Day 2
My first full day in Amsterdam! In my notebook I wrote the words, “Fantastic.”
7:30am After waking up and realizing that it wasn’t a dream, and I am sleeping on a bed in a hotel in Amsterdam, rather than on my futon on a tatami mat floor in Japan, I was so excited! Eager to begin my first full day in Amsterdam, I toyed with the idea of reaching for that first wake-n-bake toke. However, I remembered that more often than not, after that first toke I usually start to suffer from stoner-itis. I think many of YOU know what that means, so I decide, I must hold off on the smoking until at least the TNT scheduled for 1:30 @ Grey Area.
That finally sorted, I went to take a shower. Now, this may come as a shock for some people but my hotel room didn’t really have a proper shower. It was more a wet room with a sink and toilet. But for 45 Euros a night, what could I expect? My hotel was all about location, not luxury. All clean and smelling like the south of Italy, according to the hotel soap, I made my way downstairs to enjoy the complimentary continental breakfast. When I arrived to the dining room, a man named John greeted me. I remember loving listening to him speak English. In the coming days, I would become more and more enamored with the way Dutch people speak English. After asking me about how well I had slept, he motioned for me to have a seat.
The free continental breakfast consisted of the standard – orange juice, coffee, tea and/or milk, and either white or a wheat bread for toast. There were a large selection of jams, and a hazelnut spread that was not so different from Nutella. In addition to cereal, you could custom order eggs as well. After partaking of a nice breakfast, I went upstairs to grab my coat and headed outdoors for the day.
9:30am I decided that today would be the day that I would visit the Rijksmuseum. I step outside and the streets on the Leidseplein are covered in ice and snow. The only clear spaces to walk seem to be designated for either bikes or cars, so I enjoyed skating my way to the Rijksmuseum while trying not to fall.
10:00am After a nice brisk walk along the canals near my hotel, I arrive at the Rijksmuseum. It looked as if it was going through a bit of renovation work, but my fears were put to rest as I learned that the museum was indeed still open. After entering the lobby, I approached the ticket booth and purchased my ticket. Unfamiliar with the Euro, it took me a good minute to fumble through my wallet, but the lady at the counter understood and just smiled. Next, there was a room where you could purchase an audio tour. (HIGHLY RECCOMENDED) There were two options: 1) was the standard audio tour 2) was a special tour narrated by a famous Dutch artist. I apologize that I cannot recall his name, but despite the additional 2 Euros for this version, it was well worth it. I was on vacation, and I can’t enjoy myself if I need to worry about an extra Euro or two, or three.
The audio tour was excellent. The narrator shared many of his personal stories and gave plenty of information on the items exhibited including their cultural and historical significance; I really enjoyed this tour. After an hour of peaceful browsing through Dutch history, I met Neville. Neville is from England. Neville had never been to Amsterdam. Neville came alone, and Neville asked if he could join me….. on my lovely audio tour……with headphones…. for one person. Perhaps it was the smoke from the previous night, but for some reason I said yes.
Neville loves to talk. I quickly learned why he came to Amsterdam alone. There are all sorts of places to have interesting discussions about why he votes Labour, and how the new PM will ruin English politics, but the Rijksmuseum is not one of them. The next hour would be a song and dance between me trying to listen to the audio tour, or Neville asking me about a show called, Bewitched. He invites me to have a coffee, but I politely refuse. Also, I remember him asking me which piece of art would I love to have if I could have any one in the world, and at the time I couldn’t think of it, but now I remember; Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez.
12:00pm After visiting the museum I continued walking until I found a great little place to have a quick bite before I had to meet up with Gapie and Bleak at Grey Area. I sat down and ordered a hot chocolate and a salami, tomato and pesto grilled sandwich. Delicious. Salami is not popular in Japan, so I really enjoyed this. In the next few days, foods with Salami on them became the standard.
12:45pm Feeling full and re-energized, I decide it’s time to make my way to Grey Area to meet Gapie and Bleak.
