Hi folks, its me, back from a long hiatus from ACD, and ready to give a report of my last trip to Amsterdam, which occurred back in September of 2012. I don’t know if anyone else experiences this, but I find that after I return from a trip to Amsterdam I can’t bear to visit ACD or even think about writing up a trip report. The pain of not being in Amsterdam is just too great. So, I realize that the accounts of available weeds and prices won’t be very useful after so long, but hopefully you’ll still derive some entertainment from this report.
Day 1 – Sunday
Once again this was a work trip, I’m a very lucky person to have gotten to go to Amsterdam so many times for work, and I’m always scheming on how I can arrange another one!
On this trip for the first time I took the KLM nonstop flight from San Francisco to Schipol. I've discovered that I really like flying KLM because somehow you feel like you are already in the Netherlands as soon as you step on that plane. It was an uneventful flight and even landed 15 minutes early, which is gold when your final destination is Amsterdam! Bag retrieved it was out into Schipol plaza and off to the GVB counter to pick up my ticket for the train to Centraal. Down the little ramp to the train platforms and it was only a five-minute wait until the next train arrived. Onto the train, find a seat next to the window and on go the headphones for my traditional musical accompaniment for the train ride in: Easy Star All Stars’ “Dub Side of the Moon”
I just love the train ride into town, it’s so easy and fast – unless you have huge amounts of luggage I wouldn’t recommend any other method for getting into town from Schipol. “Us and Them” is just starting to play on my ipod as the train makes it’s slow slide into Amsterdam Centraal Station, and as it does I can feel a big stupid grin starting to spread across my face. I’ve arrived at my second home: Mokum.Walking out of Centraal Station I’m greeted by the familiar bustle of the stationplein, with the city spreading out in front of me beyond. After five previous visits my feet seem to know their own way to my hotel so I let them lead me as I take in the beautiful sunny morning and the landmarks of the city. I’m early enough that my hotel room is not ready but I was expecting that. So I leave my luggage with them, give them my mobile number so they can call me when the room is ready and head out to find my first smoke. After 10 hours in a plane with no sleep I’m more than ready.
In the past I’ve always arrived in the afternoon and always make Grey Area my first stop but since it’s before noon I pick an alternate destination, Voyagers. As I make my way across the centrum from my hotel, I notice the streets seem very crowded for 10:45 on a Sunday morning. I see lots and lots of runners on their way to somewhere, and impromptu bands and cheering sections setup on the sidewalks along Prins Hendrikaade. Turns out that I had arrived on the day of the annual “Damloop” run and it was now in progress. Kind of reminded me a bit of the Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco, but with a lot fewer whacko costumes and naked people in the race.
Finally Voyagers’ comes into view and I make my way up the two steps into the shop, The familiar face and dreads of Highly Blessed is there, and he greets me warmly as I enter the shop. We exchange a few pleasantries as I have a look at the menu. I had been hearing good things about the Super Lemon Bio Haze so I asked to have a look at that. It smelled absolutely lovely so I went for a gram of that at 12 euros. Also got a nice cappuccino for free, thanks very much HB!
I took my usual spot at the big skinning counter against the window and started breaking up the SLBH. It smelled absolutely fabulous on the grind and my mouth started to water. wOOt I’m in Amsterdam
I filled up a 1g cone and lit up. The smoke sadly had less lemon flavor than the smell promised and was a bit harsh on the throat. But the effect was a very nice strong sativa buzz that had me chatting easily with Highly Blessed. He shared with me all of his cat Smoky’s adventures outside the centrum. I enjoyed chatting for a while but the sativa buzz had me itching to be on my feet and walking Amsterdam’s canals. Plus I’d been to Amsterdam enough times to know that sun and blue skies are a precious commodity to be treasured when they actually happen.
I said goodbye for now to HB and headed out into the sunshine. I enjoyed a leisurely walk down Oudezidjs Kolk and then turned west to cut across De Wallen. The city was buzzing with activity and I was enjoying the vibe. Eventually I made may way over to the Singel, and realizing it was approaching 12 noon, my wanderings took on a more firm goal, in the direction of Oude Leileistraat 2 aka Grey Area. I arrived just a few minutes after noon and luckily it was not too crowded yet. There were only a few folks waiting and I waved to Stefan as he handed me a menu to look at while I waited.Finally it was my turn at the counter and Stefan greeted me warmly. We discussed the current menu and his opinions on the various strains. As always with this place, there was no rush, no attitude, just positive particles and helpful advice. One item for sure on my list was of course the Silver Bubble. It had been fabulous on my previous trip and Stefan confirmed that the current batch was quality. Went for two grams of that, plus 1 gram Kandy Kush which I’d read good things about and smelled wonderful in the tub. Lastly I asked to see the Grey Crytals. This batch was a slightly darker color than previous versions, and stickier. Went for a ½ gram of that as well as a last minute impulse buy of ½ gram of the Silver Bubble isolater.
Altogether it was 58 Euros. Grey Area: Silver Bubble
Grey Area: Kandy Kush
Grey Area: Silver Bubble Iso
After the initial opening rush, the shop was starting to clear out a bit so I decided to stay for a smoke. Stefan handed me a clean bong as I found a seat at the side counter. Started off with some bong loads of the Silver Bubble and had a nice time chatting with Stefan as well as some of the other regulars. Folks are always ready to chat here and usually friendly (at least to me!
) Yes you will run into some crazy people here, but that’s part of the charm as well. Eventually I switched to bowls of the Kandy Kush topped with some of the Grey Crystals. As I mentioned this batch of crystals was darker in color and stickier than on previous visits, and after a bowl of them, I was flying!!!!! 10/10!From there it was out and into the blue Amsterdam day, enjoying an hours walk through the Jordaan before I headed back to my hotel for a few hours to complete some work related obligations (this is a work trip after all!
) After that I grabbed some free food from the hotel lounge before heading out in the night. This being Amsterdam, it was of course raining when I left my hotel. I was determined to get a decent pipe this time around so I hiked over to Baba and picked up a beautiful small RooR Steamroller pipe.
From Baba it’s a short walk across the Damrak on Oudebrugsteeg and I’m soon at one of my other regular stops, De Kuil (aka 420). The warm lighting and wood paneling help after being out in the rain. I’m not Dutch, but when I’m in this place I understand what the word gezellig really means. First stop, bud counter in the back where I greeted the budtender and asked to have a look at the Neville’s Haze. As he held out the tub for a sniff he said “it’s a good batch this one” and it sure smelled like that. Yes, 1 gram of that alstublieft.
Unfotunately the gezellig atmosphere was popular tonight so there was literally nowhere to sit, even at the bar. So it was back out into rain and hotfoot it over to Amnesia. Place is rammed out the door. F-this, I’m soaked. Bailed back to the hotel, where it was time for dry clothes and phat bowls from the hotel fire escape.
I passed the rest of the evening watching the F1 GP of Singapore while sampling Neville’s Haze, Silver Bubble, and Siver Bubble ISO in the RooR steamroller. The fine selection of weeds had me flying high and happy with life. Not a bad first day of a trip.
The next day Monday was a workday so it was off to bed for me. Next installment coming soon!
