Re: Dangler Almost live April 7th to 27th
Posted: Mon 11th Apr 2011 04:19 am
8:35 am
Hotel II Giardino
Words can’t describe how heinous this place is. The sign above the narrow door at Prins Hendrikkade 97 tells me that hotel reception is next door. An arrow points to the entrance of a dodgy kabob shop. Behind a glass counter showcasing donuts that look like they are turning into penicillin ,stand two men. First guy looks like a parrot with a ponytail and cataracts. The other, an extra from the movie City of God.
I assume the parrot is in charge.
‘Hello.’
‘Squawk!!!’ he says. No, that’s not what he said. He said:
‘Hallo’
‘Hi I have a reservation’
‘vas?’
‘For a room.’
‘Room?’
‘Yeah, a single.’
‘Room?’
I point next door. ‘The hotel.’
‘Oh yes, of course, room.. We have room.’
‘Great’
I’m told it will be ready by one pm , but I can leave my bag in the room. Tells me to return the key before I leave. I take the greasy key and go next door. It won’t open. Poke my head back into the kabob shop.
‘The door.’
'Oh, yes, yes’ says the parrot.
Both of them start searching. Searching for an elusive button that will give me entrance to the Hotel Giardino. It’s like they are unaware that they are running a hotel. It’s obviously a front for some other operation . Born and raised in Los Angeles, I know a criminal element when I see one.
I can smell bullshit like a fart in a elevator.
The button thing sorted. I enter the hotel and I’m greeted to the usual steep winding staircase.
A staircase that looks like it’s being rebuilt. Some of the steps are actually missing. I run the gauntlet up two flights. Down the hall, I walk the green mile to my room. Lights flickering, the place smells damp.
Is this revenge for making a living in the horror industry? Is this life imitating art?
He only had to survive one night.
Reach a thin door with an even flimsier lock. Enter room and I’m greeted to the scent of cabbage and body odor. It's cramped and covered in graffiti with a broken window facing a brick fortification. A couple of sheets of lumber are leaning against one wall. There is a TV circa 1980 with a remote control covered in cigarette burns. This is a two star?
Quickly throw my bag in the corner. Grab my laptop. Drop off the key and make haste.
It’s only one night, it’s only one night…………………
10;05 am
De Kuil
Purchase 1g of Neville’s Haze 11e , a coffee verkeerd and a Sourcy rood. Plug in the laptop and enjoy a Morning cone.
12:45 pm
Dam Square
Ok, the “living statues” are getting out of control. They’re starting to out number the pigeons. Must of them aren’t even trying . One of the original metallic blue knight statues is still here. I watched him preparing for his day. He was sitting on his stool without his helmet looking at all the amateurs around him with disgust. This reminds me of the “costumed superheroes" who congregate outside the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
They hustle tourist’s to take a photo with them for tips. Great documentary about the subject.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1016164/
3:50 pm
Voyagers
Had a session with Blueberry, Gapie, Trad and Highlyblessed. Very nice.
Was going to go to dinner with Blueberry, but we got sidetracked by the best view in Amsterdam.
5:05 pm
Tak and Holly’s Boat
The first thing you feel when you enter this Shangri-la is the warm welcoming sensation from it’s hosts, Tak and Holly. Next is the view. The awe inspiring view. A canal level view of a constant parade of boats and local wildlife. When a slow moving tour boat filled to the brim with tourists and cameras passed the window, I couldn’t help but think how great it would be to moon them. Just drop trou and place it against the glass. Damn my arrested development.
Just after six pm I say goodbye to Tak and Holly and part ways with Blueberry
I’d been in town for two days and I hadn’t contacted anyone from the festival yet. Took care of some business
7:10 pm
Grill Bar Baby.
First shoarma of the trip. This spot used to be my favorite for the sliced spicy meat and hot sauce.
http://www.nelso.nl/nl/place/246202/
Friendly service. The food is most definitely a shadow of its former self. It still hit the spot.
Sadly, I won’t be returning.
Walk to Damstraat to get a pack of Camel Blues. Pass a new restaurant named “The Mexican” followed by another restaurant a few doors down called………………. “The Mexican”. Cool thing about that one, is that its located where the shitty Coffeeshop Paradise used to be.
Pop into the Old Man and get my smokes. Walk to the ‘t Nes and its packed. Turn around and head to the Excalibur to say hi to Zad. Have a few beers.
11:31 pm
Greenhouse Effect
Purchase 1g Greenhouse special 11e. Decide to head to the hotel for the evening..
