As I get married in a couple of months I thought it'd be an excellent excuse to go to my favourite city with a few of my favourite people. There will be eight of us all told, seven from day one, me, my best man R, KC, T, M, C and the Dwarf, the Geordie arrives the day after and completes our little gang. I'd been twice with R in the past (see "Assorted Memories" report), KC had lived there for 8 months but doesn't smoke, T, M and the Dwarf all like a smoke. T's been a few times before. C does smoke but he won't mind me calling him a lightweight, my toilet bowl would back me up if it could speak! A varied set of tolerances
The day arrives and T is at mine around 8ish. He has a couple rolled, one for now, one for the airport. Nice one. We swing by and pick the Dwarf up, he's running late and appears suitably bleary eyed. All set, off to the airport.
Most of us are flying together, which is an achievement in itself as M lives in another country. We meet up with R, KC and M at the bar and the obligatory pint is consumed. The Dwarf has a Bloody Mary, yuk. C is on an earlier flight so we meet him at Schipol after a slight delay. We grab our tickets and there's a train waiting, it's the express. Nice.
1 by Ben Sinister, on FlickrUpon arriving at Centraal the general consensus is to pick up a smoke and take the tram down to Vondelpark to check in, dump bags etc. With Voyagers not being what it was it makes sense to head gently towards N Voorburgwal for a tram. 420 Cafe is selected. I've never been before, I don't much like this part of town around Neiwendijk and Damrak, it's too busy and more shopping based. Subsequently I've never frequented the coffeeshops around here.
There's works going on around the station and it's even more hectic than usual, geezers in hi vis directing pedestrians across the road, it's almost a relief to hit Damrak.
We arrive at de Kuil still with our bags and the place is packed. It's very brown and old school which I like but way too busy. We're not stopping for drinks and get served fairly quickly. I wanted some Nevilles Haze but the tub was just shake, the 420 Haze was only popcorn so I went for the Diesel. €14 a gram and it was a very mild effect with not much taste, disappointing first bud. T got the 420 Haze and was non plussed too. For some reason I thought the bar next door, the Bottle is it? was smoker friendly but there was signs up saying no weed even outside so we moved on.
2 by Ben Sinister, on FlickrAs its only round the corner we stopped at Cafe Belgique for a quick drink and a smoke then jumped on a tram. We stayed at the Van Gogh hostel just a stride from Museumplein. Decent location, modern, clean, cheap! Quick bag dump and we're off...
Easy Times is our next stop. Lots of purchases all round here. Myself and the Dwarf got a gram of Gorilla Cookies at €16, really frosty buds - that's what got me, nice sedative stone, we both enjoyed this. The Dwarf also got some Moonshine Haze, which he said was too strong for him and OG Kush hash, whilst others bought Biscotti and Purple Punch. I needed a grinder so picked one up here, it was about €5 for a basic plastic job. Could've got one cheaper but never mind, it was needed. We grabbed drinks and sat next to the front door, had a half hour settling in and making a kind of plan.
13 by Ben Sinister, on FlickrWe walked up Leidsestraat to Spui and the Dampkring. Small queue in front of us but we were handed menus to prepare ourselves. I was on a hash hunt here, the dark haired lady tender served me and couldn't have been more helpful. She showed me a variety of Moroccan hash but the Niqa and Sensibile just sung when I put my nose to the tub. I was looking for a more blonde crumbly type of hash but hell, when you get shown that you just have to go for it. Now I am no hash expert by any stretch, I just have no source for it, so I really enjoyed smoking both of these.
The Sensabile is a very sticky dark hash that reminds me more of the Indian hashes I used to get from bluebird in consistency, it came wrapped in parchment paper which helped. Amazing sweet floral smell. Turned to almost liquid in the pipe and bong, I put most of it in joints with pure weed, seemed to last for ages too. The Niqa was similarly fragrant, extremely strong aroma in the tub. Not as sticky as the Sensibile but still very pliable and easy to manipulate without having it stuck to your fingers. T bought a g of Tha Melon, more on that later...
7 by Ben Sinister, on FlickrSensibile
We didn't hang around. Susies Saloon was chosen as a base for the evening. The smoking room is still in effect, tobacco users may note that it is still permitted here, for the time being at least.
Whilst here the top table became free which was perfect for a group our size. A picture of contented industry we get to work on joints, pipes and bongs. Obviously after an hour or two I'm running low on flower, a quick trip to Bagheera is in order. C, the Dwarf and R were going to come with but as we get to the door, swerving the girl who has just hit the deck in front of us, the heavens open. Total downpour. It eases a little after a minute or two and myself and C head out.
I've not been here since about 97 and obviously things have changed. I take a gram of Notorious OG and two of Lemon Bubble, also a gram of Sour Walker for the Dwarf. C also bags some Lemon Bubble. Back to Suzies. I'm the one in cap and specs, T is the geezer with the porn tache, everyone else was so stoned their faces went all blurry.
6 by Ben Sinister, on Flickr
3 by Ben Sinister, on FlickrAnother little session ensues before we wander up Damstraat, grab some crap takeaways and head to Belgique again.
KC is here, he's been flitting between bars all night as a non smoker he couldn't handle the smokey den of the Saloon. I like Belgique a lot and it's become a regular haunt over recent visits, quirky decor, DJ, nice vibe, staff and beer. The heated terrace tops it off, perfect for people watching while you smoke. There's always interesting scribblings on the opposite wall, and I take a couple of snaps of nearby art, I barely took any photos this trip - too stoned, new phone and I didn't bring my dslr.
12 by Ben Sinister, on Flickr
11 by Ben Sinister, on Flickr
10 by Ben Sinister, on FlickrAs the night draws to a close the DJ ends his set to a round of applause and we head out. Deciding to head back to the hostel we wander through the 9 streets. KC is hilariously shit faced and has something of a wobble on. He's got his headphones on and is air drumming and blurting out random lyrics when all of a sudden... Scoop! Two Dutch girls appear from nowhere either side of him and link him on each arm. "Hey, how's it going? You Ok? Walk with us" These girls and their mates are so infectious and upbeat, we're all falling about laughing, KCs eyes bulging with the shock, they almost picked him up clean off his feet. Just one of those many magical, had to be there Amsterdam moments. Anyway we walked with them and talked football for a while til we hit Prinzengracht, left turn to Leidsestraat and more takeaway shite.
5 by Ben Sinister, on Flickr
8 by Ben Sinister, on FlickrThe dwarf gets churros with strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate sauce, €16! How we pointed and laughed at him, and then helped ourselves when he couldn't finish them. For my part, I fared no better. It had to be done. It was my ninth visit and I'd never had a Febo. After perusing the heated cabinets and surveying the many, high quality looking culinary delights, I opted for a kipburger. This wonderfully grim morsel came bathed, resplendent, in a kind of nuclear looking goo. Disgusting, but it's ticked off the fuck it list so well, fuck it!
4 by Ben Sinister, on Flickr
9 by Ben Sinister, on FlickrWe return to base, some hit the hay. Myself, the Dwarf and I think R head outside for a bedtime smoke on a little bench under a tree.I've got a lovely heavy feeling when I turn in, looking forward to a nice kip and our first full day tomorrow... If only C would stop snoring.
Smoke List - Day 1
1g New York Diesel- €14 -420 Cafe
1g Gorilla Cookies - €16 - Easy Times
1g Sensabile - €15 - Dampkring
1g Niqa - €14 - Dampkring
1g Notorious OG - Bagheera
2g Lemon Bubble - Bagheera
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