ACD Forum's 4/20 Gathering 2022

[Lemming]

Prologue

Just to explain why this particular 4/20 was so special and intense (for want of a better word) for me.

We've been doing these gatherings every year since 2006 (with a slight splutter in 2010) until 2020 happened.

Two missed 420s later, in autumn 2021, I heard a politician say that by spring everyone in Europe would likely be vaccinated, recovered or dead. His point was to promote vaccines but I realised it also meant that the crisis would likely be over by spring (just in time for the brewing inflation crisis to explode in its place). Most importantly it meant that 4/20 2022 could be on!

As it turned out, Omicron and Russia accelerated infection and inflation respectively but prospects for 4/20 remained good, if we could just get ourselves there. More challenges appeared and were overcome. Then, in the days before we were due to travel, airport chaos threatened to stop us.

Day 1 - Monday 18th April 2022 - Arrival

After months of wondering whether we'd really get here, being on a train rolling into Centraal Station feels triumphant. I hang my camera around my neck ready to catch a shot of the classic first view. As we emerge from the station, however, the vista is slightly disappointing with ongoing works and a big hoarding. Snap a pic anyway.



We're taking a canal side route to Raadhuisstraat so we walk past the bike park to the little bridge beyond.



From there it's onto Brouwersgracht and down Herengracht to the Sharm Hotel where we have a tiny but habitable room. There's a little fridge in the room so we pop to the local AH to get a litre of Chocomel and a few munchies to stock it up. With that it's time to set off to our first T&T, meeting up with the others already in town.

On the way we drop into Sativa where we select some Tangerine Mango Haze ready for the first vape filling.

Arriving at The Bottle we find that the small inside space is quite busy so we set up camp at the table outside. It's a nice evening and it's a fun place to watch the world go by. As we're settling in with our beers and vapes, I see a bunch of familiar smiling faces approaching down the alley. I recognise AzLaker, Ed The Head and Gapie-Stan da Man. Ghost and Mike then introduce themselves.



This is a fantastic start. Everyone who said they'd be here has made it, against all the odds. Certainly a cause for celebration with beers, vapes, joints and other paraphernalia.

Then, just as I'm thinking life couldn't get much better, Ghost breaks out these amazing goodie bags for everyone!



The bag itself is an incredible piece of work. You can play spot the coffeeshop on it. I think I've got them all. Can you?

Inside are more gorgeous pieces and a lovely, potent, brownie. We really are a lucky bunch of stoners. Thanks Ghost.

This picture of Ed's captures our feelings on the situation.



We're between two coffeeshops here. I'm contemplating getting some of my old favourite, Neville's Haze from 420.


420 Cafe

My connoisseur companions recommend De Kroon instead so we pop in there are go for G13 Haze.


De Kroon

Ed has invited us over to the Bulldog Hotel bar so we're on the move. Along the way I stop to take a quick picture of Grasshopper, Hill Street and 36.



At Bulldog, Ed has persuaded two ladies (Codie420) to let us all join them at the big table in the corner. I've never been in the hotel before and I find it quite impressive. Ghost gets his dabbing rig out. A serious session is soon in full swing. Everything gets very hazy.

For Igraine and me, the final event of the day is chips and mayo standing on a bridge looking into the Oudezijds Voorburgwal section of the Red Light District.



We'll sleep well tonight. What a wonderful day. Zandvoort tomorrow ...

[Ghost]

Excellent @Lemming great read with some cracking pics there was great meeting you and @Igraine and what a fantastic 420 it was indeed. Had a great time Fan - Bloody - Tastic

[ed the head]

Brill!

[HitTheNorth]

The true barometer of a return to normality is surely a Lemming 420 trip report Great stuff

[Lemming]

Day 2 - Tuesday 19th April 2022 - Zandvoort

Ahh, that wonderful feeling of emerging through a stoned haze and becoming aware that we're waking up in Amsterdam. Yesterday was such a buzz. Just getting here felt like an achievement and then sharing the evening with a bunch of ACDers was just perfect. The mission has only just begun, though. So much more of Amsterdam to show to Igraine, more ACDers expected to join us and an excursion to the seaside planned for today.