Hotel II Giardino
Words can’t describe how heinous this place is. The sign above the narrow door at Prins Hendrikkade 97 tells me that hotel reception is next door. An arrow points to the entrance of a dodgy kabob shop. Behind a glass counter showcasing donuts that look like they are turning into penicillin ,stand two men. First guy looks like a parrot with a ponytail and cataracts. The other, an extra from the movie City of God.
I assume the parrot is in charge.
‘Hello.’
‘Squawk!!!’ he says. No, that’s not what he said. He said:
‘Hallo’
‘Hi I have a reservation’
‘vas?’
‘For a room.’
‘Room?’
‘Yeah, a single.’
‘Room?’
I point next door. ‘The hotel.’
‘Oh yes, of course, room.. We have room.’
‘Great’
I’m told it will be ready by one pm , but I can leave my bag in the room. Tells me to return the key before I leave. I take the greasy key and go next door. It won’t open. Poke my head back into the kabob shop.
‘The door.’
'Oh, yes, yes’ says the parrot.
Both of them start searching. Searching for an elusive button that will give me entrance to the Hotel Giardino. It’s like they are unaware that they are running a hotel. It’s obviously a front for some other operation . Born and raised in Los Angeles, I know a criminal element when I see one.
I can smell bullshit like a fart in a elevator.
The button thing sorted. I enter the hotel and I’m greeted to the usual steep winding staircase.
A staircase that looks like it’s being rebuilt. Some of the steps are actually missing. I run the gauntlet up two flights. Down the hall, I walk the green mile to my room. Lights flickering, the place smells damp.
Is this revenge for making a living in the horror industry? Is this life imitating art?
He only had to survive one night.
Reach a thin door with an even flimsier lock. Enter room and I’m greeted to the scent of cabbage and body odor. It's cramped and covered in graffiti with a broken window facing a brick fortification. A couple of sheets of lumber are leaning against one wall. There is a TV circa 1980 with a remote control covered in cigarette burns. This is a two star?
Quickly throw my bag in the corner. Grab my laptop. Drop off the key and make haste.
It’s only one night, it’s only one night…………………
10;05 am
De Kuil
Purchase 1g of Neville’s Haze 11e , a coffee verkeerd and a Sourcy rood. Plug in the laptop and enjoy a Morning cone.
12:45 pm
Dam Square
Ok, the “living statues” are getting out of control. They’re starting to out number the pigeons. Must of them aren’t even trying . One of the original metallic blue knight statues is still here. I watched him preparing for his day. He was sitting on his stool without his helmet looking at all the amateurs around him with disgust. This reminds me of the “costumed superheroes" who congregate outside the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
They hustle tourist’s to take a photo with them for tips. Great documentary about the subject.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1016164/
3:50 pm
Voyagers
Had a session with Blueberry, Gapie, Trad and Highlyblessed. Very nice.
Was going to go to dinner with Blueberry, but we got sidetracked by the best view in Amsterdam.
5:05 pm
Tak and Holly’s Boat
The first thing you feel when you enter this Shangri-la is the warm welcoming sensation from it’s hosts, Tak and Holly. Next is the view. The awe inspiring view. A canal level view of a constant parade of boats and local wildlife. When a slow moving tour boat filled to the brim with tourists and cameras passed the window, I couldn’t help but think how great it would be to moon them. Just drop trou and place it against the glass. Damn my arrested development.
Just after six pm I say goodbye to Tak and Holly and part ways with Blueberry
I’d been in town for two days and I hadn’t contacted anyone from the festival yet. Took care of some business
7:10 pm
Grill Bar Baby.
First shoarma of the trip. This spot used to be my favorite for the sliced spicy meat and hot sauce.
http://www.nelso.nl/nl/place/246202/
Friendly service. The food is most definitely a shadow of its former self. It still hit the spot.
Sadly, I won’t be returning.
Walk to Damstraat to get a pack of Camel Blues. Pass a new restaurant named “The Mexican” followed by another restaurant a few doors down called………………. “The Mexican”. Cool thing about that one, is that its located where the shitty Coffeeshop Paradise used to be.
Pop into the Old Man and get my smokes. Walk to the ‘t Nes and its packed. Turn around and head to the Excalibur to say hi to Zad. Have a few beers.
11:31 pm
Greenhouse Effect
Purchase 1g Greenhouse special 11e. Decide to head to the hotel for the evening..
