Friday, Dec 23
I start the heading out to Leidesplein to do what I should have done in the first two days- buy my Museumkaart! This is probably my single biggest regret of the trip- that I wasn't smart enough to get this taken care of immediately so I could just randomly pop into museums as I stumbled upon them during my lost ramblings. However, it is a very nice day and I decide not to spend it inside a museum.

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I decide to head to voyagers, since I haven't been back since my first day! As I am about to get to the door it opens and out comes this beautiful woman with one of the most incredible smiles I have ever seen!

After a few seconds I snap out of my trance and see Gapie coming out right behind her, and I am introduced to LadyJane!
**I am insecure and awkward around beautiful women if I don't know their significant other. Generally when I try to give even a completely innocent compliment it comes across as a clumsy come-on, so I never say anything. It is only now, seperated by the world and a computer screen that I can say, LadyJane, you are breathtakingly beautiful and your smile is absolutely radiant!
I am invited to join Gapie and LadyJane on their crawl... they don't have to twist my arm!
**There is, however, a downside to this... I don't actually go inside Voyagers, and so I miss the announcement that they will have Kosher Kush the next day!
First we head to Anyday. As usual, I get Champagne Haze and head upstairs where Gapie is cleaning a Verdamper for us. I sit between LJ and the guy at the next table in a yoga/meditation type position. Shortly after we are joined by Bleak and his lovely girlfriend *** (I don't know if she wants her real name posted here, so I won't...but yes, I do remember it!)
We have a lengthy Verdamper TnT. I am looking inward, focusing on the group I am with, so I never notice that yoga-guy is apparently putting on quite a show behind me. After a while LJ makes a comment about feeling sketchy... I am completely unaware of what is going on behind me, so this makes me feel awful- I really felt like I was doing a good job of not being awkward or sketchy! As we leave for our next stop, t'nes, everything is explained to me- about LJ telling me her middle name rather than her first name because she was freaked out, about the crazy display yoga guy is putting on- EVERYBODY but me sees this, as I am basically sitting back-to-back with the guy, and really, why would I be turning around- and I feel much better! I realize LJ is probably in fact thrilled that I sit next to her, forming a barrier between her and yoga-guy, and not sketched out as I feared after her earlier comment!
**Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get me!

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We walk into Nes like a movie scene. *Cut to a bar. A few people play pool in the back. The stools at the bar are all empty. In walks a group of 5 people. In synchronized movements, jackets are removed, hung up, and seats are taken. The bar is now full. *
As everybody is ordering at nes, mostly hot chocolates, the bottle of Bailey's is staring me in the face and I get a brilliant idea- "Can I get a hot chocolate with Baileys?" It is AWESOME! It is also the last drop of alcohol I have! 16 days, 2.5 beers and 1 shot of Bailey's. I don't know who provides the herb or what it is, but for the next couple of hours DC keeps filling vape bags and passing them down the bar- it is an epic session!
While we are here, I am chatting with Bleak and his lady, and I ask her name again. She tells me, and gives me the clue that makes it stick- the "th," and I've got it!
Bleak and his lady leave at some point. As we are saying our goodbyes, I say her name, pronounced correctly, and her jaw drops. "There are people I've been going to school with for a year that can't say my name!" As soon as she gave me the tip about the spelling I could visualize the name, and now I'll never forget it!
Eventually, LJ is ready to call it a night, as her friend is arriving the next day. We walk with her back to Warmoestraat, where we make a quick stop at Greenhouse for a final smoke. After, we say our goodbyes and Gapie and I head back to Central.
And so ends the best day of my trip so far! Don't get me wrong, every day has been a treat... but there is something about a diverse group of people from all over the world coming together for common purpose that is incredible!

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