The grass is always greener...

[puffpuffgive]

Hi all. Have greatly enjoyed reading reports on these forums of late (especially Hasjdreamer’s) and decided to give back a little. This was my 7th trip to Dam and it turned out to be pretty much a dream come true. Here’s how I remember it…

*note- I didn’t take a camera with me. The pics you see are from previous trips in 07-08 to liven up what is basically a pretty long report*

Saturday 15th November 2008

I booked this trip pretty much on a whim, a 3-nighter, none of my stoner friends could get themselves organised enough to come along so I was on my own. I packed a light bag and departed Stanstead airport at 07:15GMT with sleazyjet. The plane broke through the clouds and everything turned golden as we were soaked in early morning sunshine. I took this as a good sign. Touchdown Schipol at 09:30NL was uneventful and the airport shuffled me through to the station. I got on the wrong train but only went two stops before realising my error and switching trains. Hit Centraal station by 10:30 and wandered to my hotel. The weather was clear and bright, and crisply cold.

I booked in at the friendly Hotel Groenedael on the dog-end of Nieuwendijk and said hello to Sushi the cat. My room wasn’t ready so I dumped my bag and hiked 10 minutes down the rather lovely Zeedijk to The Green Place. Found it easily enough and sat at the bar where the bartender and a friendly resident American were chatting. I ordered the Blueberry Cheese and a pear Looza, and rolled up whilst watching stunt bikes crashing on the TV.

WHEW! Cheese is such a strong strain. Arguably not the best choice for my ‘first buy’, also bearing in mind it was still the morning. Now I was really flying, chortling at the TV and chatting to the people in the shop. Cheese strains aren’t my favourite taste but they do get me ridiculously stoned. TGP’s example did had a pleasant sweet undertone. Perhaps that was the bloob coming though.

The rest of TGP’s menu looked delicious but I resisted (for now- more on that later) and went for a walk. The city looked beautiful in the sun. TBH I think it looks beautiful come rain or shine, with its canals and uniformly charming buildings. I stood on a bridge and wrote in my notebook ‘HAPPY’. I was finding it hard to keep it inside. I took stock for a moment. I didn’t have to go to work for five days. I was in Amsterdam, on my own, with euros in my pocket- I was living out my best dreams. I was right by the Oudeschanz and the midday bells rang out across the city. I took this as a starting bell for the day’s exploits.

Stix 2 was closed so I hit up an old fave- Abraxas. It was busy and smokey inside, like usual. Asked the vaguely androgynous female(?) budtender for something ‘old-skool’ and got half a gram of Santa Maria for 5.50, which I rolled up whilst perched next to some friendly Italian guys. The green was pretty bland tasting with a mellowing high. Rolled another mixed with the Cheese for later and put it in the handy joint holder I bought at the souvenir shop next door. This thing is black, and allegedly you can put a LIT spliff inside it. The spliff goes out quickly, the plastic is heatproof and thus it doesn’t taste horrible when you light it up again. (this actually works!!) I also bought some roach paper and lighters and junk. I have a soft spot for ‘braccys, tourist-magnet as it may be.

After popping into Albert Heijn for this awesome bread roll with raisins and a slice of cheese (bizarre! But tasty) I dumped my junk in my room which was now ready, set up the little portable radio/alarm clock I’d bought at the airport, put on some relaxing classical music and smoked the combination spliff I’d rolled earlier out of the window, still almost unable to believe I was in Mecca and expecting to wake up at any moment. I stumbled down the steep stairs of the Groenendael and back onto the streets- I had a mission in mind. The crystal clear at Katsu was so great when I visited last June and I had a hankering to taste that pine-fresh pure ice flavour.

As so often happens when one tries to take a walk in Amsterdam I got distracted, first by an Oliebolen stand (I’d never tried one before. DELICIOUS!) and then by Mellow Yellow. Bought the Bubblegum Haze and stopped to smoke a spliff which was sickly-sweet and strong, perhaps even too sweet in taste for me. Buds didn’t seem quite perfectly cured either? Still, very high as I sat in the window and watched people walk by and peer inside from the busy Vijzelgracht. Heading out towards Albert Cuyp Market I was distracted again by a Stroopwafel stand- I was looking for this guy in June but couldn’t find him. Today I was in luck. I saw this kid in front of me order a ‘king size’ so I ordered one too. This is basically a large, flat, hot, caramely tasty thing. I recommend them highly.

