am really starting to hate. Just my luck he is not there! Oh well, as I head back down and out into the square. I make my next stop Balou.


I have never been impressed with their weed so I opt for some Super Polm 9E/g. I head up stairs and roll a spliff. I look out the window as I toke and watch the world go by. Now that I have recovered my buzz, I head next door to Andalucía.


I need a sativa so I can stay up during the movie screenings. I opt for Amnesia Special 13E/g, nice buds and a very clear high. After smoking the whole gram, it is about time for me to head over to the Theater for a few documentaries. I take a quick intermission from the screenings just as the sun is setting. I walk over to Greenhouse Namaste and purchase Trainwreck 10E/g for a quick smoke.


Around six, I continue my crawl. I leave Rembrandtplein and walk towards the RLD. I pass through the Dam and walk down the Warmoesstraat. First stop of the evening was Stone’s Café.


I had a pint of Heineken while I smoked a doobie that I found in my coat pocket. I head back out into the cold and a few doors down to Route 66.


I was not feeling the vibe here or at Het Oerwoud.


I continue down the straat and pass Sheeba.


I decide to get some Wok to Walk. With my stomach now full and my buzz long gone, I head into Baba


I have walked past this place numerous times but had never been inside the shop. I grab a coffee and had a seat in the window. I rolled a spliff with some of the hash from Balou. After a quick time check, it is approaching eight. I bundle back up and head for Hill St. Blues. I pass Stone’s Coffeeshop and take a quick picture.


I make it to HSB.


I wanted to a gram of Hill St. Special 8E/g and vape a few bags. When I made it back to the budtender, I asked for the special. She was fresh out! I thank her and decide to grab some bud from Ben instead. I leave the RLD and cross Damstraat. I then stumble upon De Kroon


I check out the menu and notice that they have a 2-gram minimum. I vowed a few trips back not to buy from any shop that had a 2-gram minimum. I decide to get the Burmese Kush 24E/2g after the budtender recommends it.


This ends up being a buy and fly, as I head to Ben. I quickly grab a Northern Lights Extreme 10E/g.


I roll a joint and head towards Bajoe for the nightly smokeout. I decide to take the scenic route so that I could enjoy my smoke. I arrive to a nice crowd and notice the usual faces at the front booth. I get comfortable before ordering a Looza and a gram of White Widow 8E. I have a seat and chat with USBL and Luvtick, there may have been more but I do not remember. We smoked several joints, had many bong hits and a few laughs as well. Birdman, Tuttiflies arrives somewhere along the way. As midnight approached, my eyes got heavier. I bid everyone farewell and wish Bird and Tutti safe travels. I walk outside into a light rain and head across town to my hotel. I stop and grab a bite from Burger King. As I walk out the rain starts to come down and I forgot my umbrella in the room. I make it to the hotel soaking wet. I have a hot shower before I eat. I get a text from some girls I met earlier and they are going out. They are at Escape and hate the music, so I send them directions to De Duivel. I get some dry clothes on, grab the umbrella and head back out into the night. Fate must have been on my side, a tram is pulling up just as I make it into the Leidseplein. I ride down a few stops to the Koningsplein and walk over to the bar. It is packed but I manage to squeeze in and grab a pint before someone tapped me on the shoulder. It is the girls! We partied, smoked and drank until the lights came on which was four. I walked them back to their hotel on the Spuistraat before staggering back to my hotel and passing out!

Great post, brings back so many memories especially with the pictures!

Good photo's

Sunday, November 29, 2009

I am jarred awake by my alarm as I forgot to turn it off. It’s only 9 and I have been sleep for maybe 4 hours! I decide that I can sleep on the flight home tomorrow. As I roll out of bed I spy a spliff in the ashtray! I stumble over and spark it up, ahh. I don’t know what I’m smoking but it is defiantly wants to put me back to sleep. I fight it and head to the bathroom for the morning rituals.

I leave the hotel to continue my crawl as the clouds roll in. I make to the Koningsplein when the rain starts coming down. I walk a little faster and stumble upon Dutch Flowers.


I grab a coffee and sit down in the front window for a smoke. After sitting for a while and noticing the rain isn’t letting up, I leave. A quick walk down the Singel and I step in AH for some croissants. I exit to just a sprinkle outside and take a walk through the Bloemenmarkt. I cross the street and head stop in Rockerij III.


