Flying out Monday afternoon/early evening, returning again Thursday night!
I have one plan. See below.
Step 1. There is no plan.
Step 2. See above.
There we are - now I don't have to worry about not finding the time to visit this coffeeshop and go to that bar/club/whatever that I had planned to see this time around.
There's always something that seems to crop up, whether it be the vagaries of the Dutch weather, or just getting so hammered by a particular weed, that I no longer stress out over anything that happens when I'm away...
Ok, so there are one or two events that will always occur during my trips to Amsterdam. Firstly will be my pilgrimage to De Kuil. Always first on the list and often the location for my last few hours before catching the plane back home.
The Lemongrass Wok on the corner of Oudebrugsteeg and Damrak will also be receiving plenty of my hard-earned €'s... a better place for food is hard to find for €7,50, and so quick and fresh!
Amnesia is usually my second home from home - I was quite concerned that the refurbishments and new decor would have messed this place up when I was there last month, but apart from looking a little snazzier and losing the side door on Bergstraat, there didn't seem to be much change. The service was as good as I've always had there and the weed was equally excellent, with a few more additions that I hadn't seen on my previous visit.
I've seen that some people have had sketchy service here, but I've never experienced this first-hand, and indeed the only time I have seen trouble here was when a group of loud mouthed kiddies tried to protest their age to the budtender and were asked to leave (they looked around 16-17, had no IDs and were acting like 12yr olds)...
I'm sure that Rasta Baby will get a visit as well next week - the weed is ok - nothing special, but does the trick. I always buy something in every coffeeshop I go to, partly out of politeness (and I don't like getting stared at for bringing out a baggie of weed I've bought elsewhere!) and partly because I like to support these little havens of sanity! If everyone went into the coffeeshops with gear they buy elsewhere, then you might as well say, ok - let's go into this bar, sit down and pull out a bottle of scotch you've bought at the supermarket and ask the bar staff for an empty glass and some ice, please? Reaction? Answers on a postcard please...
Sorry - rant over. But anyhoo... ah yes, Rasta Baby. Nice chilled vibe, friendly staff, good music most of the time and a pair of the biggest pothead cats you'll see! I like talking to cats when I'm off my trolley - the cat that runs De Kuil and De Kroon opposite it just has the coolest existence. If there were such a thing as reincarnation, I'd want to come back as a coffeeshop cat. Hell yeah.
Food places are always of interest to me, and although these days I've grown from crawling from one Kebab vendor's greasy offerings to the nearest Febo to finish off what what was left of my guts... I still like to get a good bit of nosh for my €. I already mentioned the Lemongrass Wok - great stuff, and if that didn't fill you up, there a frites place next door to get that cholesterol fix!
Barneys has become a little overpriced now for what is quite basic grub, and unless I'm in that part of town, with a lot more money than normal, I'm not likely to be shelling out €15 for breakfast ( I seem to recall the breakfast being about €13, with a drink of some description, you're looking at an easy €15 spend). The food's not bad there, but not really great value for money IMHO. Weed there was always good quality, but unless I'm landing so early in the morning that nowhere else was open, I'll give it a miss now, thanks...
Ahh well..... I've got two more days at work, then I can relax and get my stuff ready for that Monday flight - I've just taken a quick look at the BMIBaby website to find that my £65 return flight is now listed at £222!!!
How glad am I that I didn't leave it til the last minute to book!Anyone fancies meeting up anywhere, let me know. I'll be checking in here right up til a couple of hours before I get the plane, and if I get close to an internet connection over there, well.....
I saw your post on the (travel plans Before) on the post which i posted. Its my first time and the other 4 lads im with aswell but although we are all noobs to Amsterdam i have it planned rite down to the very last detail 
You'll recognise us by our Mackem accents. 
If I'm brave enough to dare the evening meals at the Hotel Vijaya, then a good curry might just leave me in need of some thing nice and kitten-soft to ease the 