So it was slightly sticky and buzzing on sugar that I arrived at Katsu. I bought Crystal Clear, Maroc Ice and a 10 bag of ‘filler’ Northern Lights. The NL smelt nice in the bag, but was actually schwaggy and old. The maroc ice was bland both in taste and high, and the crystal clear was completely different from last time! Last June, the curt and frowning budtendress handed me a sliver of the purest, finest ice hash I’d ever smoked- thin, almost brittle at room temperature and semi-translucent, appearing to be composed entirely of crystals when held to the light. This time, the slice was darker and slightly thicker, much less translucent more like squidgy black. The flavour was only an echo of the pine fresh goodness I remembered, and was marred by a distinctly fishy undertone!

Poor marks to Katsu this time round from me. Despite this, you can’t get hash at home (UK) and I was blazin’ high, ready for a walk around Sarphatipark. Toasted another spliff as I watched the ducks and seagulls squabble. Wandered back along the market again and sat at Tweede Weteringsplanzen before idly strolling down Nieuwe Spiegelstraat, gazing at art in the illuminated shop windows as the sun set. Night descended on me all at once as I pulled away form the warm glare. I half-formed a plan to visit the newly refurbished Amnesia but as I passed it was rammed and a party of 8 Italians were hovering at the door, so continued wandering until I randomly hit El Guapo. This place was nice, I liked the colourful decor and ‘cave’ with the budcounter. The Mako Haze and Caramello looked great, but I had quite a few bags to smoke through so I just got a drink, made some headway with my stash and chatted to the friendly budtender.

After about an hour it was about 7pm and I was beginning to flag, I admit it. I decided a couple hours nap was in order and went back to my hotel, but not before popping into Tweede Kamer for a gram of Rifman Shibani. I smoked up in there- the hash was FANTASTIC, tasty, strong, oily-looking and no headache which I sometimes get off bad black hash. I also love that hilarious cigar advert they have on the wall at Tweede Kamer:









…I’m not too good at taking naps. I smoked a little more Shibani in my room and lay down, and basically I woke up at 4am. Cursed lightly and went back to sleep, and that was the end of my first day.

[puffpuffgive]

Sunday 16th November 2008
Got up early, showered and ate the frugal breakfast included in the price of a room at the Groenedael (bread, jam, cheese, an egg, tea or coffee). When I travel to Amsterdam, the excitement/anticipation of the event combined with eating junk food and smoking bucketloads means I’m usually sick on the first night and have a sore throat for the second day, but not this time. I hit the streets with a spring in my step- it had rained overnight so everything felt slightly damp, with puddles of rainwater everywhere.

I still had the smell of that Mako Haze up my nostrils and I headed straight to Nieuwe Nieuwestraat and El Guapo wherein I purchased half a gram of Mako Haze and half a gram of Caramello. Both were fantastic- the Mako was fresh, fruity and zingy- a great morning smoke. The Caramello- wow, just wow. A relatively lightly-pressed lump of golden, crumbly hash. Tastes pure and fresh as a pine forest, quick hitting and slightly queasy high at first which quickly settled into an energetic, pacy high. Great stuff! I got talking to a French dude who said he’s been in Thailand for the last three weeks smoking opium. Apparently he worked in a casino in France for about half the year- raking it in- and then he would go up into the hills in Thailand and lounge around in these old dude’s huts and toke on opium all day long. He loved it! I also started remembering some bizarre dreams from the previous night in which this girl I didn’t recognise who was my girlfriend got killed by a Chinese mafi boss who had a blowgun that looked like a set of pan-pipes. Riiiight.

