I spent a good hour or so talking over the positives and negatives of the cups entries with a couple of women fro New Mexico. They seemed to know exactly what they were talking about too. They also spoke of fine Mexican, just killer stuff, super cheap where they're from. Just another place I need to go visit. What a lot of information for me to digest. I'm learning so much about smoke it's almost scary. I must be really backward, I didn't hardly know any of this stuff, it's so high tech.
Out of De Rokerts and on to the Rookies. This place was jammin' and jammed to the rafters. It was so busy I couldn't get waited on . Everyone was working just as hard as the could, so maybe next time. It's now about 1:30 and I stop at a pastry shop for a bite to eat. The apple strudel was to die for, just heavenly. Probably 8 million calories and worth every damn one.
After all that wonderful sugar and with a lovely buzz on I decided to start walking towards the Central Station area. There are coffee shops there I haven't tried yet. Besides, I want to walk and take in this beautiful city for as long as I possibly can. I have to go back home tomorrow so I need to load up on memories today.
The sun is shining softly, the people bustling about so full of life. Such an old city, but still vital. Sparkling canals , charming arched bridges everywhere, narrow buildings wit tops like birthday cakes. I'll never forget the ambiance of this place. It's so European!
At around 3:00 I came at last to the famous Barnies. I love you Barnies! I walked in the door and before I could walk 2 feet was being vaporized and vaporized...good gravy. I got my goodies and staggered over to a table at the front and oozed into a seat, still being followed by the vaporizer bandit. I call him this because he stole my breath and heart away. Bless yah, honey, what a wonderful smoke, yum, yum. Barnies is one to the several reasons I couldn't live in Amsterdam. I'd never get out the door to work. Barnies had a nice van taking people out to the Power Zone to vote, so I caught a ride. We all buzzed all the way there, a party on wheels.
We got there about 4:30, took a last walk around, nodded to the suits in front, took a few more tokes then got in line to vote for my favorites. I was 80% right in my choices. After voting I took off and went by shuttle bus back to the Victoria Hotel area. It's 5:30 and I'm going to the Red Light District.
*****
I get my map out and start moving towardsthis place i've heardso much about. I got a doobie in my pocket and Im' ready to explore. Walking around I see sex and lots of gift and head shops. Tourists gawking about, me included. Most of the group were men, as you would expect. The ladies wer in windows. The first ones I saw were in large windows with beautiful, bold eyes and provocative ways of dressing. They didn't seem afraid, but they didn't look as if they were having the time of their lives either. It seem to me to be a hard way to make a living. There are places where you can go and see sex acts, nothing much seems taboo here. It's rather amazing but I'm not afraid to be here walking around on my own. I see serious men standing around and you can tell just by lookin at them, if you screw up too hard they will clean you clock for you. The only person who said anything was asmall dark man who said "help ya, baby?" I a horse whisper. I just kept on moving and he melted back into the shadows as if he never existed.
I turned off onto a side street with a bunch of tourists who were just milling around chattering. Somethings up, I have to look. There were full length glass panels about 2 ft wide filled side to side with women behind them. They were posturing and gesturing, trying to drum up business. I felt so sad for the poor babies. Yes, I know that the girls do it of their own free will and that there's safety and all of that. I'm still sad for them. It's an interestin trip folks but not my cup of hot chocolat. Thanks but no thanks.
Oh, by the way, i've found out something of interest - you can o.d. On hot chocolate. I've had so much of this drink it's dripping out of my ears. So, the next coffee shop I stop at, I get a big cup of ...hot chocolate! I love this stuff! The coffee shop was the Bulldog.
Again I lucked out and found a primo seat...an actual booth yet. Sharing my booth was a delightful couple from Wales who were in Amsterdam for a wedding. They spoke lovingly of Wales. You could tell they loved where they lived and loved each other. This renews my faith in mankind. I so needed this after the red light area. Oops, time to get going if I'm going to make the Cannibus Cup Awards show.
The show was a blast! Everyone was In excellent partying mood. (except for a few bad loosers) I had a great time and have wonderful memories. I met such cool people, travelers, tourists and residents alike. I've just got to come back here again and bring my ol' man next time. This was the main drawback with my trip. Amsterdam is a romantic city, a place for lovers to wander and I came alone...this time.
