DocGonzo42s 4/20/2023 ...The whole 8 days

[docgonzo42]

Amsterdam 420 2023 4/18 to 4/25

Tuesday 4-18
This is my 7th trip, so I knew the ritual. Land at 830 and can’t check in until 3:00 so; train to Centraal, get a locker, 7 day tram ticket bought, then it’s on to 420 Cafe(de kuil). This is always my traditional first stop to visit my happy place which is the seat to the far right of the window over looking the bakery next to de Kroon.


420 Cafe
420 Kush 2 gms
Pavarti Creme 2 gms
One ready rolled Sativa joint

Broke out my blue cones and grinder I had bought on the way and had my first bowl and Hot Chocolate of the trip and the moment of release and freedom I get from this moment is why I come back. So sat in the window and enjoyed a combo of joints and smoking hash from a Blue Piecemaker I had brought from home. The weed made me think I’m getting ripped off on the potency of home weed or its my first high of the trip and that’s always more exciting.

I sat in the 420 shop until about noon and walked toward Siberie for the 1:00 pm meet with the good people from ACD. On the way there I went by the De Poozenboat to see cats but it was closed until later that day. Walked over to Barneys Uptown to discover they no longer serve breakfast(which was always a highlight ) and the corner shop of Barneys is being redone but the Barneys coffeeshop is still a couple doors down.

Siberia
Lemon Cherry Gelato 2 grams
Ketama Gold 2 grams

I had only met anyone from ACD back during a toke and talk at Barneys Uptown back in 2011 and the next day when I met Gapie at Basjoes. I saw Gapie and introduced myself to him and then met Ghost and Mike. Had a great big session going and Lemming and Igraine came in and joined the event. It was an honor to sit and smoke with these people that I lived vicariously through over the years of being a big fan of ACD.
I was given a wonderful bag with useful stuff and stickers for the days eventsby Ghost. It was very convenient as my pockets were already bulging with little baggies. This I felt is the best thing about ACD as it was wonderful to have a crowd of cool new people to get to know and smoke with.
At that point it was time to go get checked in at the apartment. I had hastily arranged; 3 days before ;as my apartment in Haarlem was cancelled because of a broken seal on a skylight and flooding in the apartment. So got the sleeping arrangement done and put my luggage away finally.
Agreed to meet everyone at 5 at Birdy in Haarlem for the smoke tribute to FlyByNite.

A tram, a train, and a short walk later I get to there just as the clock hit 5:00.

BIRDY
Cheese Kush 2.5 grams

Lemming had brought some pics of FlyByNite and set up a lovely impromptu shrine overlooking a our table full of weed enthusiasts and started telling tales of smoke sessions past with him.

Quick personal note: This website was my inspiration for many years and the weed menus were my weed porn before my 1st trip to Amsterdam. Even though I never met the gentleman he had an effect on my life by just doing what he did.

Great session and then we all went back to the station together. At that point I was starting to get loopy from weed, lack of sustenance and lack of sleep. Lemming was saying how much fun the evening session at Balou will be. I made the internal corporate decision to buck up and shower, eat some Bananas, hydrate and get out to Balou.

Balou
One ready rolled Indica joint
Gusher Cookie 3 grams
Super Polm 1 gram

Got to Balou, made some weed and drink purchases, and walked up stairs to the sight of people that are old friends gathering in mass to celebrate life and being in Amsterdam. I am not sure who I met that night but I definitely got to know some of them as the week went on. I also believe that was when Ghost handed me a nice big brownie and Mike handed me a pre rolled joint covered in Keef called HULK. Those will come up later. After about 2 hours: Id been up for 19 hrs :it was time to get back to the apartment for a well earned last - first day smoke session with my leftovers and crash.



Wednesday 4-19

Got 8 hrs sleep and woke up to a beautiful morning being back in the land of tolerance. Waked and baked in my Piecemaker on Gusher Cookie with lil dots of Super Polm covering the top. Ran to Albert Heijn and filled my fridge with a variety of fruits, nuts, cheeses, soft drinks/water, and a couple unhealthy snacks.
Ran to the atm to get some spending money and made it to the Moco Museum at 9:00. Enjoyed the Banksy exhibit along with all the other fun things to see. There was an exhibit of NFTs and I’m still not sure what they are and how they work to be financially viable.
At 10:00 I went over to the Stedelijk and got to see a great selection of artists Ive loved. Picasso…Piet Mondrian…Pollock…Van Gogh…Chagall
Back to the apartment to throw open the huge front windows and just sit on the balcony. Big smoke session to just sit and watch the many green parakeets landing in the trees across the street.