1:20pm I am standing in front of the Dutch Flowers coffee shop I saw on Big D’s “Amsterdam Coffee shop Experience” DVD. A quick flick through my ACD map on my cell phone and I feel like I am on track.
1:35pm Passing Popeye’s, Greenhouse, and Dampkring….I pull out the ACD map on my phone, and realize that I am near Centraal Station! Yikes. I pick up the pace and head southwest.
1:45pm Passing a beautiful snow covered old church, I pull out my map again and realize that I am completely lost now. I take some random streets heading northeast. I watched a man completely face plant off his bike onto the cold hard ice with a large thud. I quickly turned to stop from laughing as he gasped to regain his breath. I didn’t help him get up, I feel terrible about it.
2:00pm Somehow I find myself back near Brouvers Gracht. At this point, I turn around and start to head back to the hotel, so that I can send the guys a PM. Slowly making my way back to the hotel, I stumble across one of the coffee shops on my list, Tertulia. Tired of being lost and not wanting to pull out the ACD map on my cell phone, I decide to go in.
Looking back at it, Tertulia seems a bit different. I had read that the shop was woman owned and operated and it felt like it. As I entered the coffee shop I felt as if I had walked into someone’s private patio. The cool gray stone lined floors, tall green houseplants, and soothing water features completed the illusion. I stepped down into the seating area, and asked to see a menu. A few moments later, a small-framed woman with a slightly crooked smile and a warm disposition asked me if I needed help to which I replied, “yes,” and asked if she had any idea where I was. She laughed and handed me a very small colorful map that would become my favorite map of the trip, and later dubbed, “The Pirate Map.” After picking up the map, I ordered a gram of their Amnesia Haze and a Strawberry Looza. I decide to wait till later to try the Amnesia (wasn’t terrible, but wasn’t great) and plotted my way back to the hotel.
3:00 Finally, I found my way back to my hotel. After sending Gapie and Bleak a message about my lost adventures, and assuring them that I would be at Mellow Yellow for the 4:30 TNT, I freshen up a bit and head over to the head shop next door for a nice cheap piece. I walk into the shop, and a very tall man with nice and clean looking dreadlocks and a million dollar smile greets me. I am continually blown away with how diverse Amsterdam is. It could be a side effect of living in rural Japan where all I see are Japanese people. He demonstrates one of the unbreakable pipes for 9 Euros, and despite my initial urge to buy the pipe, I choose a 7 Euro bong on the opposite side of the store; a decision I would later regret. I ask the clerk about Mellow Yellow, and he tells me the weed is just okay, and says there’s better.
4:15 I make my way over to Mellow Yellow thinking I could grab a table if I am lucky. This time I know exactly where it is having passed it earlier on my way to the Rijksmuseum.
4:20 Mellow Yellow has a very different vibe from Tertulia. I don’t believe they could by any different. As you enter, you face the bud tender with rows of tables flanking your sides. The room is a bit dark, and quite smoky. I queue up and begin searching for a table.
To my right are a group of guys with a large powerful-looking Rottweiler. I should have taken a picture. Next to the group of men, I see a couple drinking their lattes, and to my left there were two other groups. Finally, I reach the bud tender and purchase a gram of their Blueberry, a pre-rolled joint, and a Strawberry Looza. As I turn around, I noticed that one of the groups has left! Score! And, a front window seat no less.
I sit at the table that had been decorated, very festively, with a miniature Christmas tree. I put down my bag, grab the pre-rolled and a tourist magazine and begin to smoke. As I take that first toke, I instantly feel that dry heady rush that comes with tobacco – ugh. It’s really bad, but I want to keep my hands busy so I work with it. Slowly, the high creeps in, and I know it, because I have to read and then re-read the articles in the magazine.