When I could prise myself from the booth at El Guapo I took a walk and got slightly lost before stumbling upon Thorbeckplein. Picked up some vlaamse frites, the guy behind the counter was incredibly confusing and entirely unable to explain to me the meaning of the word ‘vlaamse’. I came away thinking vlaamse was a brand name like mcdonalds, perhaps a person’s surname. The chips were good though. I ate them in the Bushdoctor whilst ordering up half a gram of AK47 ice hash and the same of Blackberry Cheese ice hash. Smoked up on some green and drank a looza whilst the staff bounced off the walls restlessly. Eventually another staff member came in and started yelling and banging and crashing around with the crockery. The other guys stood around watching. I felt uneasy and decided to move upstairs, where I smoked some of the AK47 ice hash and looked out over Thorbeckplein.

WOW, AK47!! Oily and dark, pungent and tasty- this was a great, skunky, insanely strong number. To be laced carefully in with a skunk joint. A knockout, and I nearly got into serious difficulties taking that first step down the trapdoor staircase from the top level when the time eventually came to move on. Oh, I found a bud of some great skunk on the table too. Don’t know if it came from the Bushdoctor, or what it was at all, but I am not ashamed to say that I smoked it there and then! It was good! I wandered the city extensively, trying to form some sort of map in my head. This was my seventh visit to Amsterdam but still every time I get off the train at Centraal I’m instantly lost. I was determined to put an end to that on this trip.





So after some serious legwork I needed Chinese food. Thaise Bird Snackbar beckoned me, I got a perfectly passable plate of chicken cashew with rice and spring rolls with Chinese tea. Now I was pretty bloated so I wandered around some more whilst smoking a spliff, stopping on every bridge, admiring every building, petting every stray cat, winding up back at my hotel. I had arranged to meet an ACD forum member for a bit of a smoke-up at Hill St Blues at 5, it was 4 by now. So I chatted to the Groenendael staff and watched some telly before going up to my room to listen to some classical music and check how much money I’d spent. Could’ve been far worse, that Bushdoctor ice hash was expensive tho.

Wandering up the Warmoestraat I got distracted by The Coin and popped in to browse their wares, picking up half a gram of Amnesia Haze which was a typically great & fruity example of the strain. Nicely cured too. Then to Hill Street Blues which was just over the road- I hadn’t been here before, what a great place! Quite large, plenty of seating and a cool ‘graffiti slum’ vibe which I really enjoyed. Stood at the bar for five minutes trying to get the staff’s attention and failing, so I found HenryHill123 who I’d arranged to meet sitting at a table. I introduced myself and we got talking about weed, Amsterdam and life in general. He was a nice guy and shared with me the knowledge of how to roll up American-style!! I ended up buying a gram of some nice Polm for 6.50euros and smoking it in a bong for a change. My new buddy left me with some Nepal hash and a left-over internet token when it was time to move on- thanks man!! Much appreciated.

After that pleasant interlude I was in the mood for MORE SKUNK. My tolerance was up good and high now and I was ready for the high grade. I made a flying visit to Barney’s and got half a gram of G13 Haze. Then it was Rokerij up the road for NL 5x Haze. Both of these were strong, sweet tasting and sent me into a total trip. I smoked them in close succession so wasn’t able to distinguish between the two highs, however, both seemed extremely good! I sat in Rokerij and observed the gorgeous barmaid whilst chortling to myself quietly. I ended up stumbling around town looking for this café I’d seen previously and found it just as it was closing, bugger. Wandered some more and found myself back up at Popeye’s. Bought and smoked half a gram of Black Cobra which was a strong and lovely black hash, both in taste and high.

Interestingly enough, under the glass tables at Popeye’s were clear, detailed and polite notices informing customers of the tobacco ban. I asked the budtender about this and he confirmed tobacco was not allowed. After only a slight pause, he added that he didn’t really mind, as long as you kept your tobacco out of sight. This seemed to be the case everywhere- I smoked tobacco spliffs in every coffeeshop I went into during my 4 day trip, only once did anyone say anything and that was at the Green place (and even then I carried on smoking it and they didn’t mind). So that was good, and as I enjoy a sprinkle of tobacco on most of my spliffs, I for one hope it stays this way.

