November 13-November 17 Trip Report: Day 1

[Henryhill125]

Well after 18 years and countless trips to Amsterdam, Ive finally decided to put a trip report down. I have wanted to in the past but put it off and it never happened. And as a fellow smoker from this board said to me during a smoking session, its good karma. I used alot of info from the board for this years trip, so its time to give a little back. I hope it helps a future trip or just amuses another Amsterdam lover.

I am back less than 24 hours, so this is a good time to do it. The espresso machine is cranking and the Lemon Kush is rolled, so here goes.

Day 1 Nov 13

After an uneventful Delta cattlecar trip over (never again, back to KLM for me) I arrived to some pretty decent weather, the sun was actually showing as I left Centraal Station. It was still early so I took a longer, slower walk to my hotel to drop off my bag. I was staying at a new spot this year, the Rembrandtplein Hotel on Groenburgwal, a quiet canal in a good location near the Zuider Kerk. The Dampkring would not be open for a little while so I killed time wandering around taking pics in the great sunlight. I gathered supplies, lighters? check grinder? check, and with my papers from home (Bambu's, more on that later) I headed to the Dampkring for opening time.

Walking into the Dampkring on the first morning of a trip just feels like being home again. It is my favorite coffeeshop and I start every morning here. Its quiet at this time and just very enjoyable. I jump right in and get some Hawaiian Haze and Rifman Shiboni, and the first coffee of the day. Aaaaaaah perfect, months from now (weeks? days?) when I need to be back in Amsterdam, these are the moments I think about. Love it here, friendly staff, great product and comfortable atmosphere.

With a good head on I went out into the sun to wander. I take alot of pics as it might be my only chance. The rest of the day will be spent hitting my favorite shops and just enjoying that first day vibe of seeing familiar places and seeing whats changed. I hit the Greenhouse, another fav that it is good to be back to, not too crowded and plenty of seating options. Feeling great. Amnesia Haze hits the spot. The rest of the day is pretty hazy as I can recall. An quick visit to Hill Street Blues yielded an unremarkable piece of Hash Plant Haze, dont, bother. I walked over to the west side to see what was going on and wound up stopping at the Rokerij II as the front area was open and provides a great smoking and people watching spot. Pleasantly surprised by the Lemon Skunk I got here.

I stopped back at my hotel in the afternoon to check in. Wow 5th floor walkup. Picture the smallest hotel room you have ever seen. Got that image? well now divide it in half. It was smaller than a cruise ship cabin. Who cares, I am by my self and wont be spending much time in my room.

At some point I hit the Wok and Walk which I really like. If i am by myself I like to get take-away from here and sit on a bench in a square and eat rather than sit in a restaurant. I am a people watcher.

Little did I know that tonight, my first night, I would find my favorite bud of the trip. Surprising myself even, I ended up stopping at Siberie. Its a shop Ive only been to once before as I find it not the most comfortable set up inside, but I know they have good product. I ordered the Kushage and the lovely girl behind the counter gave me a beautiful 2.2 gram bud of the stickiest, tastiest weed I would find for the rest of the trip. I smoked two joints of this fine weed and thought about a great first day. On a side note, this is my first time seeing the isolation chamber for tobacco smoking. Silly.

Dampkring:
Hawaiian Haze 2g X 14 ****
Rifman Shiboni 2g X 14 ****

Greenhouse:
Amnesia Haze 2g X 12 ***

Hill Street Blues:
Hash Plant Haze 2g X 10 **

Rokerij II:
Lemon Skunk 2g X 10 ****

Siberie:
Kushage
2.2g X 12.50 *****

[courtjester]

Sounds like good times, Henry.

Be careful, though. The mob has a long reach. I hear they still want you.

[geoffk]

Glad to know you liked Siberie. One of my favorites.

[lazerbeam]

Nice report Goodfella.