Space Boy in the Dam - Part 5 - Last Day and Postscript

[Space Boy]

Over three months after the event here’s the final episode of my April vist.

Tuesday 4th April - Last Day

R woke me up about 8 am, can recall lying there in a half dream state not wanting to get up, gutted ‘cos it was our last day but knowing I should so we could get moving and make the most of the time left available. So inevitably, but reluctantly, I got up. A quick shower, pack of bags, breakfast. No smoke though as we were virtually out. And we’re away. I hate leaving a hotel room/apartment, having a last glance back knowing your holiday is almost over.

We trammed it to Centraal and dumped our bags in the locker. It was about 10am now, R wanted to pick a souvenir from the RLD, so a quick lap or two then on for our last smoke. We settled on Greenhouse Effect. This was against my better judgement because last time I went to a Greenhouse (Centrum) I bought a bag of Bugglegum on the grab-and-go which turned out to be rubbish, probably the worst weed I’d ever bought in A’dam and that included some Jamaican outdoors stuff I’d picked up - which actually was a lot nicer than I’d expected. Anyway, in we went. For some reason we both got very confused when the guy behind the bar explained "either buy beer here and take it next door or buy weed next door and bring it back here." It took a while for us to work out next door was also part of Greenhouse Effect. Eventually the penny dropped and R got the very large beers in and I nipped next door. I’m ashamed to say I done something in Greenhouse I’d never done before and bought a couple of ready rolled joints. At 3.50 Euros it was a bit steep, but the girl dealer explained they had about a third of a gram in each and it was Sage. If I was to be perfectly honest the girl was so cute with such a cheeky smile I’d have bought joints of camel food off her if she’d offered them. We weren’t to be disappointed, they burned smooth, slow and even. The Sage was a lovely smoke, fairly potent, spicy taste and I was soon quite stoned.

Once the Js were finished I informed R I’d kept about two thirds of a gram of Kali Mist Haze back just for this occasion and proceeded to roll a fat one (just a little bit of baccy to keep it burning properly). This J really knocked me sideways, I became obsessed with the time. On my last visit me and the Mrs almost missed the flight home due to a problem with the Dutch railway. Myself and I had decided to leave Dam at 13.30 to get the 16.30 flight home. But in my stoned state I couldn’t work home long that would give us but I was damn sure it wouldn’t be enough. R assured me it would and to "stop fucking worrying", his calming words did the trick. Although I did keep one eye on the time. We left at 13.30, and as we were walking up Damrak, in the glorious sunshine, towards Centraal taking in it’s (partially spoilt by all the building work) grandeur we stopped and shook hands and congratulated each other on a fucking marvellous trip.

Our stoned reverie was soon to be spoilt. Entering Centraal I suddenly realised I was totally caned and Centraal was BUSY. We made our way to the lockers only to be accosted but what seemed liked dozens of Japanese tourists all loudly begging us to give them our lockers once we had our bags. This spun R out a bit much to my amusement. Although we both had a giggle at the Japs trying to heave their luggage into the top tier lockers we vacated. Was a stretch for me and I’m 6ft. Buying our tickets wasn’t much fun either but we managed it.

Onto the platform and a waiting train the Den Haag via Schipol. One slight problem, I was expecting the train to go one way and it went the other. Cue more stoned panic/paranoia from yours truly. I was absolutely convinced we were going the wrong way. Even though I’ve done the journey many times. I’ve stayed in Den Haag with friends a few times and I know to get to Dam you go through Schipol - or do you? Or has the driver put the details on the LCD screen in the carriage? I expressed my concerns to R, he wasn’t very understanding and laughed. He then assured me, quite bluntly, that we were on the right train. I wasn’t 100% convinced and was relived and slightly puzzled when we emerged out of the tunnel into the airport.

We found our departure gate, eventually, and horrors of horrors KLM have installed self check-in. Neither of us were up to negotiating the crazy Dutch logic of those terminals, R actually point blank refused to do it, but the girls on the luggage weighing bit wouldn’t do it for us. So in total confusion and my brain in turmoil I had a bash and against all the odds I got us checked in to the right flight on the right day and not on some overnighter to Sir Lanka. Once we’d cleared check-in we headed straight for O’Murphys Bar (the most Irish of all Irish theme pubs). My nerves didn’t settle until I was half way through my first Guiness. From Greenhouse Effect to sat with a drink had taken an hour and ten minutes - not bad aye! We spent our last hours in Amsterdam still stoned, sinking the dark stuff and musing that the Dutch authorities should really open a Coffee Shop in Schipol, now that would be something!!!


Post Script


Myself and R had a wicked trip. In no small measure to all the tips, reviews and advice on this forum. We made it to eighteen different CS and smoked about 14 (half to three quarters of an ounce) different weeds not a lot compared to most on here and thinking about it I should have pushed myself a bit further. But I was very stoned most of the time and don’t know how I could have. To my annoyance I didn’t smoke any hash (except Crystal Clear from Katso) even though I promised myself I would. Somehow missed out going to Grey Area for Grey Mist Crystals. Didn’t make it to Stix, Bushdoctor or Paradox either(couldn’t face the walk Boner). But it gives us something to do next time around.

I was gutted coming home, a mood not improved by the fact R was booked in for 4/20, for three days with some of the lads. I know he frequented Nes, Amnesia, Pink Floyd among others. He kept his smoking solely to NYC Diesels. You never know he may well have bumped into some ACD members. Anyone recall an scouse Albert Steptoe look a like?

We’re in the process of organising next years visit., 4/20 anyone?

[Rez]

thanks for finishing the final report... it was worth the wait.

I fully understand the feeling of not having smoked enough... I always think that i should have smoked more but when out there i always hold off just incase of overdoing it... bit of a catch 22 really

Nice report.... 4/20/07, bring it on

[AzLaker]

Nice final report Space Boy. Looks like you and R smoked some weed, very nice. Start making plans now for 4/20/07, it's going to be a blast. See you then. AzLaker

[Space Boy]

thanks Rez - I've enjoyed writing the reports a real labour of love.

As regards to pushing myself to smoke more. As a youngster I used to put away far more weed over there and would find myself staggering home as it got light. These days I'm lucky to grind it out to 1 am. Or am I peering through rose tinted?

[Space Boy]

cheers Az, I've just dug out the disposable camera I took over there. Will get the film developed and put onto disc and will post them on here. If I can work out how

[AzLaker]

Pictures? I love pictures, right there next to everyones reports. Sounds great Space Boy, bring on the pics. AzLaker

[Space Boy]

Forgot to put my list of favourite smokes, coffee shops and disappointments up:

Best Weeds in Order of Preference
Blueberry - Noon
Dirty Jack - Pink Floyd (very close second)
Kali Mist Haze - Dampkring


Deserving a Special Mention
Black Domni Pearl Haze - Dampkring

Crazy Head and Body Scramble Award
Crystal Clear - Katsu

Least Favourite Smoke
Purple Skunk - Rookies (quite strong but just made me want to sleep)

Favourite Coffee Shops (based on good places to chill not the menu)
Dolphins
Pink Floyd
Mellow Yellow
Katsu
El Gupo

Least Favourite Coffee Shops
Doors Palace
Stones

Biggest Disappointment
Bluebird - all that space and so poorly used

Best Menus
Dampkring
Pink Floyd

NB The above lists are not exhaustive and are subject to change on a whim without prior notice or consultation.