Here's a review of my trip:
My flight was delayed into Schipol and it was a nightmare flight. Towards the end I stressed out because I thought I left my money belt with all my spending money at home. I had to wait 30 minutes for the plane to land and to get into arrivals before I could check - thank god I put the money belt in my suitcase !
So by the time I stepped off the train at Centraal station it was 9.45pm and was pissing down with rain.
I headed straight for my hotel but got lost, walked around in circles for ages and then realised that my hotel (Hotel Royal Taste) was surrounded by prostitute doors (or whatever you call them). I had to push my way through a large group of German and Japanese men in their 50's, who were ogling at the girls, just to get into the hotel.
Checked in and straight to my room to dry off and drink a can of Amstel. Didn't leave the hotel until 10.45pm. It was Friday night and the RLD was crowded so I headed off to Homegrown Fantasy which wasn't very busy. Bought a gram of Crystal for 10euro. Probably the best "first smoke" of a trip to Netherlands I've had because I did't get trashed after a couple of drags like I normally do. I always go for something a lot stronger but this Crystal was perfect.
They were playing some decent doom and prog metal music so I stayed for another 30 mins and smoked some more. The plan was then to turn left out of Homegrown Fantasy for the 15-20 minute walk down to the Dolphin and Easytimes close to Leidesplein, but instead I turned right and ended up in a bar. Had a swift half and then somehow ended up at the Blue Bird. Just enough time for a smoke before they closed at 1am, or was it 2am? I don't know!
Next day checked out of hotel at 9.30 and went to Bulldog Cafe Mack for breakfast. Plan was to get a cheese toastie but I settled for a pint of Heineken instead.
Then next door to the Bulldog for a smoke and to buy some hash. You see, I had to stock up before going down to Tilburg as it's in one of the 3 regions that has already banned foreigners from going into their coffeeshops. Which is a shame because last time I was in Tilburg was before the ban and I went to the excellant Toermalijn which has a big "smoking" garden out the back.
So I left the Bulldog and headed to the supermarket by Dam Square before getting the train from Centraal. Whoops, I forgot to buy some hash in the Bulldog ! Stoned or what !
Luckily I had to pass the Homegrown Fantasy, so went in and bought a gram of Pakistania (?) hash and also a gram of White Widow. Stayed for half an hour for a smoke and then headed off to the station and got the train to Tilburg.
Arrived at Hotel Bastion just after 2pm and checked in. Tilburg is a nice place, but not being allowed into its coffeeshops was a bummer, so I spent some time making some pre-rolls. There's a large park right by Hotel Bastion and then you have to walk along a canal to get into the city centre, so plenty of places to smoke.
Only problem was it was freezing cold and raining. I spent the evening in a few bars - there's a great Irish bar next to the 013 music venue (where Sundays gig was) that sold La Trappe - founded in France but brewed near Tilburg, NL. They also sold Dutch Brown Ale which was like Newcastle Brown Ale. In between going to other bars I would slip off for a sneaky spliff, which is difficult in somewhere like Tilburg because it is quite conservative compared to the laid back Amsterdam, so smoking cannabis on the streets is a very big NO! unless you trek back to the canal or the park by the hotel.
Had a lie in on Sunday morning and then the afternoon was a repeat of Saturday evening - bar - spliff - bar - dodge the rain - spliff - bar....... In one of these bars I discovered Grolsch Herfstbok, a darker and much tastier version of normal Grolsch. Why don't they sell decent beer like this in the UK?
It was soon approaching time for the Anathema gig at the 013 and I was fed up smoking spliffs down alley ways. There are literally no green spaces in the centre of Tilburg, but then I noticed something on the town map I had - "Tivolpark" and it was right next to the 013. I headed straight there hoping to find a bench under a tree where I could have a big fat spliff before the gig.
But I arrived at "Tivolpark" to find that it was a bloody multi-storey car park !
The gig came and went and I headed striaght back to the hotel after having a spliff by the canal.
On Monday morning I caught the train back to Amsterdam. With 8 hours to kill before my flight home I dumped my suitcase in a luggage locker at Centraal station and then hit the town. I can't honestly remember where I went, but it involved finishing off the gear I had.
My next trip is already planned - tickets and hotels booked for another adventure at the end of January. Amsterdam, Rotterdam and then off to Hasselt in Belgium to go to a Enter Shikari gig.
then fly back home pm from Schipol.