4:35pm After finishing an article on Amsterdam Nightlife, I notice how dark it is getting and look out the window. Immediately, I spot a man who I recognized as Gapie walk in. I made sure to make eye contact and sent him a large wave. Gapie and Bleak walk in and join me at the little festive table and it is officially a TNT.
Gapie hangs a laminated ACD map on the miniature tree as we are expecting a few others to come as well. Great idea, Gapie. It is from this point, where my jourmal becomes very distorted and hazy. Ha ha. And what would be the first of many meetings with these great guys.
**photo courtesy of Bleak
Gapie is Amsterdam. His energy, enthusiasm for weed, and infectious laughter often left me looking at him in awe. There were times, mostly high, when I had a little difficulty understanding him, but I quite like the way he speaks English. Bleak is also a great guy, very cool, and chill and I found him very easy to talk with. I think we all had an instant rapport and felt very comfortable with each other.
Telling Gapie that I had bought a gram of Blueberry for us, I reached into my bag and handed him the goods. He opens the sealed bag and, mimicking "Mr. Dreadlocks" mentions that the goods at Mellow Yellow are average at best. It would seem so. Gapie begins to break up the blueberry and rolls a nice joint in no time flat. My mouth begins to water in anticipation, and I take the last sip of my Strawberry Looza. Puff, puff, pass…the joint goes around and I dunno…I feel high. Eyelids getting heavy.
Feeling a bit relaxed, we all begin to discuss about weed and different coffee shops and soon the subject of hash comes up. I tell them I had never smoked it, and Bleak pulls out some Jungle Nepalese hash that he bought, and Gapie rolled another joint with the Blueberry and the Jungle hash. Real nice high for me, but hash definitely has unique taste I noticed. In addition to the Mellow Yellow goods, we also had some of the Grey Haze and Kuchi that Bleak purchased previously at Grey Area, and also some type of cheese. The smell of that cheese after going through Bleak’s grinder was heavenly. We smoked and talked for possibly an hour or so.
After a while I find myself fidgeting for some coffee, and Gapie suggested that we go over to his friend’s house, let’s call him Mr. A, to chill for a bit. I remember thinking “OK, here I am in Amsterdam, alone, high with two guys I just met that have just invited me over to another person’s house who I don’t know. Huh. This could turn out to be either very good or very bad….How to answer….lemme see……Sure!”
After bracing the crisp chilly air, we arrive at Mr. A’s place. Mr. A lives in a beautiful old building filled with architectural details of a by-gone time; the aged floor boards, carved banisters, tall sash windows, high ceilings, and wainscoting captivate my imagination. Turns out, Mr. A is a very cool guy indeed. He had even prepared some coffee for me, I was quite surprised and appreciative.
Feeling the need to refresh ourselves after the walk, Gapie begins to roll another joint and while smoking we contemplate the idea of grabbing some pizza. Stomachs in agreement we walk down stairs and across the street to an amazing Pizza take out place. Bleak and I had an amazing pizza with probably four types of meat with the most important being……you got it….salami. =)
**photo courtesy of Bleak
Pizza secured we head back to Mr. A’s place to chill out. Feeling full, and listening to Mr. A’s collection of house music we continue smoking and talking for what seemed like hours. Gapie rolls a nice tulip with tobacco for the “Dutchies” and some plain joints for Bleak and I. Before over staying our welcome, we realize its about that time and thank our host for his great hospitality and welcome.
Not completely sure, and still quite high, I am contemplating how I will get back to my hotel when Gapie says that they will walk me back. Walking back through Vondel Park, and the Museum Plein we find ourselves at Dolphins for a quick vaporizer session before calling it a night. Nice taste the vaporizers I think.
**photo courtesy of Bleak
Pretty tired and baked beyond reason we leave Dolphins, and the guys walk me back to my hotel where I bid them goodnight while thanking them for an amazing first day and Christmas Eve in Amsterdam. I climb the tiny stairs to my tiny room where within minutes I fall into a deep sleep.
End Day 2.