By now it was late and I was blazin’ stoned. I headed back to the hotel with the vague idea of either crashing or chilling for a while and then heading back out before closing time. Little did I know my evening was about to take a turn for the bizarre. I stopped at my hotel lounge and rescued a staff member from a hyperactive American guy of about 20 who was talking fast at him. He claimed to be an actor from California, and said he’d been to a smartshop earlier on. He seemed pretty buzzed and was stuffing handfuls of mushrooms into his mouth. It was his first time in ’Dam so I suggested we went to a coffeeshop and he agreed so I hit the streets with my new buddy. He was acting very strangely and tried to dart into the first building that looked like it might sell weed. I pulled him back and guided him in the direction of Haarlemmerstraat. As we walked he went into full-on prophet mode. “You should be a journalist, man. That’s your calling in life.” (Coindentally, a long-standing ambition of mine was to be a journalist before music took my path in another direction)

We ended up at a Greenhouse coffeeshop. I ordered a gram of Jack-something (don’t remember), we sat down and I skinned up. My American friend was raving. He had a distinctly on-edge, wired appearance. “Back home man, I’m the King of Cali.” “You should be a journalist, man. You wanna be my journalist? I’ll pay you to write down everything I say.” I humour him and take out my black journal book and scribble in it. He starts staring at this guy who’s queuing up for some bud. “Hey man. ..Are you dangerous?” I think, what now. The guy has some neck tattoos but other than that looks fairly innocuous. “No, man.” He replies aimiably. But The King of Cali doesn’t want to let it drop. “’Cos, you look kind of dangerous.” The guy with the tattoos (we’ll call him Superdad) replies “I suppose it depends what your definition of dangerous is. I never hurt anyone who didn’t deserve it.” This seems to mollify him but the air of mistrust remains. Superdad comes over to our table when he’s made his purchase in an effort to dispel this air. He starts trying to tells his story of how he’s ended up in Amsterdam, like so many American diaspora, but his progress is stilted numerous times by my buddy who is still prophecying grandly and making little to no sense.

I’m sat between them and get the curious sensation that my attention is being vied for. The King of Cali receives a phone call on his mobile and he’s off doing laps of the coffeeshop, yelling into his phone at top speed. I continue talking to Superdad who turns out to be a pretty cool guy, he’d moved to Amsterdam but had a couple of bad breaks, his wife was pregnant and had to travel back to NY where they were from, I was just waiting for the “So if you’ve got a euro or two change going spare…” but it never came. He rolled up and passed to me. Eventually The King of Cali came back and started jabbing me in the ribs. “C’mon man. Let’s go. We gotta leave.” I was pretty comfortable and stoned and chatting to Superdad, so “Naw- I’m staying til closing time. Its only half an hour.” So we stayed and smoked and attempted to hold conversations. When it was time to leave the three of us left together and we walked centraalwards.

On the road The King of Cali starts behaving even more strangely, holding conversations with strangers at a pitched yell, walking up to people and staring them in the face before saying “thankyou” and moving off, generally being hyper. “How many grams of mushrooms did you eat?” I asked. He stares blankly at me. “What, dude. Oh, those? Those were shiitake! What, you thought I was tripping?!” We burst out laughing. A little further on and I look back to see he’s got all his euros out and is tearing them into little pieces. I try to stop him but before I can get to him he’s stuffed the pieces down a drain. He grins at me triumphantly. “I’m trying to make it rain!!” I suggest he does a rain dance. He complies and starts dancing up and down the street. A little way on and we pass the Hotel Groenendael. The King of Cali says he needs to stop by pick some stuff up, Superdad has to head on home so we say our goodbyes.

A group of young English kids stop us in the stairwell of the Groenendael and one of them, with very bad acne, asks for a lighter. The King of Cali leans in close to the poor kid’s face. “You look like you’ve burnt your face,” he says loudly. The kid is visibly shocked by this and doesn’t reply immediately. I put a lighter in his hand and say “Take it, I’ve got like 7” and shove the King in the back to get him to go up the stairs. He’s calling back down the whole time, “You look like you’ve burnt your FACE!!” I shove him into his room and slam the door as the owner comes out and tells us all to be quiet.