Well, it's late kiddies and the educated smoker is freekin' tired. I ahve to be at the airport at no alter han 9;30 local time to catch my flight back to the U. S. Of A.
*****
The Last Morning
I open my eyes to a dreary, rainy, chilly morning. That pretty well summed up my mood too. Aw well, let's get up and at 'em. I was going to walk to Central station this morningso I could say a lingering farewell to Amsterdam but to hell with that, it's pouring rain out there! I'll get a taxi to take me. I showered and packed my stuff. Where did all this new crap come from? I'll make it fit somehow.
One thing I make sure to do before leaving the hotel for the airport is to roll up a HUGE doobie, open the window and kick back on my little bed. From a semi-reclining position I had a good view fo the Singel Canal. Managed to work up an ass-kicking buzz. It was so mellow!
There was a "problem" to deal with. I had a sweet pipe and some smoke left over. What do I do with it? I surely hate to waste prime smoke, ya know. An answer came to me.
I opened my door and knocked on my neighbors door. I just had a nodding acquaintance with them, a young Italian couple, but I knew them to be smokers. When the young man opened his door I handed him my pipe and reefer and said "Have a buzz on me". His face lit up like a lamp and he thanked me with a big thank-you in Italian. At least I hope it was a thank-you. As I said, "never waste the bud". The last remaining obstacle was getting down those damned steep stairs with a terminal buzz!
Downstairs for breakfast, coffee and toast. As I paid my bill I had the front desk call me a ride. I'm ready to go. Sorry to leave of course, but ready to go home. I'll never forget this time. It's given me a deep hunger to see more of this world. I'm tired of just working every day to see the sun go down a night. I want to see where the sun comes up too. I've had a change in my outlook and it's all to the good.
The cabbie takes me right to Central Station. Inside a nice man in a blue uniform shows me how to get a train ticket. After a quiet ride to the airport I had no problem getting my flight. Everything is running as smooth as silk. The only thing interesting that happened on the flight back to the U. S. A. Is that my seat neighbor was my buddy from the bus and Cannabis Cup stand. He was bushed! We talked for a few minutes about what a great time we had, then said sleep well to each other, kicked back and thats all she wrote until we landed in America
*****
Wrap up...my bitches about the trip.
It was a most wonderful trip, one I will always remember. But it wasn't perfect. I do have a few bitches to mention. I didn't want to work them into the story and kill the mood so here they are.
1. Why is it that when you are talking to a person (man) about your age and everyone is having a super good time partying and being mellow with each other, do they think that you are a possible date (if you get my drift) and get all stupid when you say No. No, I'm married. No, can't you see that ring on my finger? No, who in the hell do you think I've been talking about, I've only said his name 10 times? What part of No don't you get?
Especially when you make it plain by your actions that if one of the pretty younger women gave you a chance in Hell you wouldn't even know I'm alive, except as a coat rack.
Stop doing this guys. No means no and that's it! Don't kill my buzz by pushing the issue.
2. Are all of the bathrooms in Amsterdam small and hidden? They seem to be either up 2 flights of damned stairs or down 2 flights of horrifying stairs. All the stairs are about 5 in deep or less, way too small for modern feet. It's a real mother trying to get to the can, buzzed and doing the pee-pee dance while trying to get down stairs a monkey couldn't climb. It's a real buzz kill at times.
3. High Times timing was off. There was a good bit of bitching about the opening ceremonies. Also some of the security folkes were a little bit agressive to some people. Not me, I got along just fine. Please don't be mad a me.
4. On the shuttle buses, I guess that High Times had people entertaining the judges. You know the scene, they ask questions about cannabis, answer and get a free J. Well, one of these people was a man whe went by the name of N_____ Johnson. If this gentleman said N_____ once he said it a hundred times or more the several times I saw him during the Cup. It made everyone uncomfortable.
5. Some of the coffee shops that were in the Cup acted as if it didn't matter at all. Nothing! Nada! Zip! About 3 shops could have shown some sort of enthusiasm come on guys, I'm spending a lot of money at least act up a bit! Please? With sugar on it.
Hestia
