Hit The North Solo 2024

[HitTheNorth]

Awesome photos man, glad I'm not the only one with such a talent:)

I took my dslr this time. Didn't use it once

[Smokeybee21]

Great read, on my last trip we stood on a wooden dock pulling faces at tourist boats, the father of a German family was particularly amused. That part gave me a chuckle

[starcatcher]

sick report as usual man. thanks for taking the time.

may I ask a couple of questions? well, 3 actually, with various sub-questions.

1. what does "all linen included" mean? Do these hostels sometimes require guests to come equipped with their own bed sheets?

2. do these supercheap hostels not result in you bringing bedbug infestations (or worse, if such a thing exists...) back to your own home via your clothes and luggage? Is that not something which concerns you? Sorry these are probably such ridiculous questions lol .....

3. What are you using when you roll up? Are you using tobacco, some sort of herbal mixture or just pure? Do you use tobacco on a daily basis.

thanks again.

[HitTheNorth]

sick report as usual man. thanks for taking the time.

may I ask a couple of questions? well, 3 actually, with various sub-questions.

1. what does "all linen included" mean? Do these hostels sometimes require guests to come equipped with their own bed sheets?

2. do these supercheap hostels not result in you bringing bedbug infestations (or worse, if such a thing exists...) back to your own home via your clothes and luggage? Is that not something which concerns you? Sorry these are probably such ridiculous questions lol .....

3. What are you using when you roll up? Are you using tobacco, some sort of herbal mixture or just pure? Do you use tobacco on a daily basis.

thanks again.

Hey @starcatcher not ridiculous at all

1. Sometimes towels are not included meaning using up valuable case space or paying extra to hire a towel. It's not a biggie but as I only take a small cabin bag when I go solo it means I can pack a camera or waterproofs instead of a towel

2. It's never really crossed my mind tbh . I've stayed in some ropey places in the 90s and early 00s but I think general standards of cleanliness have improved over the years

3. I smoke pure bud. I'll generally put a gram into one joint. Sometimes I may have a little left over and this either goes in the Pax vape or into a mixed joint with other leftovers, although I prefer not mixing strains. I gave up tobacco about 4 years ago so at home I'll maybe smoke 1 or 2 pure joints per day and the rest I vape. I've never tried the herbal mix yet.

Hope this helps

[HitTheNorth]

Great read, on my last trip we stood on a wooden dock pulling faces at tourist boats, the father of a German family was particularly amused. That part gave me a chuckle

Haha its a great way to pass the time

[starcatcher]

Hey @starcatcher ... Hope this helps

amazing, it does! thanks for the clear and detailed answers!

sounds like you got this shit down to a fine art so, y'know, steal from the best and all that.

cheers.

[HitTheNorth]

Day 2 Part 1

"The only thing real is waking and rubbing your eyes" - The Fall - "How I Wrote Elastic Man"

I wake up around 8am feeling a bit Timothy Bleary - that Sherbanger sure finished me off last night

I make my way downstairs and check out the breakfast. Fruit, yoghurt, cereal etc are on offer. I opt for American style pancakes with maple syrup and a couple of espressos. Back upstairs, freshen up and it's decision time. I decide on 1e Hulp for a Toleinesque second breakfast. As I set off I turn up the side of the little RLD and bump straight into a colleague from work. Shit! I work a job that would frown on yearly Amsterdam trips - luckily for me this particular colleague has just retired and it looks like she's doubting it's me anyway.

It's a 20 minute walk to 1e Hulp and I arrive just before 9am. The guy behind the counter doesn't half look like my mate Rick from back home. I take a gram of Candy Sunset Hood at E15 and an espresso and head into the back. It's obviously pretty quiet here at this time - I think there was just one other punter sat down - and it's a nice, relaxing start to ease me into the day. The weed was OK, smell didnt manifest itself in the taste but it burned clean and was decent enough for breakfast. I've had my ups and downs with Hulp over the years but it's a fine place to start the day really - music's a bit loud though. Onwards.