I enter and head down the stairs to the budtender. I look at the menu and grab a gram of Rockerij Amnesia Haze 9.00E/g


I am not a big fan of the low seating in here so I head over to Bushdoctor


First time in this shop, I look at the menu. I remember them being known for their Iso, I but a gram of Royal Jelly 45E/g. I order a O.J. and sit down to roll the Amnesia with the Jelly. After the first few puffs, I knew I would be wrecked. I was so high that the j went out at least twenty times. The high is amazing, it’s like I was living in the clouds. I prepare to head back out in the cold. I decide a trip through the RLD is in order.

I soon find myself at Greenplace.


I grab a gram of Blueberry Cheese; I will smoke that at the airport in the morning. I put it and the Royal Jelly into my inside coat pocket for safekeeping. The sun is now starting to set and the lack of sleep is catching up with me. I hop on the tram and head back to the hotel for a nap.

I wake up an hour later and roll a spliff with the Amnesia. I feel slightly better but I have to enjoy my last 18 hours in Amsterdam. I head out into the cold night towards Westerkerk via the Prinsengracht. I make a couple of turns and find myself in front of Paradox. I buy a spacecake 6E for the ride home. I back track to the canal to return to a Dutch restaurant across from the church. Nice little spot, there are about ten people inside. I am quickly seated and order a pint while I look at the menu. I decide on Stamppot and a steak. I have another pint while waiting on the food. When it does arrive, it’s not on the table long! It was a lot of food, but this is my first real meal of the day.

Back out into the cold, I continue towards Haarlemmerstraat passing the Anne Frankhuis. I actually didn’t get lost and soon see the Barney’s Threesome

Barney’s Uptown


Barney’s Coffeeshop (Breakfast Bar)


Barney’s Farm


I stop a Barney’s for a quick smoke. I ask for Red Cherry Berry, 11E/g, without looking at the menu. He shows me the tub and I see a bud on top winking at me. It weighs out right at a gram, it is meant to be.


I grind the entire gram and roll it into one big cone. It is a tasty smoke, nice stone. I only smoke about half of it and back out into the cold I go. I continue towards Basjoe, my final destination for the evening. I pass Picasso


Once I get to the Singel I turn right and take a couple of pictures.

Rokerij II


The Doors


I cross the canal and continue down the straat. I enter Freeworld


I grab a little internet time, check ACD to see if anyone else is coming to Basjoe tonight. I finish smoking the rest of the Red Cherry Berry over a cup of coffee.A quick time check and it’s already nine. I grab my things and head out. I pass up Resin and soon find myself in front of Ben. I get a grab Lemon Haze 14E/g


I cut down the alley in front of De Kuil/420


I make to Basjoe and find the now reduced in size crew, USBL, Luvtick & Alpha. I settle in and get a Looza., I think I might be addicted to them now. We smoke several joints, a couple get the green stuff smeared on them. ChristopherAmsterdam and one of the Tokyo Boys come a little later. More joints smoked and bongs rips taken. I say my final goodbyes a little after midnight and wander back to the hotel. I start to empty my pockets and come across a baggie that I didn’t know I had.
Red Diesel 15E/1.5g


Good thing I wrote strain and price down. I decide to smoke it tonight, roll the Lemon Haze for a wake & bake, then the Blueberry Cheese with Royal Jelly as my last smoke. As I roll everything for the morning I watch Family Guy and smoke a spliff. I finish packing, making sure that I check all of my pockets for any residual gear. I finally crash around two with about 4 hours before my alarm would be going off.

Monday, November 30, 2009

My alarm goes of at 5:30, I quickly silence it. I get out of bed and start smoking on one of the Red Diesel joints. I take a very hot shower to help wake me up. By 6:15 I am finishing my second joint of the morning. I now have a good buzz going as I get dressed and head out the door. I arrive at reception to turn in my key and get presented with a bill! WTF? He says that I had 2 candy bars, a bottle of water and 2 Heinekens. I explain to him that I never opened the mini-bar and refuse to sign the receipt. He says that if I owe them any money they will send me a bill. I thank him, and head for the bus stop. Well that little mix-up has caused me to miss the bus to Schiphol and now would have to wait on the tram. I decide to start walking s towards Centraal as the tram doesn’t come for another 20 minutes. The tram catches up to me at the Koningsplein but it so crowded there is no way that I can fit with my luggage. FUCK! My only other option is to walk all the way to the station as there is not one taxi around. I take out one of my spliffs for the walk. I take to the Spuistraat and make it to Dam Square by 6:45. My flight leaves at 10:05 and they say be there at least 3 hours before your flight. I am soon passing up KFC and Centraal is in sight.

