Well it took me a week to write Part 1 and three weeks to write Part 2. I havent been on here much, think I've had post holiday downer. But have started making plans for next year's visit which has re-kindled my interest.
Day 2
Saturday - Day
Up at about 9.30am, was raining out but this cleared up around 11ish and the sun came out and gave us a lovely Amsterdam spring day, this turned out to be a pattern for the next few days. Idea was to have breakfast in the apartment but it transpired we’d eat the food supplied by the apartment the (stoned) night before. After a quick wake-up joint we headed out at approx 11.30.
A hop across Vijelstraat and its road-works, tram tracks, car and bike lanes was Mellow Yellow. I hadn’t heard much about this place and was very pleasantly surprised. Big bright and airy inside, split over two/three levels including the pool-room. Bought a bag of the Chronic and settled ourselves on the big benches upstairs in the bright sunlight. The Chronic was a decent weed, as good as anything we’d bought the day before (Blueberry excepted). After a couple cappuccinos, smokes and games of pin-ball (I lost 4-1) we decided the day was perfect to go looking for Katso. I knew it was behind the Heineken Museum somewhere - an area I’d never explored before - so off we set, pausing briefly in a little Brown Café for breakfast which, as it didn’t sell any other food other than toasties, consisted of an Irish Coffee each as a little pick me up.
The hunt for Katso didn’t go exactly to plan, at some point we must have taken a right instead of a left and, much to R’s annoyance with my sense of direction, we ended up by the Van Goch Museum! And we only worked that one out by finding one of those maps with an arrow on it saying ‘You Are Here’. So it’s an about face and re-trace our steps, by the time we find Katso it’s been well over an hour and a half since our last smoke, so we’ve both come around and I suspect R is getting a bit narky with all the pointless walking - an expression he used later was ‘the more time we spend fannying around means the less time we’ve got to spend sitting and smoking’. Very true! Katso I thought was a little gem. For some reason I imagined it to be a bit bigger. There were a few people in there, including a very chatty, short, middle aged American dude on roller skates who was wrecked but didn’t fall over, or even look like falling, once. Not sure what we drank there but we had a couple of smokes to recover from the trauma of getting lost and I purchased some Crystal Clear - now that’s a foreboding looking piece of hash, almost opium like in colour but translucent when held up to the light. The woman serving took time to explain how to prepare it - remove cellophane and warm up in the palm of your hand ‘till it gets softer and to be careful when smoking it. The only thing I didn’t ask was how much to use for a J (in the end we had 3 nice ones and used a little in a cocktail). We decided to keep the Crystal for later on.
After leaving Katso we trammed it to Spui and went in search of Tweede Kamer. Found Dutch Flowers easily but could we find Tweede Kamer, could we bugger, searched around those blocks for 20 minutes, consulted the ACD map numerous times, uttering the words ‘well its gotta be here somewhere!’. R wanted to go in Dutch Flowers but having read the negative reports on here I was loathe to spend money in the place. But I relented and just as we walked up the alley (for about the sixth time) I smelt the whiff of herb turned my head and realised we were walking right past it. The only problem was that it was very small inside and packed out with a queue for the dealer/counter. Bollocks! So off to the Dampkring instead. It was crowded too but we found a place to sit by the window. Got a couple of beers in, R bought some of their White Snake, which wasn’t a patch on the Domni Pearl and the only time I’ve been disappointed with the smoke from there. There was an odd atmosphere there too. In the middle a British stag party (all dressed in pink!!) were busy getting drunk and loud and generally pissing everyone off - except me. I was watching and waiting for one of their number to pass the joints around, I couldn’t wait to see them crash and burn in spectacular style but unfortunately for the hour or so we were there it didn’t happen. Why go to the Dampkring just to drink? It beggers belief!
It was now mid afternoon and R was eager to get to Hill Street Blues, this had been a home from home for him many years ago, he’d spent many hours sat at the back in those big leather chairs, chilling, reading the UK papers and watching a test match. Stoned and strolling up Warmoesstraat we came across one of the most disconcerting obstacles. A massive blue crane (and I mean MASSIVE). The body of the thing was big enough to completely block the road. But this didn’t seem to bother the Dutch, they (with, as far as I could tell, absolutely no care for their own safety) were just scrambling under the big counter weight/engine part of the beast. There were two ways to do it. Either squeeze through a 4 ft gap underneath or half duck and squeeze through a one foot gap between the goliath and a wall - neither looked to attractive to me. And I told R as much. My reasoning went like this "if that thing moves when I’m underneath it then, bye bye Space Boy. This city is built on sand for Gods sake! the footings could move or anything! What about the driver? What would happen if he hits the wrong lever? I’d be squashed and dead. If a Health and Safety inspector from back home saw this he’d have a fucking fit" R’s logical response was "well everyone else is doing it and its hell of a trek to go around." He was right as well. It was a long way around. So a deep breath, a little prayer and I ducked under, my heart skipped a beat but I was fine (no shit Sherlock). Although I did express my desire to R to never have to repeat the experience of scrambling, stoned, under a 200 ton crane, while its engine was running, ever, ever again. Period.