I'm a big fan of breakfast. Chronologically, others might call it brunch by the time I wake up but to me that first meal of the day when I stagger blinking into the daylight is breakfast and it's important. It's a lovely sunny morning and I've spotted a nice place called Il Panorama just by our hotel.

Suitably fed and ready for anything we set off down Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal. We're running quite early. We're scheduled to meet everyone in Siberie at 1 o'clock and it's not even 12 yet. An opportunity to grab lots of pictures of the changing scenery.

This is all new since I was last in the city. The Plug Lounge has closed.


Site of the, now closed, Plug Lounge

Dunno what this Spice Ams is all about but, meanwhile, across the road...


Big Shots Plug

A partnership between the Big Shots bar, The Plug coffeeshop and Famous Burger, making a smokers bar with food. It's nice to see the old Homegrown Fantasy building being reoccupied by a vaguely canna related business. I have a feeling we'll be checking this out over the next few days. Not now though. We continue wandering vaguely in the direction of Siberie and then spot AzLaker doing something similar so we all make our way there.


This picture in Siberie is a bit blurry but I love Az's expression and the bar lady peering over the cups behind.

I have no record of what we bought or smoked here but I know it was a very pleasant stay. In time Ghost, Mike and Nuggz come in and join us. Choppermike is supposed to be joining us too but we get a message that he can't make it so we start to move out.

At that moment Rob_OG turns up looking super chilled and smiling broadly. He's come over from Zandvoort to round us up and escort us there. Rob_OG is a veteran of many 420s and now living the dream. I haven't seen him for a few years but it looks like the Dutch seaside lifestyle is suiting him very well.

It's not far from Siberie to Centraal Station but somehow we still manage to split into two groups following different routes to get there. Reuniting in the ticket office, AzLaker has the inspired idea that we could get forward dated tickets for our respective returns to the airport while we're here to save time later.

Half-an-hour later we're rolling into Zandvoort aan Zee station. Stepping outside, we take the seafront boulevard route. This overlooks a row of beach bars, including Tam Tam, the new smoker's bar offshoot of Yanks.


Tam Tam Beachclub

They had a serious fire here recently but it looks quite intact from here. Continuing on, we turn off from the seafront to Yanks.


Yanks

Somehow I neglected to take a picture of the menu and I can't remember what we got here.

Having selected a nice table in the sunshine outside, we settle in for another serious session. The bar section is closed so the coffeeshop has plenty of outside space at the moment.



After an hour or so of heavy indulgence we're getting thirsty and the talk turns to beer. With the bar here being closed, the obvious choice is the beach bar.


Tam Tam Beachclub

There are several buildings within this sandy enclosure but the biggest one is closed at the moment. Never mind, one is open, has a bar in it and the skins on the counter make it clear that it's positively stoner friendly.



We find another nice table in the sunshine and all the kit comes out. This is the life. Is this not the stoner definition of the perfect day at the seaside?



Rob_OG asks whether we'd all like a Yanks t-shirt. "Yes please" we say so he shoots off to his house and returns with a pile of them. There are more than enough for one each. I ask him whether Yanks gave them to him to distribute, thinking maybe they'd heard we were coming. He explains that they were given to customers who bought lots of weed and that he's slightly concerned that he spent sufficient there to collect so many.

AzLaker wants to see Rob_OG's house so next our merry little band ambles though the quiet streets of Zandvoort to view their lovely home. From there it's off to the station and on to a train to Haarlem.

Haarlem is a nice little city and a natural place to break the journey back to Amsterdam. We take the back exit out of the north side of the station for the short walk to Birdy. I've always liked how the euphemistic term coffeeshop is sometimes replaced with cannabisshop here. At Birdy they even display the menu in the window.


Inside Birdy

We chill in here for about an hour and then back to the station for a train to Amsterdam. Sitting on the train, talk turns to dinner. Nuggz suggests Pizzabakkers on Haarlemmerdijk.