I head up Marnixstraat, past the new Snoop Dogg shop. It looks very garish, I can see the dog sculpture through the window and I inwardly scold myself for never visiting it when it was Funky Munkey. Past Bronx - of which I know little and T'Ketelje - of which I have a strange fascination. I like the look of it's quirky wooden interior but seem to get a block about actually going in. One of these days...

I hang a left onto Tweede Nassaustraat and left again to Chapiteau for some bargain hunting. I get another gram of the Blue Dream and a g of MAC Cherry Pie, for a combined E20. From here I take a stroll up to Westerpark. I've not been here before but I like it a lot. There's quite a few pieces of public art dotted around.












Public Art in and around Westerpark ^^^

I spend a while wandering around the park before heading down to the skatepark on Marnixstraat for a little sit down and roll up a joint. It's around 10.30am now and the day is in full effect, the weather is fine and warm, the city still seems less busy than usual. I realise that what I thought were sculptures near the skate bowl are actually a climbing frame and slide for the little kiddiewinks. It makes me smile how the Dutch always seem to put that little extra effort into things we take for granted.


Not sculptures ^^^

I feel good. It's time to get moving, gotta get those miles in! Onwards. Eastwards...

[jollylittlehun]

Enjoyable read mate. Nice pics of westerpark.

[Lemming]

Great travelogue and lovely photography. Thanks very much.

[AzLaker]

Always enjoy your adventures HTN, and as usual another great read.

AzLaker

[HitTheNorth]

Day 2 Part 2

I'm off to Het Ballontje first. It's such a great shop but I didn't go in last visit, I'm really looking forward to hitting the place again. I go via Prinz Hendrikade, Entrepotdock and skirt the edge of Hortus Botanicus. I've not been this route before, I'm very much enjoying it.

At Het Ballonntje I get Orange Glue at E16 and Permanent Marker at E20, a refreshing Fanta and head upstairs. There's two other guys up here but I can still get my favoured seat just above the tenders counter. I love to pass the time people watching and this seat gives a great view of the entire shop plus all the comings and goings of the buy and flyers. I'm a sucker for orangey strains so I tuck into the Glue straight away. It's really nice and tasty and good quality as you'd expect from the balloon - thumbs up!


Orange Glue ^^^


Yum^^^


Permanent Marker^^^

From here I take the relatively short walk to Coffeeshop Oost. I say relatively short, it's testament to that Orange Glue that I can barely remember a step of it! Oost is a small shop, Amsterdam Genetics with that whole look going on. The menu is a bit different to the usual Boerejongens White Choco G13 Green Magic fare. I've checked out a recent menu before heading out so ask to see the Gumball. Lovely looking bud and that sweet, creamy smell not a million miles from Bagheera's Gummy Bearz or the Divine Jelly I get at home. Sold. Onwards.


Gumball^^^

From Oost I walk along the Oosterpark to Dappermarkt and then up to Eastwood. Although I'd checked it out last year this visit marks my first purchase. The tender was sat outside enjoying the sun when I arrived and he followed me in, pleasant enough guy. I opted for a piece of their Tidghine to add to the stash. A blonde, very fragrant hash.


Tidghine^^^

Just up the road is Trefpunt so I checked out the menu. I needn't have bothered. I don't want to slag them off but that menu was rough.

I head back to town, past t'Ij and saw this cool sculpture on Oostenburgergracht.





I meander back up Prinz Hendrikade taking in a few sights.





Before turning down Kallkmarkt and Oude Waal on the way to Nieuemarkt.







It's been a lovely walk around some less familiar parts of town - to me at least - but it's also been a while and a few yards since I last sat down so I head to Warmoestraat and the array of smoker bars to cool my heels.

TBC...

[Not_the_monk]

A great read (and great photos) as ever!

