Sept 21-24 07 [Long Winded Thread Within]

[SilentlyScreaming]

I've already mentioned in my introduction post about my trip to Amsterdam, however, I wanted to expand a little, in the hope that others could give me their advice...

There are several questions here, and I wasn't sure whether to put it all in one thread, or split it across the different areas in this forum....


So, I'm going to put a summary here, and link to the other threads I'm starting, as I think this particular thread would otherwise lose focus very quickly.
(Hope no one minds)...

So the definite parts of the trip, already arranged and paid for...
(10 hr flight from Kazakhstan, via Kaliningrad to Amsterdam)
Arriving Schipol 21st September 2007 13:55
Leaving Schipol 24th September 2007 18:20

(3 and a bit weeks in Britain to say hello to family and friends)

Arriving Schipol 16th October 2007 08:50
Leaving Schipol 16th October 2007 16:15
(timed flights to get around 4 hours in Amsterdam, before continuing journey back home to Kazakhstan)

During the 'proper' stay in Amsterdam, I'm staying at a Canal View Apartment belonging to the Hotel Amstelzicht. (Bottom section here.) I believe it is located quite near the hotel (see map here.) I've made a thread on the hotel here and here.


In terms of needing to REALLY stick to a plan like glue, 21st September, until 18.30 I need to stay conscious enough to get back to the airport to meet up with my mate, who is a (very) occasional smoker. 24th September from around midday until 4pm I need to again be 'with it' enough to pay bills, pack luggage, get to the airport, and board the plane to Britain.
16th October I only have 4 hours or so in dam, before needing to board next flight to Kazakhstan.
During the above hours I want to only be smoking something light, that leaves me without cotton wool tongue, and able to move my legs.
Outside of those hours, if I can move again before a coffee shop shuts up, and find our way back to the apartment, I'm up for anything.
See what to smoke thread.

See also the weather and ID threads. Also the spacecakes, shakes and smoker friendly bars thread here.

I would like to try some mushrooms (haven't done acid tabs in 10 years), but looking for the wow, bendy walls , new colours effect, rather than gibbering whilst leaping in front of trams mind fuck. See mushrooms thread.

So, when it comes to the individual coffee shops worth visiting, be it for weed quality, atmosphere, locality to the apartment, price or something that sets it apart from others, please do let me know over at the planned visits thread.


My BIG thanks to those forum members who have already welcomed me, and especially to Lemming (for obvious reasons) and FlyByNite (for the Whos In Town Page) for all their hard work.

Don't worry, the end is almost nigh, as far as this post is concerned.
So, if anyone has any advice that is not directly applicable to the sections linked above, please do use this thread to leave any comments, ideas & suggestions. If you can help me out with refinements / corrections to any of the subjects above directly, please do leave them in the corresponding thread that I've linked to in each case. Otherwise this thread will eventually be pulling in half a dozen directions at once


Thanks for reading this far.

PS If you think I am some sort of organizational zealot, in most cases this is not true. However, six years ago, I spent 5 days (was supposed to be 36 hours) in Amsterdam without a place to sleep (crashed each morning in the airport), missed 3 flights (to go to Kazakhstan for the first time, to get married!), and generally fu¢ked up, I want to ensure this time that things go smoothly. Plus I'll not be on my own this time, so if I cause any cock ups, the consequences will not just be mine to bare.

THIS POST IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.... THIS LINE WILL BE REMOVED WHEN I HAVE FINISHED CO-ORDINATING POSTS AND ADDING LINKS.
thank god I'm not stoned right now, else this would take days to do
[edit]
Almost done, two threads left to write and link to.

[geoffk]

I understand the need for planning. As long as I've got a place to stay, flight, and transportation within, I let it all fall together. I've got a list of shops to visit and grass to try. However, I'll never stick to this. It's only guideline. I like to find some quality coffeeshops in the vicinity of my hotel.

I happen to like visting museums a lot, so I've got a list of opening/closing times for them. That way I know if I can visit a particular at nite, my favorite time on vacation.

I've also found it best to confirm your hotel reservation prior to going, even if you've got an email. Sometimes when you book through a website, the hotel might not get the reservation. It's happened! Good luck and happy planning

[SilentlyScreaming]

cheers for the thought on double checking booking with the hotel, I hadn't actually thought of that.

One kind member of the board has already sent me a PM making sure I don't get too freaked out over the little details, and to just generally go with the flow... Basically I'm cool over it all, despite the large amount of threads and questions, I just needed to get all my thoughts and queries down in black and white, as a sort of way of chilling over it all. Like I mentioned, 6 years ago I really mucked up my trip in the city, this time I want to make sure I have the basics to hand, and that nothing will faze me too much.

Oh, meant to say, I've downloaded the excellent coffeeshopdirect website to my PDA, so I can browse it whilst offline, when out of WiFi range
I hope the servers didn't complain too much about the downloading last night

[smitt052]

From what I read of your post, I would say the biggest thing about your trip that could go wrong is in your 7 hour layover before leaving for home.