Crush
AK-47 5grams

Crush has become my other tradition in Amsterdam as on my first trip there it was across the street from where I stayed the first time at the Hotel DeParis. That was my first experience of a room in Amsterdam with a bed, a tv, and a shower and bathroom all in an impossibly small area.
It was very close to the huge 2 bedroom apartment I was in and grabbed 5 grams to be my apartment stash for the next couple days.
Spent that afternoon and evening unpacking and getting everything in its place then took a little couch nap with the doors open with the sounds of city below.

Kashmir Lounge
Bubble Gum 2 grams
Pre rolled Indica

Left the apartment and made my way up Overtoom to get to Kashmir Lounge for the 9:00 session. Amazing bar with DJs guesting from Hungary. Got there early so I went across the street to the coffeeshop and bought tonight’s choices. Went back to the bar and was very pleased to see Four Roses single barrel. Got a double and sat in the table in the back and at that point ACD people just pored in. To be able to sit in a bar and smoke hash and have a bourbon is still such a new feeling to me.
It was just a night with constant blazing and conversation…I met Trad and we just smoked and got into a conversation about bands we had seen. It turned out an ex of his was from a very small town in the state I live in back in the US.it was one of those great stoner conversations where we get to know each other by tokin and talkin. It was a true pleasure just getting to talk to you sir.

Drinks and smoke continued to the point we didn’t want the trams to stop on us so we left to go get ready for the next days 420 Holiday.

Thursday 4/20

Woke up in Amsterdam on 4/20 so I must have a good decision somewhere.

So here’s why this day was so big for me to accomplish. I met the love of my life in September of 2006. I was about to take my 4th trip to Amsterdam for the Cannabis Cup that year and she loved hearing my stories about it though she was not a toker. For our first trip to Europe together she came along with me in February of 2008. We stayed in the American Hotel in the room at the top with 5 windows in a curve. The entire trip it was cold and sleeting. Finally on her final day the sun came out and she stuck her head out the window and I went to the far window to get the only pic I have of her smiling in the sun in Amsterdam. That pic was on my desk for 11 years at my job at my corporate job.

In October of 2021 she died unexpectedly in her sleep from a lifetime battle with Epilepsy. I was 20 years older than her and for her to die at 35 was and is devastating. I have cried truly every day for 18 months.

We had a talk once about what she should do when I was dead since it made sense id die first. We agreed she would take the insurance and inheritance and do all the trips that I just had no desire to do. So I took that as my inspiration and that what this 420 meant to me.

DeKade
One Gorilla Glue pre roll
Orange Bud 2 grams

Met the crew at De Kade for the 1:00 smoke and enjoyed very much the vibe of the place and the friendly staff. Only downside is there a step coming out the smoke room and I missed it but Ill keep it in mind next trip(get it).
We decided to leave to get to 420 café by 3 to celebrate 420 at the 420 on 420 at 420.


420 café(de Kuil)
Got to the café and 2 members had already got seats in the wanted back table. Luckily 4 people bailed: I think from all us older hippies coming in: so we all had seats. As others arrived we all piled in together, we were just smoking steadily along and then the place erupted in cheers. We laughed because we had been smoking at that point anyway and we were like “oh should we smoke a little harder for a minute then go back to the normal crazy amounts we were smoking".
At 420 we took a hit as another tribute to Flybynite.
So the plan was to go to the Stud next which was quite a little ride so we just daisy chained along Dam and got on the next tram heading that way.

The Stud
Blueberry Skittlez don’t know how many grams but it was a lot

Got to the Stud and we were ushered into our own private back room and the owner got us situated with drinks. It truly felt as if we were being treated like kings on this day. He came back with a handful of packages of weed and hash and just put them out for all to consume. It was on and we were hotboxing it out.
The owner said any thing we buy will get special rates so I went up to check the menu. I chose Blueberry Skittlez and asked for 50e worth. Lets just say it was a good amount for the price.
Story note Blueberry Skittlez knocked me on my ass. As you broke it apart you could feel that the crystal consistency of it was unique. Could just feel it.
My vote for best weed of the 8 days hands down was The Stud with Blueberry Skittlez.