At this point I’d decided that I’d probably had about enough craziness for one night. It was about two am and I went up to my room, locked my door, put Classic FM on my travel alarm/radio, rolled and smoked a joint and fell fast asleep.

[puffpuffgive]

Monday 17th October 2008

Well, the plan for Monday morning was to get up at 8:30 and make it to Central station for 9:15 to meet up with FlyByNite in Haarlem for a meet at 10, I was pretty stoked about this ‘cos I’d never been to Haarlem and it sounded delightful, and FBN seemed like a cool guy. Unfortunately my alarm/radio tried to wake me up at 8:30 with the quiet, relaxing classical music I’d been listening to the previous evening. Obviously it didn’t work. I woke up at 11 having missed breakfast AND the meet. Damn!! Apologies to FBN, I really did wanna meet up, maybe next time if you’ll gimme another chance..!

So I had a quick shower and hit the streets, anxious not to waste any more time. I had a DVD-like package under my arm which I posted at the TNT post office on Waterlooplein after following directions from an American tramp. I was hampered only briefly by the ticket-based queuing system. When I emerged I was quite proud of the fact that it was 12 midday in Amsterdam and I hadn’t smoked yet. Eager to put that to rights I nipped back up the road to The Green Place to sample some more of their tempting menu.

God damn, EVERYTHING on the menu looked good, and more importantly the strains looked and smelt exactly as the names suggested. No mis-labelling some schwag with a well-known name to fool the customers here. I plumped for a phat gram of Jack Herer for 8euro which was a solid, stankin’ nug. Sheeaat, this is the shit. Instead of fucking around with Barneys and Popeye’s I shoulda been scoring here! I enjoyed this most heartily in the window at the front and talked to some old American guy about his laptop computer which appeared to have exploded. I really did like this lump of Jack I was smoking and I wanted to explore more of their menu but again I resisted, opting instead to roll a tasty blunt of Jack with these blueberry blunt wraps I’d bought the previous day. I lolled in the window watching people, high as a kite.

Eventually three American guys came in and started talking seriously with the budtender about the imminent Cannabis Cup. Who was gonna win, who had the best seeds, Arjan this, Arjan that. The dealer was weighing in enthusiastically even though I’d spoken to him previously about how the Cup was a) a rip-off and b) rigged. The chattering voices were harshing my buzz and I decided to move on. As I walked I stumbled upon a local-seeming pancake place down a side street which I’ve been to before but can only seem to find by chance. Large and low with lots of wooden tables and booths, my ham&kaas was good at 10euros. After this I meandered down to Noon and picked up half a gram of Chocolope for 7euros from the young-looking dude behind the bar and sat in the front window to smoke it. This bud was spicy-sweet and high, very nice indeed. To be honest it was the only thing they had in stock that looked good. They were out of Blueberry Ice hash which is what I was really after.

I rolled a few joints for later and set off for the Vondelpark. This was as pleasant as ever but too cold for sitting around on the grass, so after a walk amongst the resident herons and cyclists I drifted off in the residential streets to the side. This led to a long and pleasant afternoon walk around the houses of the southern quadrant of Amsterdam as I fantasised about owning one of the gorgeous canalside houses, especially this one, with a white conservatory out back and a bench by the water… can’t a man dream?


This house is also in the Vondelpark area:




Did a double-take when I looked closer at the small window in the left






I pulled myself away and walked back towards the centre of town by way of the museumplein where I sat and watched people go by as it got dark. Then I headed for Mellow Yellow in search of the elusive Blueberry Ice hash. Yay, it was in stock so I picked up half a gram. This hash was the oily and sweaty fruity-scented powerful stuff that I remembered from a few years back. Enjoyed the hash along with the chilled atmosphere in MY, again opting to sit in the window and people-watch, being amused at one point by a chant of “Arse-pickle, You’re a Snickle!!” (or something. .!) which emanated from those sat around the counter.