So, back in Amsterdam we're marching along Harlemmerstraat, past the several coffeeshops leading up to the Barneys places and beyond.


Eenhoornsluis, where Haarlemmerstraat becomes Haarlemmerdijk.

We're expecting more people to join us today and the place to meet has been declared as the Bulldog Hotel bar (a.k.a. Lounge). We enjoyed our session there last night and it's Ed the Head's front room. An invitation has been broadcast on the forums so, now we're all satiated with pizza, it's time to make our way over there.

Emerging from the restaurant we can see Haarlemmerpoort, the old city gate on the road to Haarlem. The light is fading fast but it's fun to see rollerbladers coming down the street.


Haarlemmerpoort

For a change of scenery we turn down Binnen Dommersstraat so we can follow the Brouwersgracht back rather than Haarlemmerstraat.


Brouwersgracht

On past Coffeeshop 137 and across to the Bulldog Hotel.

It seems like everyone has got in OK. It's always a bit hit and miss here because it's supposed to be residents only so you need a friendly door person or Ed around to get you in. We're joined by ChopperMike, Mr Copenhagen and Worsall. Ed the Head is in the house, of course, and Gapie. Nuggz, Ghost, Mike, AzLaker, Igraine and me are all present and correct having completed our excursion without losing anyone. So there's a big happy band of us around the table.

At this point I remember Igraine's cookies. It amused us to be bringing these into the country and now seems like a good time to break them out. A quick walk to our hotel to pick up the tin and I'm back in no time. As I walk back into the Bulldog Hotel the doorman calls me back and asks if I'm staying there. I explain that I'm hanging out with a resident and, after a short pause, he lets me pass.

So now we have beers, joints, dabs, vapes and cookies around the party table. Another typically full-on ACD session is in progress. Inevitably things get pretty blurry from here on in.

Another day ends on cloud nine somewhere above Amsterdam. 4/20 tomorrow ...

[Ghost]

Quality read so far @Lemming that was a great day and I really enjoyed going to Zandvoort, thought the Yanks 'n' Indian was a top notch coffeeshop and will be paying a visit to the shop again when I am next in town . The Tam Tam Beach club was another cracking place to spend a quality afternoon, enjoying the surroundings and company would defo get some food next time there and maybe stay to watch the sun go down

Loved the Bulldog Lounge and thought it was a great base for us all and that we had some really good sessions around them big tables and when @Igraines cakes came out we was getting messy Fantastic was a shame we couldn't get in there for the whole weeks sessions

Mike and I will be looking to book a couple private rooms at the Bulldog Hotel for 2023 420 and if @Ed is in town also we should be able to make it our permanent base

We also had some quality flower from Siberia and was my 1st time in there in over 10years, I had forgotten what a nice chilled shop it is, so good times

[Lemming]

Day 3 - Wednesday 20th April 2022 - 420 Day

We awaken to find another warm sunny day going on. Looking good for 420 day .

Yesterday was lovely with wonderful company, nice weather and even a trip to the seaside. That all started with breakfast at Il Panorama which was so good we're back for more today.

After breakfast we find ourselves passing Sativa and decide to pop in for weed supplies (starting with Stardawg) and more coffee. After a flying visit on Monday it's nice to sit down in this pleasant little shop for a while.

Next stop is The Bottle to rendezvous with the rest of the crew. Here we can plan how to get our towels on the 'beach' that is the big table at the back of 420 Cafe. In the end, a small elite team of ACD special forces slip in and make the conquest. The rest of us follow close behind and we're soon settled in for the traditional celebration.

We've got a good little band together: AzLaker, Bedge, CopenhagenCouple, Ed the Head, Gapie, Ghost + Mike, Nuggz, Rob_OG, Worsall, Igraine and me. All of the kit is out and spread around the table. Pipes, vapes, bongs and papers are all being loaded ready for the big blaze up.

Sitting here next to AzLaker reminds me of our first 4/20 in 2006. Back then we were in the same place, with members of the Channels forum at the table opposite. I remember their sign on the table and one of them explaining to another that I was the guy who made the pink map. That confused me at the time because the ACD map was more of an orangey-brown colour. Much later I was reminded that the very first map, in 1998, was indeed pink.

