I'm not much of a writer but I thought I'd share a little bit about my recent trip with you all. I tried my absolute best to keep a log of everything I bought but bloody hell, it was harder than I thought to keep everything detailed.
I was there between 17th June and 27th and the weather was absolutely glorious. Pushing 80 degrees most days.
I'm not in a position to do a day to day thing here, as I just can't remember all the details, but here is a list of the coffeeshops I went to, what I bought, how good/bad it was etc etc.
Anyway...
Rokerij (Elandsgracht)
My apartment was very close to here so when I got to it at around 10am on the first day I skipped straight to the Rokerij to get myself started. I went to the Albert Heijn first for essentials, such as Apple Juice, Bread, Cakes, Cheese, Salami. The usual stuff. Rokerij was just about open. I love this coffeeshop, it's a (very) old favourite of mine. It was the first coffeeshop I ever bought from a long, long time ago. It retains a bit of local charm as the area is quite residential. Around the Elandsgracht is a bit of an ethnic melting pot, with many Asian, Somalian and West African (and of course native Dutch) families living round there. I lived round here for a few months in 2005 so I have close ties to it. Inside the Rokerij is pretty amazing, if not particularly comfortable. There are the typical little Rokerij alcoves where you can sit on benches and stools with hand carved tables. There's also an amazing circular, mosaic table and cushioned benches at the back which makes a nice vantage point to see the rest of the shop. The budtender was very helpful to us. We wanted a nice, strong Sativa to start off the trip and had our eye on the Rokerij Sour Diesel at €9/g. It smelled very lemony, piny and crisp with an overriding smell of skunk. I bought just over two grams (a really nice looking bud) for €19. It was quite tight, light green buds. Reminded me of a nice White Widow. We went back to the apartment and opened up the balcony doors. I rolled my first cone of the trip and dragged away. The Sour Diesel taste hit me straight away. Right on the tongue and back of the throat. If I'm honest it felt a little harsh and dusty. The high was instant though. Strong, sativa driven head high that gets you right in the forehead and eyes. It was a really nice weed to smoke whilst watching all the bikes and people passing. Being the first joint of the trip, me and the wife shared it, but even so I was absolutely wasted. I crashed out on the sofa and got ready to watch some World Cup footy. I don't know if it was the strength of the joint (it was my first in months, I don't smoke at home) or just poor flushing or bad quality but the nice high turned nasty after around half an hour. I got a grinding, light sensitive headache and my mouth felt like it had been filled with gravel. This lasted for a couple of hours. So overall, the Sour Diesel from the Rokerij wasn't a great start, and it ended up lasting me the entire trip as I kept casting it aside for other strains, but couldn't bear to throw it out! It also ended up being the last joint I smoked 10 days later as I sat on the same balcony at 8am biding my time to leave for the airport.
Coffeeshop 137 (Brouwersgracht)
Visited this shop for the second time ever on this trip. It's in a really nice area, close to the Noordermarkt and on the edge of the Jordaan. It's very clean cut inside and quite plain and bright with beige coloured leather sofas and pine wood decor. It reminds me of a washed out version of Greenhouse Tolstraat. The budtender was really young but a very nice guy. We explained we wanted a hash and he was happy to recommend the Nepal at €8/g. We sat outside on canal on little wooden benches they had set up with tiny little cubic tables. It was a perfect setting opposite a little drawbridge. Hash was very, very nice. Super moist and oily, very pliable and smelled nice and zingy when broken open. I rolled out a few little spaghetti pieces and smoked them in a joint right there. The taste and smell was incredible. Took me right back to the village temples I wandered through backpacking India early this year. Nice, clear, high but with slumping shoulder overtones and the definite need to crash out and watch a good film afterwards. I was seriously impressed with the goods on offer here. Seemed a real locals joint, but not in the way that would make one feel unwelcome, it just had a small menu, with good prices and good weed. The Nepal was one of those hash's that you are sorry is finished. It was amazing for the price and next time (and there will be a next time) I'll be buying five grams of this baby.