Anyway we got to Hill Street Blues, and R was gutted. Last time he was there was before the graffiti make over, when it was all wood panelling, plus it was rammed so we had to sit in the dark, claustrophobic down stairs area. Personally I wasn't bothered with the decor but he said it’d put him on a bit of a downer. A quick smoke and a beer and we were off. R still going on about how disappointed he was.
Saturday - Night
R is a Scouser and wanted to watch Liverpool v West Brom and had found out it was on at the Sports Bar on Leidseplien. So back on a tram - feet were hurting by now - to the apartment, change of clothes, quick spliff, picked up some cash and we’re off out again. Was about 90 minutes before k.o. and I was hungry. I knew exactly where to go - Wangamammas. This place is stoners munchie heaven. Huge, tasty bowls of steaming noodles, chicken, fish, meat, little spring-rolls, dips, beer - fantastic. The only thing is we had to wait to be seated, took us ages to get to order (about 15 minutes) but the food arrived within about a minute of ordering (much to R’s relief who was beginning to worry about missing kick off) and was sensational! I had Beef Ramman (sp) btw - highly recommended. Paid up, about 15 euros each. A quick joint stop in Rookies and to the Sports Bar (I didn’t realise you could smoke in there until reading that you could on here), few beers and watched probably the most boring game of football I’ve seen for a while. Liverpool won 2-0 but for most of it I was watching some live Ten Pin Bowling on one of their many other screens. At least R was happy.
It was nearing about 9pm by now so we headed into town, thought about having a stop in Dolphins but was standing room only so on to Dampkring, again it packed to the rafters but we found a small spot in the window to skin up but wasnt the most comfortable place to relax so we were off again. Headed for Abraxas - and found it - but again it was full to bursting point. Which included a bunch of British lads all about 19, loud as fuck, looked like they were on their first trip out of the UK and were generally making tits of themselves. We didnt linger long. It was beginning to dawn on R and myself that it was Saturday night in Amsterdam and everywhere was going to be full. So we decided to do what tourists do in Dam and take a lap (or three) of the RLD, checked out the ‘ladies’, a few Sex Shops, the Peep Show etc etc until we ended up outside Stones Coffee Shop. I really didnt want to go in there for a very personal reason - it’s the scene of my biggest whitey ever. First visit, about 1993, too much strong Dutch lager mixed with too much strong Dutch weed equates to Space Boy spending two hours of his life in utter turmoil, room spinning, sweating, waves of nausea (so many waves), head on the table, not sure if I felt worse with my eyes open or closed, vowing never to smoke weed again - you know the score. Anyway in we went.
Stones wasn’t our cup of tea, very busy, loud music, but we were able to find a table and some stools and on the plus side behind R was one the most sexy women I’d ever seen, imagine a slutty Pamela Anderson but with bigger tits, so Space Boy was happy. After a bit I remembered at some point over the weekend we were supposed to meet up with Doog at Nes, but I had forgotten when. Sorry Doog after re-reading my PMs I know now it was 11am Sunday. But I thought now was as good as any other time to take a trip down there. Got to Nes and realised I didn’t have a clue what he looked like. The only clues I had was he’s Scottish (wrong on that score) and he used a rolling machine - not a lot to go on. I had a quick scan but apart from asking a stranger if they knew Doog it was hopeless. R got the lagers in and I opted to purchase some Cherry Bomb. Which was a strange experience. I asked for a gram and the dealer asked "Are you sure? This is our strongest weed.", "thats ok ta!" says I. "But do you really want the Cherry Bomb", "Yes please", "perhaps something not so strong" (I think he offered me a Diesel) "no thanks, the Cherry Bomb will be fine", "how about half a gram of something else then the Cherry Bomb if you still want some", "no thanks, I’ve heard it’s a good weed and I reckon I’ll be fine". The dealer relented, showed my a big box of buds which looked and smelled the bizz. Once bought I sat down with R by the door. "what the fuck was that about?" asked R "dunno" shrugs I. Just for the record I was neither offended, fazed or put off by the dealer’s reluctance to sell me his best smoke, just another stoned Amsterdam moment. Made me smile actually. I’d like to say the Cherry Bomb was an excellent smoke but neither of us can actually remember. We were both a bit worse for wear when we got to Nes - it had been a long day. A couple of beers and smokes and both of us decided to wobble back in the direction of the apartment, stopping at Rookies on the way.