At this point a goddess walked into the room. I had not met Trads traveling companion SammySarahh on the past 3 days but I was blown away by her beauty and wicked sense of humor. I immediately got up so she could have my seat and the owner got me a stepstool to sit on. The hour I got to spend in her presence was a true highlight of the trip and I enjoyed getting to smoke hash with you. So yeah…she gave me the vapors(redneck southern term used in the US ).
I had to leave unfortunately by 8:00 to get at least 6 hours sleep because I was getting up at 3 am to fly to Oslo so I said my goodbyes to ACD until next year.

Friday 4/21-Oslo

Woke up at 3:00-got to Airport-Flew to Oslo-got train to their central station. I had from 830 to 130 to do the following:Get a bus pass- go to graveyard to see the graves of Edvard Munch and Henrik Ibsen-Walked to National Gallery- Got to sit in a room alone for 15 minutes with Edvard Munch painting The Scream- Kind of sort of cried for those 15 minutes-got tram to Neseblod(the Norwegian Black Metal record store that used to be Helvete) -Back to airport-Back to Amsterdam-back to Haarlem to see Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel at the Paatronaat.

Coffeeshop Regine
Asked for One rolled Pure Indica---got a hash joint with tobacco
Stopped by to get weed for the show. Asked if I could use the restroom and was denied even after buying weed. They explained they are just take away and don’t let anyone sit in their shop anymore. Bad experience.
Left show early to go see the amusement park that had set up in the square at the Church of St Bavo.

Willie Wortles Sativa
1 prerolled sativa
Stopped in to smoke and get ready for train back to Amsterdam

Saturday 4/22
Slept until noon and woke up to rain. Ate some healthy food and decided it was shroom day but Saturday was always going to be shroom day. Went to Tatanka next to The Rookies coffee shop and got 15 grams of Psyilocybe Mexican. Went to room and prepared for the trip…layed on couch with a nice heavy blanket. From 4 to 7 i drifted with the doors open to hear the rain and city as I played trance music and healing tones on Spotify(music to shroom to channel) . At 7:00 the sun came out and I was pretty much done with the trip. Time to walk the city as the sun sets.


420 Café again
4 pre rolled sativa
Took a shower and went to the 420 café to sit in my happy spot again at the window. and smoke 3 of 4 pre rolled and drank plenty of hot chocolate. They started playing Zappa and I was in a blissful after shroom trip and exactly where I wanted to be. Went back to apartment and grinded/rolled in cones all I had and got ready for the next days activities.
Trip officially half way over.

Sunday 4/23
I know I’m weird and I’m use to it.
Woke up early and decided to go to Utrecht. In all my travels in life I have a bizarre hobby where I visit graves of people who inspired me, terrified me or were celebrities that brought joy in my life. In 1981 my parents got the Playboy Channel and I was introduced to softcore movies such as Emmanuel starring Sylvia Kristel. Then a movie called Private Lessons came out with her in it and it was the first time I was ever aroused at a movie theater at the age of 14. She is buried in Utrecht so I went to the graveyard and bought a rose across the street from the entrance and went over to pay my respects. Saw a graveyard kitty.

Culture Boat
OG Kush 2 grams
Walked through the city to the Culture Boat which is a fun coffeeshop on a boat in ta canal. Sat down and rolled me a nice OG Kush and enjoyed it until the boat started rocking in the wind.
Left Utrecht and got a train through Leiden to Haarlem which was really nice because you got to see kms of tulip fields passing by. Preview of Mondays travels.
Got to Haarlem and had a reservation at the Irish pub The Wolfhound for their Sunday Roast at 3:00. Top notch Irish Pub right in the middle of Haarlem

Coffeeshop Empire
Sherbet 3 grams
A Coffeeshop with a pool table and a Star wars theme. Will come back one day.

Willie Wortles Indica
1 sativa joint
Stopped in for a ready roll and to sit and look at a windmill while smoking.

Back to Amsterdam to sit in apartment watching bad movies(John Carter and Scary Movie 4) and smoking the night away


Monday 4/24
Took a tram to Amsterdam Sloterdijk to get to Haarlem station to get on bus 50 at 730 to Keukenhof. Got to the stop and walked the half mile to the entrance in heavy rain. Rain stopped as I walked inside and went left instead of right and had the park to myself for the first hour where I cried tears of joy at the beauty of it all and missing my wife more than ever as she would have loved this place.. Took a break on a bench in a secluded area and smoked a bowl. Continued in the park until 10:00 when it seemed 1000s of people had suddenly appeared.
Went back to Haarlem and stopped by the Church of st Bavo that has a famous Pipe organ. It was overwhelming and breathtakingly beautiful. Mozart came there at the age of 10 to play it. Handel played Messiah on it. Herman Melville mentions it in Moby Dick saying the gills of the whale reminded him of the organ he once saw in Haarlem.
Back to Amsterdam yet again where I walked from central station to my apartment. Spent the evening relaxing with the huge doors open and smoking on the balcony