You should definitely have time for a train trip into the center of town. Just remember, it is SO easy for time to slip away there. Do not lose track of time, and be careful how stoned your getting. You might want to purchase and roll, then head back to Schipol to catch your buzz. Just make sure your waiting for your train NO LESS than 2 hours before your flight leaves (if not more). Have an awesome time...this one will be better!!

[cheese]

if u want some good mushrooms, dont try anyting but the hawaiians.. fuckin babies kick ass...

as far as good coffeeshops - twede kamer/dampkring/pink floyd chain of coffeedshops is great... both stix locations are good.. i also like barneys (some dont) but i havent had any bad experiences... the nes is a good bar that u can smoke in.... so is ricks cafe... umm i dunno i cant think to much this morning, smokin too much thai sticks... lucky me

for shopping for food, which i didnt see u mention..lol goto albert heins market and buy some food and cook it urself if u have an apartment... save some dough, and make the meals u enjoy...

most of the space cakes and shakes suck balls.. they dont do shit to ya unless u dont smoke much.. i hate 3 brownies from abraxas and had a milkshake and didnt do much.. but again i smoke more than a zip a week..

i cant be bothered to check out all the other threads so if u have any more questions, just post em here as well....

if ur looking for nightly activity or shit to do during the day check out www.underwateramsterdam.com and then the events page.. they list almost everything happening..

cheers dude

cheese

[SilentlyScreaming]

From what I read of your post, I would say the biggest thing about your trip that could go wrong is in your 7 hour layover before leaving for home.

Too true, thank you for thinking. That is the one time I'll be solo, but I'm hoping the thought of getting back to my wife after 3.5 weeks apart will be enough to motivate me into staying with it.

You might want to purchase and roll, then head back to Schipol to catch your buzz.
Just make sure your waiting for your train NO LESS than 2 hours before your flight leaves (if not more).

Cheers for the timeframe, will be sticking to it + a little bit for safety.
Re. smoking near the airport, the second time I went there, I discovered a bag with a small amount left when I was about to check in, and smoked outside the side doors, where you can (could) see a huge TV. I wasn't sure how likely I was to get a wrist slapping for smoking that far away from Centrum - do you reckon I should be ok there?

Have an awesome time...this one will be better!!

It could hardly be more of a screw up than my first time Seriously, since then I've improved each time, and I'm really looking forward to it.

if u want some good mushrooms, dont try anyting but the hawaiians.. fuckin babies kick ass...

Cheers, I've made a note of that.

as far as good coffeeshops - twede kamer/dampkring/pink floyd chain of coffeedshops is great... both stix locations are good.. i also like barneys (some dont) but i havent had any bad experiences... the nes is a good bar that u can smoke in.... so is ricks cafe...

Ta again, I've added/re-ordered those to my top 10 wishlist of places to visit now

for shopping for food, which i didnt see u mention..lol goto albert heins market and buy some food and cook it urself if u have an apartment... save some dough, and make the meals u enjoy...

Thanks, they got mentioned elsewhere, and that sounds like another vote for their wares... Whilst I am capable of cooking, I'll be doing so at the apartment - more money left for smokes then Though my friend is a real big McDs/BK fan, so I expect munchies on the go will be sourced from there, if I can't persuade to diversify a little

most of the space cakes and shakes suck balls.. they dont do shit to ya unless u dont smoke much.. i hate 3 brownies from abraxas and had a milkshake and didnt do much.. but again i smoke more than a zip a week..

I will have not had a smoke for 9 months by the time I get to Amsterdam, so I'm guessing my tolerance will be rather low (cheaper, more potential for lack of motor control though ), but if I'm going to buy something to keep me going (food wise) until the next proper meal, thought I'd try out what was on offer in CSs

if ur looking for nightly activity or shit to do during the day check out www.underwateramsterdam.com and then the events page.. they list almost everything happening.. cheers dude cheese

Brilliant link ta, I've added it to my PDA's bookmarks


Thanks for all the comments so far, appreciated.

[TheGinSoakedGirl]

A good area to stay, let us all know what the hotel was like. One of my favourite little (irish) music bars is close by : http://www.mulligans.nl
and Rokerij 3(?) is within floating distance

[chigusa]

if you go to central coffeeshop at all try to go first thing in the morning. seven a.m. if you can be bothered. it's great to sit at the window and see the city go past on it's bike. drink some coffee smoke something from the box. i love early doors at central and then round the corner to warmoestrat. by the time you reach the coin you are ready for more drugs.
the coin is another fantastic early morning coffeeshop, at that hour the punters tend to be people going to or from work so you meet some nice local stoners. most of the menu at the coin is good stuff and the coin special hash is tasty as fuck for the price. the staff are cool and occasionally the prettiest girl in amsterdam works the early shift.

[Bernum]

hehehe chigusa's in l ve

[SilentlyScreaming]

>>GinSoakedGirl - It turns out our apartment is right next door to Mulligans!
Will definitely be filing a trip report when I get back, though it may be a couple of weeks before I get proper net access in Britain. Rokerij III is definitely on my list

>>Chuigusa - If I'm up at that time, it will due to not having slept yet One of the friends coming is a late sleeper like me, though the other gets up nice and early if needed, so I'll see if I can persuade her to join me in a little wake and bake Thanks for the advice.