Friday, July 27, 2012
The soft, intermittent breeze caused by the oscillating fan caresses my body on each pass; it’s a cool welcome on this warm morning. My senses slowly join me as I slowly awaken. I notice the sound of the fan as it works its way back to me. The scents and smells of a night-gone-by waft through the open window. Stale beer is the first assault on my nose…and with a vlaamse frites shop on every corner the leftover smell is so strong I can nearly taste the old fries forgotten at the bottom of their oil bath…I roll away from the open windows and open my eyes. Here is Bong…watching me as I wake up, very sweetly. He rubs my hair out of my face and kisses me good morning. Oh, I kiss back, you’d better believe it…and in record time we are devouring each other. So intense is this morning, that we THINK we have broken the bed. Luckily for us it simply tipped over…teeheehee…unlucky for the poor girl below us…
When enough is enough and we cannot handle anymore, we collapse, in unison, on the now-upright bed.
Bong moves first. He puts his clothes from last night back on so he can head back to Voyagers to get ready for the day. He forgot to bring some things over because we were so excited that miniSheBong “allowed” him to stay with me… (I can’t help but wonder what SHE did…lol…) We smoke a cone left from last night, I believe it is Super Silver Haze purchased from Hill Street Blues that previous evening. I kiss him as he stands in the tiny doorway and he navigates the steep, narrow stairwell. I’m sure Bong’s got coffee and more THC on the mind, just like I do, so I begin to get ready. A quick check of the weather says it will be HOT and sunny again today. I decide to wear shorts so I slather on the sunblock. In a short while I am ready to go. A quick check of the room and I too am navigating the steep, narrow stairs.
It’s already sunny and beautiful outside. Partyers are done partying and are now in the sleep-it-off stage. Friday night is here in a few hours, so they must rest up. Tables are being arranged outside restaurants. This is an odd sight for me, as I am usually here in November/December and there are not many outside tables then! The sun gleams off the canal and several swimming birds are preening as they float along. The scene is so different when the trees have leaves! The constant is the teetering buidings, leaning this-way-and-that as if they are spreading gossip to one to another. I giggle at the thought of what gossip these buildings could tell and continue on my way. When I get to Voyagers, happily, it is open. Of course, Bong and m.S.B. are already inside. Bong has already ordered me a coffee and it is waiting for me! Perfect timing, I’d guess, as the steam is still swirling up and out of the cup, dancing with the exhaled pot smoke floating in the shop. Already. The smell of the two together makes me grateful to be where I am right at this exact moment. Plans are being made as well as hand-crafted cones. The cones are smoked and more coffees are ordered. Soon we make our way out the door.
The first stop of the morning (remember, Voyagers is home base…it’s a GIVEN that we will be here…lol…) is Bluebird. A warm welcome is given to us by the staff as we introduce miniSheBong to them. Today on their menu is a strain called “Iggy Pot” or “Iggy Pott” (don’t remember which spelling is right). miniSheBong likes the name, so we buy some. Turns out we like it! Lol… Coffees are dealt around the table when they arrive and we enjoy a cone of Iggy. The plan is to go to the Amsterdam Dungeon after lunch, then hit the Fluorescent Museum after that. Since we are so close to Paradox, we will get more space cakes too. The evening will be capped off with dinner at Winnie’s house. Yay! The day is planned! I am so glad that I am wearing my…WAIT!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! My activity monitor is IN MY APARTMENT! Son-of-a-whatever-you-say…How FAR have I walked today?? How many STAIRS have I climbed?!? I am fuming, so we leave to go back to my apartment, JUST to get it! Lmfao… Lunch is on our minds by this point, and we decide on fries from the place a stone’s throw (or is that a stoner’s throw?) away from my apartment. We head there, order fries and pick a seat near the window. This is the store across the street:
The fries are adorned with the sauce of choice and we gobble them with gusto. Once we are well-fueled, our belongings are gathered and we head down the street. The walk to the Rokin is uneventful, but that is about to change. Upon stepping inside the Amsterdam Dungeon, we get our picture taken. I, frankly, don’t remember who has their head in the stockade and who are the ax-wielders…but we pose for the shot and are instructed to scream instead of saying, “Cheese!” When the photo is done, we enter the dark waiting area. It is REALLY dark…more outsiders begin to arrive and as screams fill the air, people fill the room. When the room is filled to capacity, we are ready for our “tour.” The guides are in period costume and the tour takes us through Amsterdam’s not-so-pretty history.