As the clock ticks round to 4.20, our budtender sparks up the traditional monster joint.


4:20 in 420 on 4/20

She passes it around the patrons and soon AzLaker is passing it to me.



These are Ghost's phone photos of the same scene



After my attempt, Gapie shows how it should be done


(first picture by Ghost)

The room briefly fills with smoke. Another tradition of the back room of 420 turning into a smoke box and everyone disappearing in the fog, is upheld.
... then someone turns on the extractor and sucks it all away!

Next scheduled stop is Prix d'Ami.



Messages are apparently emanating from an advanced reconnaissance party that all of the various rooms inside are full. A substitute plan of Black Dog is put into action.

We make a short stop at Black Dog for a beer and a vape. While we're there I notice that Softland appears to be closed. [I hope it's open again now.]

From there we move to Susies for more refreshment closer to where the Smokeboat sails from. In passing I notice that Rick's Café and coffeeshop are both closed. [I hope they're open again now too.]

Emerging from Susies we watch the Smokeboat pulling into its quay on the opposite side of Oudezijds Voorburgwal, outside the Grand Hotel.



We cross the canal and set about getting everyone aboard the boat. As there are only a few of us this year and organisation was a bit last minute we've decided to take a public sailing. This is a first for us as we've always hired a whole boat, or even several little boats, in the past.

It's great to have Choppermike back with us. He's been avoiding the crowds while the rest of us have been recklessly sharing our microbes and testing our immune systems to destruction. Checking all the bookings and completing boarding takes a while but we eventually get away.



It's a basic tour: out to the Oosterdok, back into Nieuwe Herengracht, onto the Amstel, Rokin and returning to Oudezijds Voorburgwal. I must confess, it feels a bit more like a bus ride than our traditional floating sessions but it's nice to see Amsterdam from a canal perspective again after such a long break.

On the quayside after the cruise, Black Dog is chosen as our dinner destination. On arrival we find it quite busy so we settle into a little cluster of stools and sofas and check out the menu.

The CopenhagenCouple know the people at Black Dog and Mr CC is chatting to a chef on his day off. With some of us on low sofas and others on tall stools, conversation is a bit disjointed. Apparently this guy has been drinking all day and criticising the work of the kitchen. He's now getting quite outspoken and causing some amusement.

With everyone fed and raring to go, Bulldog Hotel is selected as the place for a session. We get as far as Dam square when word comes through that the guy on reception at the hotel is not allowing non-residents into the bar. At this point it seems like most of the crew are giving up and heading off. [in fact, it turns out they actually regroup and carry on. Back to our traditional level of organisation ] I want more weed and fancy trying The Plug so Worsall, Igraine and me head that way as the others disperse across the square.

The long, narrow Plug Utopia is mostly occupied by the queue at the weed counter. Nevertheless, we find some seats and I join the queue. When I reach the counter, the budtender recognises me. He recommends the Forbidden Fruit Cake and gives me a grinder.

A few smokes and purchases later we're stocked up and ready to find a beer and a nice environment to carry on the session.

This view reminds me of a picture I posted a few years ago of Homegrown Fantasy and Tetra Café so I try to get the same angle. Homegrown Fantasy is now Famous Burger, which is allied with Big Shots next door and both are associated with The Plug across the road.




From 2014

The three of us find a table in the basement of CoffeeshopAmsterdam Café. We've soon covered it with paraphernalia and glasses and have a nice little conversation and session going on.

By the time we leave there things are getting quite hazy. We check out a few of the coffeeshops on Harlemmerstraat but they're not welcoming sit-down customers at this time of night so we finish up in one of the Wonder Bars on Nieuwendijk.

To be honest, that's the last thing I remember. We must've parted ways with Worsall at some point and may well have stopped for munchies somewhere before making our way back to Raadhuisstraat.

Another great day and tomorrow we've got a special invitation to my favourite coffeeshop. See you there ...

