Trip 4 - 25th to 27th May

[archambaut]

Well I know it's a bit late, but I find that trying to recall details
is difficult (usually I piece together my movements from the date
stamps on my photos), and logging on here makes me want to go
straight back to NL for another trip!

Anyhoos, here's a brief account of the fun and games...

[archambaut]

Jst a short trip this time, would have liked an extra day, but
couldn't find a single roon and the double meant I had to spend
one less night there.

Arrived in Haarlem on the 25th, fine and sunny, not too hot, not
too cold. Had a couple of hours to kill before checkin so I wander
north from the station towards Birdy.

Despite several visits to Haalrem I've never walked this way before,
and pass a pleasant park area around the Bolwerk. Never been to
Birdy either - I think it was shut down last year.

Was pleasantly surprised to find a large and well kitted out shop
with a fair few customers and friendly staff. Got a some Knetter and
some Tempel Polm. Sat in there with a coffee rolling happily.
The TempelPolm was nice soft dark hash that tasted divine and hit the
spot. The knetter was really rather heavy - perhaps a bit too heavy.

Wandered out of Birdy and slowly walked back to town, Decided to sit
by the canal to the north side of the station and then slowly wandered
down to the hotel.

Checked, hit Albert Hejn for munchies and suoolies, then grabbed
my camera and went walk about in Haarlem. I am becoming very
fond of this place as it is pretty like the best bits of Adam, but small
and less busy and intimidating.

Popped into Taakr Away for some Amnesia Haze (10E) - string but rough
and their Rode Maroc (3E!!!). I'm sure last time it was 5E, so I guess its now
a bit old. Smoke is a bit rough, but strength is OK and for 3E, I wish I had bought
a full 5grams - I certainly paid more for hash of not much better quality.
Hey ho, live and learn.

Spent a good 3 hours wandering stonedly around Haarlem - I could walk this place a
hundred times and never get tired of it (but always get lost).
Eventually got back to the hotel around 7, and conked out in front of the TV around
8pm....

[archambaut]

Woke around 4.30, TV still going, rolled a couple and wandered
outside for a morning constitutional.

After a sojourn back in the room, did a bit of admin (top up chipkaart,
changed up some cash) and headed into the dam.

First stop Barentz - well not quite having got fairly stoned before the train,
it took me a while to locate the correct bus stop (directly outside the station).
10 mins later alighted at BrarentzStraat, and wandered around the corner.

Today was grey and cool, and a bit bleak out there by the docks, but the
neighbourhood was quite pleasant - nicer than it looks on Google Street View.

Barentz was exactly as described in the review - good prices, very good coffee,
nice budtender lady and a really cool smoker zone. Got some Royal Cream (v. nice),
Super Smile (OK) and Bubblegum (sofa glue). Stayed an hour then wandered slowly
back to the bus, checking out the general area along the way.

From Centraal, walked to Anyday for a buy and fly, got Silver Haze (12.5E/g)
and Nepal Polm (8E/g). The haze was strong and a bit harsh, the Nepal was
excellent - a bit 'trippy' as in activity afterwards seemed like a disjointed collection
of unrelated episodes (and inability to remember where I'm going 5 seconds after
looking at the map).

Jumped on the Tram to de Pijp, and hit the following:

Club Media:
Lemon Skunk (10E/g) - nice but weak lemon taste, stone is a bit meh.
Caramello (8E/g) - disappointing. Definitely had better examples of this.


Katsu (buy and fly):
Maroc Ice (20E/g) - string and smooth, but not sure it's worth the extra.
Haze shake - rough, and obviously a mix of hazes, but IMO good value for money.

Sat out in Sarpathi Park enjoying a smoke and a cheese roll.

Papillon:
Their menu ain't what it was before (I really enjoyed some Citral from here)
Super Silver Haze (11E/g) - spicy taste, odd aftertaste. So-so stone.
Papi-special (7E/g) - good deal for the money.

Ocean(buy and fly):
Super Kristal (9E/g) - semi-soft mid brown Maroccan, god stuff.

Not sure what time it was when I decided to call it a day. I remember picking up
food on the way back somewhere, don't remember what or where. Got back to the hotel
around 7pm, (my) lights out around 10.30pm.

[jimi62471]

great report Arch.. planning a day trip to Haarlem myself when I go in November. sounds worth the trip!!! any PICS?

[archambaut]

Resumed conciousness at 7 Am - last day already!
Pop out for a morning smoke, roll a few more for walking
around, grab breakfast and pack bag. Out by 10.30
for a long slow walk to the station. Weather still cool grey
and windy and threatening rain

First stop was Kadinsky (just off Spui) where I picked up
some Trans Himalayan (Yay!), then off to Westermarkt for
my first time around Jordaan.

Sopped in Paradox - just as the rain started - got a space cake,
some Manali Jungle and some Turkish. The jungle looked a bit old
(had a crust on the surface) and the bud tender seemed keen to push
me toward the pre-weighed deals rahter than selling me multiples of
a gram as i wanted. Otherwise he was pleasant, and I sat near the door
with my tea which went quickly cold in the draught. The Turkish was quite
harsh in a joint, but I discivered it burned perfectly in a hash pipe and made
a decent smoke.

(I saved the space cake for the journey home - and very
effective it was. Basically it transformed what is usually a long and tedious
and rather doleful train journey into a brief and pleasurable one

So for 6E, better than an upgrade to first class).


Wandered around Jordaan rather lost, looking for Sanementerung,
failed to find it, but eventually found myself looking across the canal at
1e Hulp. Popped in and got Royal Cream Deluxe (6.50E/g) and Cream Balls
(7.50E/g). Sat upsstairs but the place was crowded, so rolled and drank up
pretty quick.

Wandered off towards Supermarkt, along the canal right up to the park at
the top of Hugo de Groot (street?). Not the nicest park to sit in, as it seemed
small and has major traffic running artery through the middle of it.

Walked back down to Supermarkt and got Power Plant (8.5E/g) and Casablanca
(9E/g). Stayed for tea, but there was some guy in the smoker area bouncing
around to the music. He was OK, just stoned and happy, but he kept doing it
as I was trying to chill out and gaze out the window.

Still, it was time to go, so I wandered back down towards the tram, but managed to
get lost - I know it was straight down the road, but I took a detour whilst I finished a
joint, and soon had lost my bearings.

Eventually quit town around 6 and that was the end of another happy trip.

Next one - some time soon, maybe, funds permitting...

Laters
Arch