If you think there was any chance that I headed for the grocery store you have not been paying attention. Groceries could definitely wait. I set out for Rokerij because it was just only a block away from my apartment. and I was looking forward to the Leidseplein location, as it was the only Rokerij I hadn't been to before. The streets were empty, save for the scattered remains of a long hard night of partying. This area of the city really rocked into the night.
The morning air was pleasantly cool on my face. I hadn't really spent any time in this part of the city since my first trip back in 2003, and it was fun to see sights that sent pleasant memories flooding back. I passed several restaurants that we had enjoyed on our first trip as I kept an eye out for the coffeeshop. I spotted the sign down the block and felt my heart quicken with excitement. I picked up the pace a little only to find the shop shut tight.
Bummer. I looked up and down the completely empty street again, feeling my prospects of finding a shop open at 9am rapidly dimming. I tried to search my memory for information about which shops near Leidseplein opened early only to realize that I was seriously stoned and more than a little bit high. I pulled out my headphones and trusty map trying to convince myself to walk to the grocery store when inspiration struck. Noon opens early! So I put the music on shuffle and set off down the street.
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/I+Fee ... oNaL?src=5 The sky was unbelievably blue and I couldn't resist stopping to take a few pictures on the short walk.
Sure enough, Noon was open, although almost empty with the only customers being three old Dutch men enjoying morning coffee and a fat joint at the sunny table in the window. Nevertheless the small shop appeared inviting with the bud counter on the left along with a bar and some stools and tables arranged down the right-hand side along a banquette. I introduced myself to the tall dark handsome bud tender with a big smile. Dan returned the introduction and the smile and I asked him what was good. His first recommendation was the Sleeze. "Is that the same strain that you were selling as Sleezestick a few months ago?"
His smile got even bigger, "Yes, you know it?"
"I do, I really liked it, but my husband wasn't such a fan. It was so yummy, and strong."
"It has a very funky taste." He agreed, "It's L.A. Confidential crossed with Sour Diesel." He pulled out a beautiful tub of dank-smelling buds.
Mellow Yellow's Sleezestick (Now Sleeze) from July 2009
I felt like I had just won some sort of prize, because I had been wondering about what this strain was ever since I tried it the year before. Stupidly though I passed on it because I knew that Dr.J wasn't a fan- it had kind of tweaked him out the last time he'd tried it. He then pulled out the S-5 haze, which I told him I had tried the day before. However it was still sparkly and juicy looking and so I picked up a few more grams to share with the boys. He then recommended the Blueberry Silver Haze, and I nabbed a gram of that along with a cappuccino.
Noon's Blueberry Silver Haze
I packed myself a big bowl and hit it enthusiastically. It hit smooth and light, with a pleasantly hazy faintly berry flavor on the exhale. The high was visual, as everything seemed to glow a little brighter, and nicely balanced with a little bit of stone accompanying the elevating haze rush. It wasn't the strongest haze, but was nice and relaxing. Two pretty girls came into the shop and sat down at the bar to flirt with Dan while they shared a pre-rolled joint. Coffee, weed, and eye candy. My day was certainly off to a great start
Feeling less ambition by the minute, I sparked up another bowl and tried to start a shopping list. I pared back DrJ's birthday dinner plans, settling on Nam Sod for an appetizer and Bahn Mi sandwiches for the main course, with chocolates and lemongrass-ginger infused watermelon for dessert. Briefly I remembered that we needed coffee filters and paper towels, but by then I had abandoned my list-making in favor of staring off into space and quietly sipping my coffee.
Eventually I headed out, deciding to jump on a tram and head to the Koningsplein AH rather than trying to find the door of the Vizjelstraat AH that had eluded me the day before. I'm a veteran stoned grocery shopper, but that really wasn't much help after the morning I had. Long story short, I climbed the stairs to the apartment a little while later with a lot of tasty breakfast items, most of what I needed to make dinner, and no coffee filters or paper towels.
Noon's Blueberry Silver Haze
The boys were all various stages of waking up and we passed around a joint of Blueberry Silver Haze followed by a few of the S-5 haze while we breakfasted on fruit and cheese. The boys agreed that the S-5 Haze was better than caffeine, as it continued to have an incredibly powerful elevating high. I was once again knocked out by the super limey fragrant flavor. Suddenly Dr.D jumped up, "I almost forgot, we got you a present yesterday!" And he pulls a bag of weed out of his pocked containing a beautiful bud.
"Awesome! What is it?" I asked, opening up the bag to take a big sniff.
"Uh, something from somewhere..." Dr.D looked a little embarassed.
"It's from that place you picked us up at yesterday." JD added helpfully.
"Amnesia? Awesome, they have great stuff." I was a little bummed out not to know what it was, but was touched that the lost boys had even thought to get me a present. I took a big sniff and my nose was overwhelmed with the aroma of cherries and grapefruit and haze perfume. "Is this Utopia Haze by any chance?"
"Yes!" Dr.D exclaimed. "That's it. How did you know? You're like some sort of sick weed savant or something."
Amnesia's Utopia Haze
Sick weed savant.
I considered that high praise indeed and I thanked them profusely for the awesome gift. "You guys are going to love this bud." I assured them. After a while everyone was ready to head out in search of coffee, and noting that it was almost noon I suggested that we head over the Basjoe's to see King James.
Because life is too short to smoke bad bud.