Coffeeshop Solo (Korte Koningstraat)
This branch of Stix is now called Solo. The other one is also called this. This became a regular haunt for me on this trip. I've been before but never appreciated just how nicely everything comes together. Firstly, the surrounding area is stunning. Close to the red light, close to the Waterlooplein, close to the Bluebird etc, but on a ridiculously quiet canal and surrounded by others. Loads of benches round here to sit and chill. Lovely budtenders in here. I bought here three times, the first and last times there was an older woman on who was really knowledgeable about the menu and helped us pick a couple of strains. The other time was an equally helpful guy. Inside it is a bit dark, with deep woods and low lights, but it has fitted booths to the wall and a huge oval table by a massive 'wall sized' window that opens fully. The coffee here is incredible. From here I bought three strains. A blonde hash called Twisla (€10/g) which I had never heard of before. A beautiful 100% sativa weed called Chocolope, and the famous 'house' weed, Royal Solo (€10/g). All were good. The Twisla was a little disappointing because it was really hard and I had to put it right to the flame in order to get it to crumble which annoys me. High was nice, light and unobtrusive. Could walk around easily without feeling too done in. The Royal Solo was a very nice smoke. I understood (possibly incorrectly now I think about it) that it was a sativa but it had nice indica overtones anyway, and got me good and stoned. Really enjoyed this strain. The chocolope (€14/g)...well...what can I say but WOW! This was possible the smoke of the trip. There's a few more examples I can think of that could be contenders but let's just say it was pretty damn good. Fucking strong sativa high, unbelievably long lasting as well. Tasty as a summers day too. Smelled really rich and pungent. It was an entirely different smell on the bud than it was when it was broken open. Very special strain, from a very special shop.
Got to go to work now, but I'll post more later![/b]
10 (Rather Hazy) Days in Amsterdam
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westerkerk
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10 (Rather Hazy) Days in Amsterdam
Last edited by westerkerk on Wed 30th Jun 2010 10:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Bilbo Baggins
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Re: 10 (Rather Hazy) Days in Amsterdam
Dont know about that mate---this report makes nice readingwesterkerk wrote:I'm not much of a writer but I thought I'd share a little bit about my recent trip with you all.[/b]
Dam Square/Damraak Webcam Live http://hdtv.webcam.nl/website/page1/pag ... creen.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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titus wong
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Re: 10 (Rather Hazy) Days in Amsterdam
Hear, hear. I second that emotion.Bilbo Baggins wrote:Dont know about that mate---this report makes nice readingwesterkerk wrote:I'm not much of a writer but I thought I'd share a little bit about my recent trip with you all.[/b]
Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
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westerkerk
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Forget work, here's a few more...
Amnesia (Herensgracht)
Most people know about this place, and many people on here have been. It divides opinion and for me, that's a good thing. It is one of those places that can give off a bad first impression (Touristy, always very busy, Barney's menu, Barney's owned etc), but if you persevere you can still enjoy one of the best marijuana experiences in the country here. That's my opinion anyway. Let's start with the staff. Well, they ID'd everyone!! My wife and I are in our (very) late 20's. We don't look old but we don't look eighteen either. We got ID'd but it was cool because we had it on us. Other people (seriously older than us) were ID'd and turned away because they weren't carrying any, but seriously, they were like 40 and one guy had a greying beard. I think this was a way to combat how busy it was with tourists. This was midday and it was jam packed. We were lucky enough to be offered an outside seat by a couple who were leaving. I don't mind a coffeeshop asking for ID's but it was strange because it was like they were trying to offload as many people as they could and ID'ing was the only viable option for them to turn people away. They know a lot of couples, small groups don't want to buy and split. They want to squeeze onto a table and have a joint or two, right there and then. Especially when they've just had to bypass Grey Area (right around the corner) because it has like, two seats. There is a reason it gets busy though. The weed is awesome. I bought here three times. Laughing Buddha (€13/g), LSD (€14/g), Amnesia Lemon (€14/g). All were heavy on the Sativa. You'll probably see thats a real trend of mine. I love Sativa strains. By far the star of these was the LSD. When I think of Amnesia, I think of the good times I've had over the years smoking this strain. It's seriously superb. Smells amazing, looks amazing, and the high feels amazing. The batch this time was very nice and the budtender was pleased when I ordered it saying it was his personal favourite. The drinks in here are good too. Nice, commercial coffees and hot chocolates. It's pretty expensive, for weed and drinks, but this is to be expected because of it's combination of popularity and ownership under Barneys. It's our fault too, as tourists, because we pay it. The few times we were there countless groups came and went. Some were turned away when the queue got long, some bought grams and grams of the stuff. I reckon they don't do too bad financially
De Graal(Albert Cuypstraat)
Handy location right next to the Albert Cuypstraat market. They have a smoking area upstairs and this time it was all laid out like a little cinema for the world cup. The TV was projected onto a bed sheet. It was being set up when got there by a bunch of very stoned men, so it was all a bit wonky but funny too. We sat up there with a few of the locals and watched Portugal trounce North Korea. I'd come from the Vondelpark where we'd sat on the grass and smoked a few so I'm genuinely ashamed to admit but I have no recollection of what we bought. All I know is that this weed was an indica and after two joints of it we stumbled out into the heat and took on the market feeling very reluctant to move and keeping our eyes peeled for a bench amongst the rabble of people. It was an ace smoke and I'd love to remember it. The very friendly BT told me it was his favourite and a popular strain from their menu, so chances are someone on here might have an idea?? I really like this coffeeshop. It's comfy and has reasonably priced weed, hash and drinks. I know it's poplar with people on here and I can see why. I told the BT we'd be back at Christmas and he told me to remind him of "this exact moment" to see how funny it would be to remember. Chances are, neither of us will remember a thing. It's only been a few days and I know my memories are fading fast
Really gotta go now... more later...