Each room is a different period, with the same actors in different costumes. This way they can remember whom it is they are “picking on.” I happen to be picked on, fortunately only once. I am required to stand up in front of our group and have my back to them. I am then asked to make some sort of decision. My decision decides the fate of my group. Of course, no matter what decision I make, it is wrong. We are banished or whatever happens next. At some point there is even a “roller coaster” ride. It’s actually a roller coaster, but the entire “ride” is like 30 seconds…lol…All in all, it is a fun, cheesy thing to do. I haven’t done it since 2008 with Bong and DonnyG.
miniSheBong loves the Amsterdam Dungeon and can’t wait for the Fluorescent Museum. We exit the dark Dungeon into the bright sunlight of the day. It takes a minute for our eyes to adjust to the sunlight, as we all grab our sunglasses. Off to the other side of town. I think we grab a tram over there. Hmmm…I think I suggest walking, but I’m not sure if we do. I just know we end up at the Fluorescent Museum and I am told I have to wipe off my sunblock if I want to go inside. WHAT?!? Have you SEEN how bright the sun is today? Have you SEEN how FAIR SKINNED I am? Sorry. But I refuse to take it off. Bong and miniSheBong go inside after I persuade them it’s ok to go without me. I look around the upstairs part of the museum for a few minutes and then go outside to wait.
I sit on the step in front and read all the articles about the museum. It’s actually really cool. I watch life go by. A smartly dressed Opa sits outside his dwelling and reads the newspaper as he sips his tea. A very young girl, maybe 9 years old, pedals her bicycle as far up the canal bridge as she can make it. She nearly crests the top when the bike’s momentum…or lack thereof…forces her to walk it up the rest of the way. Another little child, this time a boy about 3, learns the art of balance on his bike-with-no-pedals. Everyone smiles and says hello and I am grateful once again for where I am right now. When the psychedelic duo return from the depths of the museum, we trot over to Paradox for some more space cake.
By the look on her face, miniSheBong wants to go back to the room for a nap. We oblige and take her back. A coffee and a smoke…or 3…or 8…is had downstairs before the siren song of my apartment gets us down the street and up the spiral stairs in a jiffy. Care is taken not to tip the bed on its side once again. Once again we smile contentedly as the day’s events slowly turn into evening. Time is irrelevant in July. The sun does not set until well after 9 pm. WELL after. Dinner will be happening soon and we are to meet Matty at Voyagers so we can all go down to Winnie’s for dinner. I’m so excited. The last time we ate there, it was AMAZING!
Bong and I freshen up and head back to Voyagers to pick up miniSheBong and meet Matty. We meet up and smoke happens. A small jaunt over to the train station, and soon we’re on the tram to Winnie’s! After a short while we arrive at our stop. We get off the bus and walk over to her place. I remember the neighborhood once we start to walk, but again, there are leaves on the trees now!
Soon we’re ascending the normal (ie: not spiral and steep) stairs to her apartment. I don’t even think we knock and she’s already opening the door and welcoming us. To our great surprise Rufus is there! So it’s a nice gathering of folks. The sliding door is open to a small balcony adorned with a bistro-style table with 2 chairs. The bong that makes my heart swoon (Winnie’s pink beaker-style Roor) is on the table, sparking in the evening light. A bowl of hash awaits. The tables in the living room are all stocked with munchies until the meal is ready. OMG…I wish I could remember everything that was there. I just remember everything was SO GOOD. Before dinner is served (grilled chicken) wine is offered. miniSheBong is offered red or white. She is sitting on the floor talking to Rufus and I’m in a chair behind her. She turns her head to look at me to see if it’s ok. I say, “You’re 18. You’re legal here. The choice is yours.” That is all it takes. miniSheBong is LOVING life tonight! We stay until we can’t hold our eyes open…and leave before we miss the last tram. Lol…
The ride to Voyagers must be uneventful, as I don’t recall anything. Lol… I do know that I am leaving tomorrow. Bong takes miniSheBong up to the room and we walk back to my place. Much of the night is spent in each other’s arms…knowing that the time we have together is dwindling. Once more I must mention how grateful I am to just be here. Now. In July. An extra trip to Mokum. We make our own paradise in my apartment over the Warmeosstraat. I try forcing myself to stay awake, so I don’t miss a moment, but to no avail. Sleep soon overtakes my pleasure-worn body and soon I’m off to dreamland…somewhere a lot like Amsterdam. Until next time…
, many thanks and the leash, the next mugger I come by will be strangled with it. 
MOOR 