Saturday, 30th of march 2013, 3am, a time rarely known to anyone but the late night clubbers and shift workers alike. Today though I will join them as I haul my red eyed carcass out of the magnetic warmth of my bed to make the 6o'clock flight out of Cardiff to Amsterdam baby!!
Spurred on by the realisation that I'm actually on my way I put on my clothes in a sleepy silence, creep downstairs with my bag, take a quick juice and jump into the car. Half way to the m4 motorway I realise the car doesn't have enough fuel to get me to the airport! Shit, why didnt I sort this yesterday? It's 3:30 odd in the morning, nowhere is open!! and i cant use a self serve petrol pump as i lost my card a few days back!! I don't know if I'll even make a services!! Great this is exactly what I need! So I take a gamble and turn away from the road that takes me to the junction of the m4, and head for the outskirts of a town where a few haulage firms operate knowing there is a petrol station there and it's possible it'll be 24hrs to accommodate the truckers.
Success, after a slight detour for fuel I'm blazing down the motorway with my foot forced to the floor by the anticipation and excitement of visiting this beautifully unique city once again.
All the boring check in and security go off without a hitch after arriving at the airport, and after an over priced sandwich and drink, I'm boarding my flight. Not long now.
Flight was as quick as ever, I love Amsterdam being so easily accessible. So its end of march now and its snowing as I board the shuttle bus into schiphol!! Doesn't look like its going to stick though. Next stop, centraal station.
Hop off the train like a little kid, down the stairs and into the hall where smells from food and flower shops mingle into my nose then eventually give way as i walk into the cold nether-mornig! And there she is, one of the prettiest city destinations there is.
Ok so the hotel is the chic & basic hotel off to the right of centraal station as you come out of it, the hotel itself is located at the top of herengracht. It takes a lot to disappoint me so I think my small single room with a shower and sink is adequate, but some people might not like the tiny toilet opposite that you have to squeeze into if you happen to book this particular room (132) but I don't mind. Ok next stop, breakfast!
Broodje bert for a blt, still too early for some of the coffee shops ie amnesia and grey area so this is first stop. On my walk down here I take in the calm morning sights among the canals and the leafless trees that flank them. old guy with a severe limp pushes a bike laden with mail as he stops at a door here and there, woman sitting on her doorstep sucking a cigarette through pursed lips as the world gears up for another day.
Enough of that bullshit check out the blt from broodje! I didn't watch them concoct this beast, the guy just gave me a bag and off I went, sat down in a bench near where the singel meets the koningsplein to eat the thing and I genuinely had a shock. This ain't no ordinary blt my friends, its a freak. Bacon is top notch crispy salty pancetta, and there isn't only lettuce to follow, oh no you get chunky tomato, slices of peppers and cucumber, onion and sweet corn all drizzled in this yummy mayo salad dressing and the bread was a nice and fresh baguette type thing which was crusty yet soft. Messy but Amazing!
Ok so went to paradox first no finger hash, and that was that, next grey area bought their grey berry 2g for 18e, blazed a quick pipe, lovely taste, nice quick high, energetic. Full of high vigour I set off to utopia next, no i.d. No service!! So let that be a lesson to anybody who is as forgetful as me, don't forget your i.d. Because some places are strict with their policies. After a quick call to the hotel, i called into Ibericus on harlemer straat purely because it was so busy I wanted to see what the fuss was. Inside there were cured pig legs everywhere and cuts behind the counters shaving off salty ribbons of fleshy pink ham. Hypnotised by this sight I had to buy something, lovely little croissant filled with prosciutto drizzled with a little oil! Amazing. Highly recommended for any budding carnivore.
Next was solo for a brew and some Nepal temple balls,12.5e a g. on my fucking arse after that, lush emptying of the mind. Love that stuff from solo. Tasty and strong! i hit up greenhouse after that to look for some manali jungly cream, 20e a g no fucking chance. My poket is already on a bend! they upped the price on that i think so i settled instead for a g of king hassan at 11e very nice blond, smooth tasty! i can barely speak now the hash is beating me, i wonder around the market stalls back up at nieuw markt, cheeses, flowers, jams, mushrooms (not the magic kind) and bread stalls all should arouse some sort of munchie attack, but I'm too stoned for that. Instead I bimble over to green place to buy some og18+Choco, 14e a g. I'm not the most heavy weight of smokers, but this stuff tasted unique very moreish and knocked me for shit! Sat there nursing a chocomel whilst I saw away the g!
Dribbling when I left, time for a pick me up, for me this means super lemon bio haze courtesy of voyagers, 1 g cost escapes me but I saved it till after a shower and a hunt for some supper! Before heading back to the centre I went for a walk to a pub recommended to me a while back where they serve loads of different Dutch draughts and bottles of varying price abd strenght. place is called Ardensnest on the herengracht, down the way from my hotel on other side of the canal. If you like beer then visit. I had a "Jopen" the type was called something like "gristbier" or something to that effect, very tasty 3.5e
Next Went to a simple Italian place on dam straat next to hotel Doria, nice spaghetti bolognese, 7-8e odd. food done!
I went on a bit of a drink mission after blazing away the rest of my SLBH! Mental, love that lemon flav and buzz! After a few amstels I strolled through the Saturday night rld rabble to a place I love visiting when in Amsterdam, Wynand Fockink's on Pijlsteeg behind damstraat. Established for centuries, this tasting house and brewery knock out Jenever of all different flavours for patrons who are willing to stand (no seating inside) and wait to be served at the wooden bar that fronts shelves bent under the wait of a plethora of dusty bottles. Once you order (I got hazelnut praline) you have to, as is custom, bend over and put only your lips to the glass for your first sip, as it would be impossible not to spill any precious liquid from the almost overflowing tulip shot glass. 2.6e+per shot.
And That, im afraid to say, is it for me and my one day blitz of Amsterdam, i went back to the hotel after that, as i had an early flight. went to sleep and woke up saddend and sorry to leave my love so soon! But i'll be back. As the saying goes, this is not goodbye just au revoir.