[The-Secret-Smoker]

Wht a great read that was, love the pictures especially the comparison pictures of how Homegrown Fantasy used to look and todays look of Big Shots and Plug

[Lemming]

Day 4 - Thursday 21st April 2022 - Ballonnetje Day

The weather gods are smiling on us yet again. It's extraordinary how we always seem to get unseasonably blue skies for our week in April.

Our first ACD appointment today is at the Old Church on the Amstel so I decide to precede it with breakfast at nearby Puccini. I'm keen to introduce Igraine to this lovely little café on a sunny corner opposite the Waterlooplein market.

From there it's a short walk to catch up with the rest of the crew, taking us across the Staalmeestersbrug, the archetypal little bridge over the Groenburgwal canal with its picture postcard vista of the Zuiderkerk. Somehow I can never resist taking another cheesy picture as I pass here.



Arriving at the Old Church we find Ghost's rosin pressing session in full swing.



I don't think I've ever been in here before. It's fortunate that there aren't very many of us because it's a tiny space. Nevertheless, it's very smart and well equipped. Not only does it have a rosin press for customer's use, which is a rarity and much appreciated, it also has a Volcano with all its parts being clean and functional.



All of this kit is getting a good workout with the hardcore ACD crew in the house. By the time we all pile out, I'm feeling blitzed already and we still have the main event of the day to come.



Another touristy view, this time of the Skinny Bridge. More significant to us, though, is the blue machinery around the Walter Süskindbrug on the left here. This bridge is closed, forcing us to take a diversion, which takes us past the new Holocaust Monument.

Only a little late, our stoned band falls into Ballonnetje for our specially invited session. We've got AzLaker, Bedge, CopenhagenCouple, Ghost + Mike, Nuggz, Igraine and me.


Het Ballonnetje

I love this place. As I've mentioned many times before, it was one of the first coffeeshops I went into back in the 1980s. More recently, in 2017, 2018 and 2019, members of the ACD forums in town to celebrate 4/20 have been invited here for a special VIP session. After a two year break, we've been invited back to do it again and so here we are.

Big smiley helloes to the Ballonnetje crew and we settle around the big table with our drinks. In time, samples of some of their best wares appear along with plates of food. In the window I spot this globe terrarium. It's occupying the same place as the vivarium did back in the 90s and 00s.



More goodies appear along with t-shirts and hats. The spread on the table is impressive. Being extremely stoned, I don't take many photos and the few I do get feature people who don't want to appear on the Internet so you'll have to make do with this picture of me watching over proceedings with deep satisfaction.



It's a wonderful afternoon. Our hosts are very welcoming and generous and the weed is fantastic. After about 3 hours of enjoying this exceptional hospitality we decide it's time to move on before we outstay our welcome. With a chorus of happy goodbyes and thankyous we float out of the door.

There's nothing on the schedule for now but, as we scatter, someone mentions Coffeeshop Solo so Bedge, Igraine and me start meandering that way. My usually reliable sense of direction has completely broken down but I'm still flying on autopilot regardless so we could finish up anywhere! Maybe it's the mirrors on the new Holocaust Monument that I find particularly disorientating. Somehow we seem to be back at the Blauwbrug when we should have carried straight on from Weesperstraat.

At this point Bedge has lost all faith and decides to catch a tram so that leaves just Igraine and me. We get back on course and I poke my nose into Solo but no sign of any ACDers so we decide to head for Suzies. Along the way we spot the Bulldog cruise liner parked up near the hotel.



It's now evening and we're rendezvousing with the crew at the Flying Dutchman. It's our last night in town [so we believe] and Bedge, CopenhagenCouple, Ghost and Mike are celebrating with us.

The Flying Dutchman

Visiting this bar is another first for me. It's a classic brown cafe with a long history of being cannabis-friendly. A sign on the window says "smoke weed and drink have fun".



The clocks on the wall remind us how fast time can pass when you're having fun. Many beers are sunk. Vapes and joints are consumed. I think I like it here but this could get messy! This picture of me shows the state I'm degenerating into.