Amnesia (Herensgracht)
Most people know about this place, and many people on here have been. It divides opinion and for me, that's a good thing. It is one of those places that can give off a bad first impression (Touristy, always very busy, Barney's menu, Barney's owned etc), but if you persevere you can still enjoy one of the best marijuana experiences in the country here. That's my opinion anyway. Let's start with the staff. Well, they ID'd everyone!! My wife and I are in our (very) late 20's. We don't look old but we don't look eighteen either. We got ID'd but it was cool because we had it on us. Other people (seriously older than us) were ID'd and turned away because they weren't carrying any, but seriously, they were like 40 and one guy had a greying beard. I think this was a way to combat how busy it was with tourists. This was midday and it was jam packed. We were lucky enough to be offered an outside seat by a couple who were leaving. I don't mind a coffeeshop asking for ID's but it was strange because it was like they were trying to offload as many people as they could and ID'ing was the only viable option for them to turn people away. They know a lot of couples, small groups don't want to buy and split. They want to squeeze onto a table and have a joint or two, right there and then. Especially when they've just had to bypass Grey Area (right around the corner) because it has like, two seats. There is a reason it gets busy though. The weed is awesome. I bought here three times. Laughing Buddha (€13/g), LSD (€14/g), Amnesia Lemon (€14/g). All were heavy on the Sativa. You'll probably see thats a real trend of mine. I love Sativa strains. By far the star of these was the LSD. When I think of Amnesia, I think of the good times I've had over the years smoking this strain. It's seriously superb. Smells amazing, looks amazing, and the high feels amazing. The batch this time was very nice and the budtender was pleased when I ordered it saying it was his personal favourite. The drinks in here are good too. Nice, commercial coffees and hot chocolates. It's pretty expensive, for weed and drinks, but this is to be expected because of it's combination of popularity and ownership under Barneys. It's our fault too, as tourists, because we pay it. The few times we were there countless groups came and went. Some were turned away when the queue got long, some bought grams and grams of the stuff. I reckon they don't do too bad financially
De Graal(Albert Cuypstraat)
Handy location right next to the Albert Cuypstraat market. They have a smoking area upstairs and this time it was all laid out like a little cinema for the world cup. The TV was projected onto a bed sheet. It was being set up when got there by a bunch of very stoned men, so it was all a bit wonky but funny too. We sat up there with a few of the locals and watched Portugal trounce North Korea. I'd come from the Vondelpark where we'd sat on the grass and smoked a few so I'm genuinely ashamed to admit but I have no recollection of what we bought. All I know is that this weed was an indica and after two joints of it we stumbled out into the heat and took on the market feeling very reluctant to move and keeping our eyes peeled for a bench amongst the rabble of people. It was an ace smoke and I'd love to remember it. The very friendly BT told me it was his favourite and a popular strain from their menu, so chances are someone on here might have an idea?? I really like this coffeeshop. It's comfy and has reasonably priced weed, hash and drinks. I know it's poplar with people on here and I can see why. I told the BT we'd be back at Christmas and he told me to remind him of "this exact moment" to see how funny it would be to remember. Chances are, neither of us will remember a thing. It's only been a few days and I know my memories are fading fast
Really gotta go now... more later...
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PecosTheCat
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StonedSince67
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DeathRowRecords
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Not much of a writer westerkerk? As Bilbo & titus have noted, you're too modest!
A great read, thanks for taking the time to write it up. I haven't been to most of the cs's you mention, but I agree about 137 100% - a washed out GreenHouse Tolstraat totally covers it! Always great to hear about De Graal too, glad you liked the place.
Looking forward to the rest.
A great read, thanks for taking the time to write it up. I haven't been to most of the cs's you mention, but I agree about 137 100% - a washed out GreenHouse Tolstraat totally covers it! Always great to hear about De Graal too, glad you liked the place.
Looking forward to the rest.
10 B&H + a packet of rizla,not the greens
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Blues Haze
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westerkerk
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