T'Ketelje is a shop I always liked, although since covid each time I've been in the smoking room has been closed which is a shame, it was a good spot to chill and play some pool if Spirit's table not far away was occupied. Menu usually isn't all that expansive but generally pretty reasonably priced and decent quality, for a few years their AMG was a staple daytime sativa buy with a fruity taste that I always enjoyed.

[talkrum]

Great report and photos. I went over in August and nailed the Gummy Bears from Bagheera - 10g over the week - thanks to your great tip. Thanks m8

[HitTheNorth]

Day 2 Part 3

Back in Centrum and I need to chill for a bit. It's Monday, Batavia is closed and I've promised myself I'll try out some new places - I always seem to alternate between the Batcave, HSB and Suzies so it's time to branch out.

After wandering around Zeedijk and Warmoestraat for a while I eventually settle upon Stones - the one behind Oude Kirk. 8 Euro a pint is about standard, I take the table at the far end with a view of the church and kick back for a bit.






Inside Stones ^^^

I like it in here, it's pretty much empty inside although all the outdoor tables are occupied. I use the natural light streaming through the window to take some photos of my stash before heading out the back in search of the Breastplate outside Oude Kirk. It's not hard to find but I have to wait a moment for a guy who, oddly, has decided to pause a while as he gently kicks the bronze breast. I grab my snap and move on.



I take a wander to Rembrandtplein and Hunters. I've never been in here either - I think their logo is really cheesy and it's always put me off - and I walk into the coffeeshop instead of the bar. I realise my mistake instantly and exit into next door. I order a pint. The girl behind the bar says "You know we're just the bar, the coffeeshop is next door", "I do, yeah" I reply - "I bet you get that all the time don't you?", she says she does and I tell her the only reason I know this is because I've just done the opposite by mistaking the coffeeshop for the bar! She finds this highly amusing and I go and sit outside with my beer. I've put my logo related reservations behind me by now, the staff were really lovely and I enjoyed their little terrace for gawping at the world as it happens around me. Onwards, back through the square past a guy contemplating the universe...



I'm getting hungry so I hit my usual spot for a cheap pizza and then head to Easy Times for some Kosher. I don't know what happened but I ended up with White Gummies instead. Things are getting a little hazy. I think I popped in Suzies for one before heading over to Niewemarkt. I got some Cherry Poppers from Het Gelderse and some Rozay Special from Solo. I really enjoyed the Rozay when I smoked it, absolute top quality bud full of Zkittles terps for a decent price too.

On the dusty trail back from Solo I see these two cowboys...



I spend the evening in a different Stones on the opposite side of Warmoestraat - not as keen on this one but good window seats. I also check out the Doors Palace on Spuistraat - almost empty inside but most tables full outside, I sat outside and had a smoke. Happy to have checked out some new bars today. Good job!

At some point I also popped in the OG Dampkring and got some Rocky Dennis (can't lie - I just bought it for the name lol) and er, some UK Cheese. I used to get loads of Cheese back in the day like many Brits I guess. I knew it wouldn't be the same but I just wanted a reminder, a glimpse, a whiff...


Rocky Dennis ^^^

I do a lot of wandering around this evening, mainly looking for a cake I like the look of. At some point I walk up Gravenstraat and past a fully open Barraka. I'm sure I'd heard it had closed - or even seen it with my own eyes. The Barraka lady is outside collecting glasses so I ask her, she seems totally confused and says they've never been shut so I don't know. I've never been in, never heard anything good about the place to be fair. I pop in and scan the menu - totally dead but with a list of "Cali" strains at extortionate prices even for the centre. It looks to my old, jaded eyes like a total tourist trap. Onwards.


Gravenstraat^^^


Art on Gravenstraat^^^

I eventually decide on an Oreo cheesecake from the bloke with the hairy shoulders opposite Tweede Kamer. Spuistraat is nearly deserted as I bimble back to the digs. I'm bloody knackered!

[Smokeybee21]

Nice, love the photo of the "cowboys"