It's at least 2am as we spill out onto the street. A great session to finish 4/20, although we do have a few hours in town tomorrow before we have to catch our flight home.

[jollylittlehun]

Love reading your reports Lemming. You're looking a little worse for wear in a couple of those pics.

[Ghost]

Quality Lemming, really enjoyed reading that and bought back some good memories and times we all had

[Lemming]

Thanks very much Ghost, ed the head, HitTheNorth, The-Secret-Smoker and Jollylittlehun. It was an amazing trip with a brilliant bunch of people.

More coming soon. Hopefully I'll get to the end before next April

[Lemming]

Day 5 - Friday 22nd April 2022 - Homeward Bound

It's yet another lovely day and our flight isn't 'till early evening so we have a last few hours in Amsterdam, starting with breakfast at Il Panorama.



In this picture by Igraine we see Il Panorama in the foreground on the left. The distinctive s-bend of Raadhuisstraat winds off towards the Westerkerk on the right. In the middle is the gallery in which our hotel is located. It looks quite grand but the hotel is nothing special, although perfectly adequate.

There's no scheduled meet today and one area that I haven't shown to Igraine yet is the Jordaan so I decide to introduce her to Tertulia. We set off away from the centre, grabbing photos of Blackstar and Johnny along the way.


Tertulia

We get drinks and weed and settle at a table upstairs. It's nice to be back in this chilled place.

Most of the other visiting ACDers have left or are in the process of leaving. We post messages to whoever is left and are delighted when Bedge agrees to join us at Mr K so that's our next destination.


Mr.K

After a bit of a session in Mr K we decide to head for Flying Dutchman for a last drink and smoke before we have to head for the airport.

Bedge and Igraine are foolishly letting me lead the way again. I fancy taking in a bit more of the Jordaan so we zigzag our way across Bloemgracht and Egelantiersgracht until we reach Westerstraat. At this point we decide that the orientation of the streets here is making this a rather long way so we get onto Prinsengracht and take a more straightforward route.


Flying Dutchman

I can't drink too much because I've got to drive when I get back to UK but a quick beer and smoke up of the remaining baggies in the great company of Bedge finishes off our visit in style.

Suitably chilled and floating along nicely we pick up our bags and head for the airport. At Schiphol we scan the departure board, find our flight and follow the instructions to go to the specified desk.

The airport is not particularly busy and everything seems to be functioning normally. We make our way towards the EasyJet desk, passing check-in numbers until we're approaching the right one. We round a corner and are suddenly confronted by an ocean of people completely surrounding the row of desks.

At first we assume that these are several queues for different flights. A little screen lists a number of EasyJet departures to various destinations, including ours. Gradually it dawns on us that this is one enormous queue for all flights. We eventually figure out where the back of the queue is and join it.

We're still feeling very chilled so accept our place shuffling forwards in the mass of humanity with smiles. Only after an hour or so of this does it occur to me that we may not reach the front of the queue before our flight is supposed to close. By this time we're completely hemmed in between parts of the queue moving in opposite directions as it is guided back and forth between ropes.

When we eventually reach a desk we're told that our flight has indeed closed. The lady says that there's nothing she or anyone at the airport can do because EasyJet have no booking office and do everything online. She suggests we phone them for advice.

Now feeling less chilled and rather despondent we find some floor space, sit on our bags and attempt to contact EasyJet. The only number we can find leads to a recorded message telling us to call another number. Calling that just leads to the same message saying call the same number.

Slowly we realise we're stranded and on our own. There are no more flights available today or even tomorrow on any airline. In fact there's nothing at a sensible price until Tuesday. Hotel rooms are also in short supply at this time on a Friday evening.

After more tribulation, we find ourselves in a crappy overpriced room on the Damrak. It's a rubbish situation but at least we've dumped our bags and won't be sleeping on the street. We're also conveniently in the centre of Amsterdam so it's time to make the best of the situation.