I popped back to my hotel briefly to chill out with Sushi and assess the euro-situation. I’d spent a lot but I was doing alright, and I didn’t have too much of a ‘backlog’ stash to smoke through. So naturally I hit the streets for more smoke. Popped into Picasso ‘cos I hadn’t been in there before and met the curious bowing budtender. Picked up half a gram of Charras for 7 euros which was LOVELY, tasty and spicy, strong happy dreamlike high which I smoked in the top section. Then I wandered the streets some more and ended up in Central station at the deserted end of one of the platforms, overlooking the city. I smoked more charras on a platform seat and admired the bustling glow beneath me, feeling very contented.

It must have been ten or eleven by now but due to my late start I wasn’t beginning to slow down at all. I headed to De Kuil and walked through the swing doors into the afterlife. The good place. If there’s a heaven, it’s just like 420. As always, I felt instantly at home in the warm wood-panelled environment, complete with cute smiling bargirl. I got a chocomel and half a gram of Parvati Cream and sat in back. Mm, what delightful hash,, 13euros a gram, strong yet mellow, almost chocolately smooth taste. A winner for me. I also got a gram of nice sweet Blueberry which went down a treat. I moved to the window seat when it became free and smoked some more Parvati cream. I had to buy another half gram cos I’d smoked up my first- shoulda just bought a whole gram! I like to try a large selection of weeds and hashes when in ‘Dam so I usually end up buying a lot of half-grams to try stuff out.

I spent a long time in there soaking up the atmosphere and the smoke, speaking to some strange middle eastern guy who was on a business trip, said he was In ‘transport’ and was toking furiously on as much hashish as his lungs could hold before he had to sleep and get a plane home first thing in the morning. When I left I stopped by a touristy-type shop for some more bluntwraps. There was a friendly kid working in there from New Zealand who’d come over to live and work. We got talking and he invited me to chill with his buddies for the evening which I didn’t end up taking him up on, but anyway he seemed like a nice dude.

Popped into Barney’s but wasn’t impressed by anything the budtender showed me. Moseyed on down to Popeye’s and went for half a gram of their Mango haze, My half-gram buying policy came back to bite me in the ass here as I ended up with leafy, stringy bud. Serves me right I suppose. Predictably, the Mango didn’t get me off but I had a nice time chillin in there- I quite like Popeye’s. After the disappointing Mango Haze I decided to cut the crap and get over to The Green Place again before it closed. I noticed on the bottom of the Green Place menu a little tacked-on sticker saying ‘OG Kush’. I ordered a gram of it straightaway along with a gram of Twizzla hash which, according to the budtender, has a ‘higher oil percentage’ (than..?). I laced a spliff with the Twizzla and it was GREAT, unfortunately I lost the baggie somewhere along the line so I didn’t get a second taste, to be honest I’m impressed that was the only baggie I misplaced during the entire 4 days.

The OG Kush however was phenomenal, looked and smelt like a perfect example of cannabis should be like imho, I rolled up pretty much the entire gram into a blueberry blunt wrap and smoked it all myself, it tasted gorgeous and got me unbelievably high. Wish I could remember more about the taste but I do remember being extremely impressed by the strength and clarity of the high from this smoke. Another thumbs-up for the Green Place. After this session I staggered back to my hotel bed and fell asleep after what was for me, a reasonably heroic day’s toking.

[puffpuffgive]

Tuesday 18th November 2008

…The sweet sorrow of waking up in Amsterdam on your last day. I packed my stuff and left the bag in the lounge at the hotel. After a light breakfast I hit the streets, determined not to waste the day- check in for my flight didn’t open ‘til 8pm anyway. Another beatific early-morning wander down to the Post Office and then back up to The Green Place- I figured, this place has such great bud, it’s be stupid NOT to buy more! This time I got a gram of AK-47, which was old-skool and authentic smelling, not quite as dynamite as the Jack Herer but still a good example of the strain, nicely grown and cured.

After lolling in the window a while I set off in search of Sanementeerung, a charming and hidden-away coffeeshop/bric-a-brac/antique shop where cats walk on the tables as you’re trying to skin up. Unfortunately it was closed but here’s a pic from a previous trip:



I wandered until I found another coffeshop, I think it was called Bibi. Small local place with a separate smoking area. I ordered a drink, rolled a puree and chatted to the friendly locals about the shop and the state of coffeeshops and licencing in ‘Dam in general. A very pleasant interlude although I regretted not getting to experience Sanementeerung’s cluttered cosiness. Next time.