Tuesday 4/25
Woke up to my last day of the trip and did an inventory and it looked like I had 5 grams total left of a variety of leftovers, 4 grams of hashish, the last 1/3 of the brownie I got from Ghost, the keef joint called Hulk from Mike. So I had a lot smoking to do that day along with the trips last goals.
The first was seeing a sloth. Got to the Artis and was the first one in the zoo and the sloth was right near the entrance in a building that was just open with tree branches running throughout with lil white faced monkeys running around. Then I found the sloth and spent 20 minutes alone talking to her and getting just no response. She eventually moved twice and i was thrilled. I then walked through Oosterpark to see the second piece of artwork titled The Scream id see on this adventure. It is a tribute to Theo Van Gogh; Vincent's distant relative and a controversial filmmaker; who was stabbed to death riding his bike to work on the street just half a block away for this tribute. he was stabbed multiple times before his throat was slit and a 3 page manifesto stabbed into his chest. Went over and got pics of the assassination site.

Went back to apartment and cleaned it and packed for the trip home. Once that was done it was time for my last night in Amsterdam. One of my old school first trip favorite's was the Noon. Now its Terps Army 2 and I wanted to see how it had changed to the modern type coffeeshop. Gone was the little desk on the left as you came in and big sales area in back now with big screen menus and very nice interior.


Terps Army 2
1 Premium Flowers Pure joint
2 grams of Lemon Cherry gelato

Stopped in to relive past memories and was treated very nice by management. The pre roll was 20 e but it was huge and the first pre roll in 8 days that made me go this isn’t like the other pre rolls I had smoked so far…Wonderful taste and kick.

At least I thought so until I tried my first Cali weed of this trip with Lemon Cherry Gelato. Just holy god its good …25 a gram but you do feel that extra 10e per gram. I was well pleased and will try to sponsor a stop there next year for 420 2024.
i think as i typed this I realized that Ill be coming back next year.

Story Note: Terps Army 2- Lemon Cherry Gelato gets the Silver metal award for the trip.

So my last night tradition in Amsterdam is going to see a classic movie and tonight’s viewing was in the little theater in Leidseplein from the 1920s and it was showing John Cassavettes Woman Under the Influence.

But before that…I had an important decision to make.
What coffeeshop have I never been too that I always wanted to try but never did? The answer was Abraxas.

Abraxas
3 pre rolled white widow

In the previous 6 trips i had not gone to this wonderland of weed and good vibes. First they give me a hot chocolate that is amazing to start and im stirring it with the stick provided. I pull it out and it has a small chocolate ball on it(heaven). I sat there and smoked all 3 pre rolls in a row in the hour leading up to the movie at 9:00. Wonderful music wonderful staff. Beautiful coffee shop . Will make it first next trip.
So I saw the movie…went back to apartment and ate the brownie and broke out the Hulk as my last joint of the trip.

So there it is . The first 4 days with the ACD crew is a memory I will keep forever. Cant wait to see thier stoned eyes and smiling faces next year. The next 4 days was a lil lonely but that’s Ok because I finally got back to Europe for the first time since the pandemic and did it in a way that I know the spirit of my wife smiled down upon me as I did it all.

Final totals
42 grams of weed smoked.
8 grams of hash
15 gms of shrooms
4 bourbons
18 coffeeshops visited.
1 sloth seen.
1 giant tulip park seen
2 screams seen
Multiple tears every time I saw a place I had taken my wife to
Multiple smiles and laughter surrounding the ACD crew
1 goddess met.
Joe bob says check it out 5 stars.

[brufy]

You had me at Sylvia Kristel

[Lemming]

Fantastic! Thanks for writing your recollections. It was great to meet you.

[AzLaker]

Wow, great write up Doc. Short, sweet and right on point. Very nice.

AzLaker

[Trad]

Great report.
I enjoyed our conversation also, damn we have seen a ton of bands between us..
Hope you can make it to next year.

[starcatcher]

incredible report - and sorry for you loss dude

[Smokeybee21]

Prime reporting, this is what ACD is all about for me. well done.

[Kermit]

Brilliant trip report, I doubt I will get to return to Amsterdam for many years yet but this certainly got me excited whenever/if that time comes.

[Potimus]

Wonderful write up, thanks. Sounds like you had a great trip.