Bedge and Gapie posted that they were in Batavia a short while ago so that's where we're grabbing a much-needed beer. On announcing our presence here we find that the guys are now in the Flying Dutchman so, having finished our drinks, we set off over there. On the way we meet Bedge and Gapie coming in the opposite direction. The four of us are soon back in the Flying Dutchman.

A restock is required so a shopping trip to The Plug is next. From there we cross over the road to Big Shots.


Big Shots Plug by Gapie

Sometime after taking this picture Gapie loses his phone

Last stop of the night is at the Bottle for more beer and smokes before sleep in our windowless cell.

[Lemming]

Day 6 - Saturday 23rd April 2022 - Bonus Day 1

After a bit of breakfast in our overnight hotel we make more attempts to contact EasyJet to no avail. Looks like we're stuck here 'till Tuesday at our own expense with only the hope of reclaiming off EasyJet later. Hotels are still in short supply too but then suddenly Igraine finds a nice enough place in the Plantage for a not-too-unreasonable price. We book the hotel and flights and set off to Plantage.

Hotel Park Plantage turns out to be quite nice and a huge improvement on the windowless cell at Hotel Neutraal (and cheaper!). Feeling quite exhausted after the stress of yesterday, we chill for a while before heading out again.

Another good feature of this hotel is that it's just around the corner from my favourite coffeeshop, Het Ballonnetje. Having rested a bit, that's where we go next.

I get some Peanut Butter Souffle [remembered to make a note for once!] and we settle in for a while. On our return we feed at an Italian on Plantage Kerklaan. Next I fancy a Volcano so we stop at Old Church. Onwards we loop via Big Shots for refreshment and René s for munchies to Bluebird for more Volcano. I get some Lemon Haze here.

[I don't have any pictures of this day, just a few notes made later to piece the story together from.]

Back by our hotel we find the bar next door, Eik en Linde, still open so we pop in for a nightcap.

[Lemming]

Day 7 - Sunday 24th April 2022 - Bonus Day 2

Waking up here is much nicer and we're relaxing into our bonus time. The weather is still beautiful and Plantage is a lovely part of Amsterdam.

After a good breakfast at Coffee & Bites on Plantage Middenlaan, it's off to Ballonnetje again.


Looking towards J. W. van Overloopplantsoen


Het Ballonnetje

Today's purchase at Ballonnetje is Tangie. We carry this and our drinks up the little stairs to the mezzanine. For a while this area was boxed in as a tobacco tank. It's much nicer now the perspex screens have gone.

Sat here getting stoned and looking at the sunny day outside, thoughts turn to where we should go next. The Pijp is chosen as the place to be.


Yo-Yo

This is another of my favourite coffeeshops. A bright, comfy space in a cool part of the city. It also has some unusual weed, being mostly outdoor grown. We select Frysian Dew. The intention is to use it as a mixer in joints with stronger strains but it actually proves very nice on its own.

It's Sunday so the Albert Cuyp Market is closed. Nevertheless, the Pijp is an interesting area to walk around, especially on such a nice sunny day.


Sarphatipark

We pop into Katsu but don't stop for some reason [too full I think]. We also pass Roxy but don't even go in there. Instead we continue back towards Plantage.


The shiny University making the water sparkle

As the sun sets, the city centre draws us in. Through the red light district and onto Warmoesstraat.


Oude Kerk (Old Church)


Old Church 1

I note that the original Old Church is still very much open as a smoker's bar. For some reason we don't go in though. Instead we stroll along Warmoesstraat, enjoying the buzz, until we randomly stumble into The Tribe, the little smoker-friendly bar next door to Route 66.


The Tribe

It's quite small but there are only the two of us and the barman. He's quite happy for us to smoke and vape so we settle in for a while.

Later we spill back out onto Warmoesstraat and briefly drop into Hill Street Blues.




Hill Street Blues

Along with the original Old Church, another former coffeeshop came up in conversation a few days ago. The Other Place was a classic biker bar and coffeeshop that closed in 2006. As we're passing the bar that now occupies its place I snap a quick picture.


Formerly The Other Place

That's it for laid back Sunday. Last day of our extended stay tomorrow.