Unfortunately Rookies was full (surprise surprise at 1am on a Saturday night) so we headed home. Once back I decided to wrap a Saturday Night Special - two large skins in an L shape with some Cherry Bomb, Crystal Clear and what was left of my Chronic and Ultimate Blue Berry. Along with a couple wrapped by R it done the trick. I woke up at 6am on my bed (not in it) still fully clothed, boots on too. R told me I was actually laughing in my sleep.
Space Boy in the Dam - Part 2
Space Boy in the Dam - Part 2
Last edited by Space Boy on Tue 2nd May 2006 10:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Did you have a good world when you died?
Enough to base a movie on?"
James Douglas Morrison
Enough to base a movie on?"
James Douglas Morrison
That was a fucking quality read, much appreciated that you took the time and effort!!
I loved this bit:
I loved this bit:
I dont know about the laughing bit but I've woken just like that many timesI woke up at 6am on my bed (not in it) still fully clothed, boots on too. R told me I was actually laughing in my sleep.
Being pedantic and knobbish since 1972
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stoned scouser
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue 25th Apr 2006 10:54 am
Sounds like you went to Nes on Saturday night then. I would probably have been there at the start of the evening 7-8pm for a few Gulpeners but I was trying to keep myself fresh for the Sunday which was the last full day of my trip. I would have been back in my hotel room for 11pm or there abouts as I wanted to watch Match Of The Day in peace and quiet and then go to bed.Space Boy wrote:After a bit I remembered at some point over the weekend we were supposed to meet up with Doog at Nes, but I had forgotten when. Sorry Doog after re-reading my PMs I know now it was 11am Sunday. But I thought now was as good as any other time to take a trip down there. Got to Nes and realised I didn’t have a clue what he looked like. The only clues I had was he’s Scottish (wrong on that score) and he used a rolling machine - not a lot to go on. I had a quick scan but apart from asking a stranger if they knew Doog it was hopeless.
I in Nes most of the day on the Sunday but to be honest you didn't miss much apart from a major hash and weed give away by myself. DC took care of my left overs. I was basically doing my best to finish as much of my stash as I could and I was rolling cones (in my rolling machine) with pretty outrageous amounts of weed in them.
I spent most of the day standing motionless (and mostly speechless) at the bar. Kinda like a tree that had been chopped but hadn't fallen down. I wish I had been there on the Saturday night when you asked "the stranger" if they knew me. Hopefully you didn't embarrass yourself too much but it looks like you had a great time anyway at all the other places.
Was my pleasure Boner. All the little tips, pointers, snippets of advice and information I picked up off this site went a long way to making our trip so enjoyable. I'm just chuffed people are enjoying the write ups.Boner Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 11:16 pm Post subject:
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That was a fucking quality read, much appreciated that you took the time and effort!!
Doog, I'm slightly relieved you weren't in there when I went looking for you. Would have kicked myself if it turned out we had shared the same table or something without me realising.Sounds like you went to Nes on Saturday night then. I would probably have been there at the start of the evening 7-8pm for a few Gulpeners but I was trying to keep myself fresh for the Sunday which was the last full day of my trip. I would have been back in my hotel room for 11pm or there abouts as I wanted to watch Match Of The Day in peace and quiet and then go to bed.
Am gonna start on Day 3 shortly.
"Did you have a good world when you died?
Enough to base a movie on?"
James Douglas Morrison
Enough to base a movie on?"
James Douglas Morrison
sorry nytvd praps i didnt explain myself properly lol i'm no where near good enough to wrap an L shaped joint. I put the skins in an L shape so when rolling will be able wrap the fatter end into a big old cone.nytvd wrote:Great post!
Would have loved to share that last joint u made before crashing on your bed....L shaped joint? That's just too funny....
Again glad you all enjoyed the post as I've enjoyed all the reports from you guys
"Did you have a good world when you died?
Enough to base a movie on?"
James Douglas Morrison
Enough to base a movie on?"
James Douglas Morrison