I make it to the ticket machine, the same one I use every trip. I went directly to the platform; I saved some of the train schedule to my phone before I left home. I soon found myself in the familiar blue and yellow train en-route to Schiphol. I arrive at 7:30, not as late as I thought. As I come up the escalator I see the departure screens. I find my flight and proceed to the check in area on the far end of the airport. Again up another escalator to find a ridiculously long line. I am privileged to be an Elite member with Continental and get to use the Business First check in. A staff member who guided me to the desk quickly greeted me. She informs me that my upgrade did not go through because the incoming aircraft was a 767 and not 777 as previously scheduled. No big deal, I will keep the $250 dollars and 30,000 miles! I am seated in the front of the coach cabin with my own row. I hand over my luggage and grab my boarding passes. I head for the door and walk towards the end of the terminal. I sit on the wall overlooking a construction project and spark my last smoke in Amsterdam. It is cold as Polar Bear Balls, but I enjoy a beautiful sunrise with only a few clouds in the sky. I check my watch and it’s ten past eight. I relight my joint; I was so smashed by then. I go back into the terminal and find the toilet. I drain the lizard and take this picture.


I remove my jacket and put it on my carry on. I try and wash up as best as possible before going through Passport Control. I make it through with no problems with about forty-five minutes to spare. I grab a coffee and find a private spot in the departure lounge. I pull out my spacecake from Paradox and look out over the runway. I leave and make it to the gate just as it opens. Again I head for the Elite lane and this time am first in line. I wait behind the barrier as a staff member comes over. I hand over my boarding pass and then he ask me for my Elite Card, which I left at home. He types a few things into the computer and let’s me cross over. I get the usual questions and he places the sticker on the back of my passport. I head for x-ray and remove everything but my clothes and send it through the machine. I am determined to not beep this year! I walk through, beep! FUCK! I step to the side and assume the position. A quick pat down and I am collecting my things. I find a seat and wait another 20 minutes for them to start boarding. Once they start, I am sixth in line. A settle in for my 10 hour and 50 minute plane ride to the other side of Earth. We pull away from the gate 10 minutes late. It is not until the engines start that not only am I leaving but the spacecake is kicking. A quick look out the window and I notice the clouds have rolled in. We taxi for about 15 minutes and a wait another five before we take off.

Takeoff Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czLwRzOiMJc

When lunch does make it to my tray table, I notice I am fucked up. The cake has really taken hold of me, not to mention the joints and spliffs from this morning. I ask for a Heineken and pay the ridiculous 4 euro. I then take a Xanax before eating, maybe I can get some sleep now. As I am finishing up the food, the captain comes on the PA. He announces that the head winds are over 100 mph and the flight will be closer to 12 hours! I try to block out the latter and get comfortable.

I wake up 9 hours later and we still have another one and half to go. I get up to stretch and relieve myself. Not two seconds after I sit down the flight attendants are coming around with lunch. Again, I pay for a Heineken, in dollars this time. After they picked up the trash, I had enough time to watch an episode of Weeds. Soon after that we were landing in Houston, Texas. Being at the front of the plane has it’s advantages, I made it through immigration in under a minute. As I take the escalator down to baggage claim I check my watch, I have 45 minutes to catch my next flight two terminals away. I make it to the carousal as I check the flight status on my phone. A lady in a red jacket approaches me and asks if I have a connecting flight. I reply yes and she ask for my name. She then hands me a boarding for the next flight in case I do not make my scheduled flight. By the time we finish up, the bags are coming out. Mine is one of the first to make it to the carousel. I quickly make it through customs and re-check my luggage. Up one floor and back through security. Again, the Elite status comes in handy; there is now only one person ahead of me.

I make it off the escalator and onto the tram just before the doors close. I now have 25 minutes to catch my flight. I walk as fast as my tired legs will take me. When I make it to the gate they are just announcing general boarding and I walk directly on board. I relax for my short jaunt up to Dallas. By the time we push back, I am sleep. I awake as the flight attendant does a quick beverage service. No sooner than she handed me the glass, she is picking it up. We land soon after and are quickly of the plane. I head to baggage claim and wait for at least 15 minutes. Just as the bags start to come out my cell rings, my ride has just pulled up outside. My bag finally comes from the back, I grab it and head for the exit.

Great trip report it sounds like you had a good time, I liked everything about your report especially all the cool pictures.

Yay Balou! I LUV LUV LUV'd your report!!! I have been using it as reference for mine! I really enjoyed your company (and Raza's too). We will definitely have to meet up again this year...if you are going, that is...cuz I know you're going again during the summer. BRAVO on finishing the most excellent report! A++!!

Cool report ,like that panoramic pictures of coffeshops at night,you can see people inside

this has to be one of the finest reports i've ever read...good show .