I remembered that I hadn’t dropped my room key off at the hotel so I did that, said goodbye to the Groenendael guys and claimed back by 10 euro deposit. I knew exactly where that was going and headed to Popeye’s for half a gram of Pink Kush. I tried this back in June 08 and found it to be somewhat lacking, but this was a completely different crop. Better cured and better tasting, fruity and spicy and strong- well worth a look. After a spliff of the PK with a tea I hit the streets again, anxious to walk and commit more city plan to memory. I stumbled upon Abraxas Too, the narrow confines of which appeared to be under construction. They were still selling bud so I got half a g of Hawaiian Haze. This is an old fave of mine and it was as good as ever, almost pineapply in taste with a pretty strong high. I skinned up quickly at a table and smoked outside ‘cos people were sawing things probably wafting asbestos around. I’d still like to check this cosy place out when it’s refurbed.

I still had a couple hours left in Dam, some bud and hash to smoke and I only had a couple euros left. So I headed to the place I knew I would be happy to chill out at for a couple hours with a cuppa- DE KUIL. Cats, cute barmaids, good people-watching out of the front window- who could ask for more. I sent a very pleasant hour finishing up my stash and rolling a phattie to take on my final stroll around town before I headed to the train station. After a long walk around the dock areas and random places I was tired, and realised I still had about 45 minutes until I really had to leave, so I totally caved in to Parvati and hot-footed it to a cash point. I popped into the touristy shop next to De Kuil to get some more of these Brown Sugar flavoured tobacco rolling papers I liked and chatted to the friendly guy working there again, and gave him a free CD of my band. He hooked me up with some of these sweet ‘Double Dutch’ rip paper/roach combos for my friends at a cut price.then it was back into DK for that final gram of smooth tasty Parvati Cream.

A last spliff, a walk to the train station, an uneventful flight home and I was back on british soil before I knew it... my glorious daydream had come to an end. I spent the night at a friend’s house in London who had some nice Purple Kush and some decent hash and I shared the little bit of parvati cream I’d left in my hand luggage. When I got home the following day a package was waiting for me and another arrived on the next day, each containing a small hashy surprise!

BEST COFFEESHOP FOR VIBE- DE KUIL
BEST COFFEESHOP FOR BUD-THE GREEN PLACE
BEST WEED- OG KUSH (GREEN PLACE)
BEST HASH- AK-47 ICE (BUSHDOCTOR)

[Boner]

Superb report, cheers.

[Pala]

nice, thankx.

[laidbackfreak]

top write up kinda what i have planned for new year cant wait

[CHELSEA_SMOKERS_SOCIETY]

amazing trip report.... enjoyed every word

how much distance did you cover? i was trying to keep track of your movements, tiring just reading it.

also, are you talking about the kiwi/ozzy barmaid who works in de kuil? she is so polite, and so hot. great combination eh?

theat 'king of cali' character sounded like a fucking nightmare, still he made a funny story.

thank you for taking the time to share, is very much appreciated.

[SoulRider]

I have been to Amsterdam 6 times now this year, and have got my favorites within the centrum area, Green Place, Rokerij, De Dampkring, Picasso's, Basjoe's, De Kuil, El Guapo and Homegrown Fantasy.

I really need to get out of centrum and visit noon, mellow yellow and some of these other shops, but I always keep returning to my favorites

Fantastic report, only 5 days to go until I'm back there, can't wait

[puffpuffgive]

No idea how much ground I covered, wish i'd had a pedometer! It was a lot. My feet held up pretty well- I had a good pair of shoes.

there were two cute barmaids in de kuil.. the blonde one was particularly easy on the eye

I meant to post these photos too, from june 08 (i think). Was just admiring the mannekins in the circular window:




and then AIEEEEEEEEEE


got quite the shock when one of them started moving. I mean does that guy just wait around up there to scare people or what