Here I Go Again: The Progress

[DRA]

I have been updating my trip progress on the previously formed thread in Travel Plans, so now I am going to transfer all the updates to this thread here in Travelogues and post all future updates here as well.

Thanks!

From Saturday, April 13, 2013:

Well, what a long strange trip it's been! I arrived early at CVG to get the boarding pass for my flight on USAirways, just to learn that my flight to Philadelphia had been cancelled due to weather. I was a little bit distraught on the inside but on the outside I remained nice and calm, maybe because I was all buzzed up before I arrived at the airport. Anyway, the airline agent who was working with me finally found me a flight to Amsterdam which was not sold out or the connecting flight had been sold out or cancelled or not running on time.

What was supposed to be a simple flight from CVG to Philadelphia to Amsterdam... became a multi-airport race for the plane. Now my trip had me going from CVG to Chicago to Toronto to Amsterdam. Yup, I was in 4 airports and 3 different countries all within 24 hours. While this route did eventually get me to Amsterdam, it was very tiring and made my arrival nearly 4 hours later than expected. I did score a bonus, on my final leg of the trip from Toronto to Amsterdam, I managed to get booked into a First Class Seat! Now let me tell you, that was a nice way to travel. I had a lot of room and was able to stretch out and I actually fell asleep for a few hours during the flight.

After claiming my baggage and taking care of my train reservation for my side trip to Switzerland, I finally made it over to Voyagers with my bag in tow. It was good to see HighlyBlessed there and as I started to explain that I was planning on meeting gapie there, he stopped me to tell me that gapie had been waiting for me but now had gone to Utopia. So I walked down to the Greenhouse Effect Hotel and dropped off my bags and then hiked over to Utopia where I found gapie who was quite animated in his explanation of the time he has spent waiting for people who are late or never show up. I profusely apologized and explained my circumstances and then we got down to the business of enjoying some Champagne Haze which Ingi weighed out for me while I watched.

After enjoying lively and amusing conversation at Utopia, gapie and I left to go to the Grey Area. This was a fairly amazing experience and to be honest, it has been several years since I spent any appreciable time in the Grey Area, let's face it, the seats are some of the most uncomfortable seats in any coffeeshop... however the amount of business this shop does is nothing short of astounding. The place was packed when we arrived and the budtender greeted us warmly and we took seats on the uncomfortable metal stools. I shot some video while we were there, being careful not to show anyone's face. I must also comment on the great selection of music that was played while we were there. Overall, a great experience even though I did not purchase any product on this visit. I am planning to return there and make a puchase on this trip.

After several minutes of watching the line of customers continue in a never-ending cycle, gapie and I headed back over to Voyagers which was also packed, most amazing was the group of 60-70 year-old ladies and gentlemen laughing and having a great time! Everyone was having a great time until the clumsy french tourist spilled his Cherry Coca-Cola all over the floor and beat a hasty exit without even attempting to clean up his own mess! After that, the remote-controlled flying toy came out and a lot of fun was had as HighlyBlessed maneuvered that thing all over the shop!

I am now in Almere Haven, being lucky enough to get a room here this year. I'll be updating this thread as much as I can so hang in there, bear with me and...

Here I Go Again!

From Sunday, April 14, 2013:

Well, so far I have spent the day here in Almere Haven.

Walking from De Meenten to De Werven in Almere Haven to the Chillie Kiki coffeeshop took only about 15 minutes so I got there a little early as they don't open until 2pm on Saturday or Sunday. When I got there, I was quite surprised to find a full on carnival with some American-themed rides and games going on. I walked around and shot video of the carnival and some shots of the exterior of the shop as it is strictly a buy and fly type of place. They have some educational literature available that explains the effects of cannabis, along with some tips on how to properly and responsibly enjoy cannabis products.

I bought a gram of Amnesia Haze for 12 euro and brought it back here to Els' Place... I smoked it in the garden while enjoying the warm sunshine and pleasant breeze. This is some very nice Amnesia Haze, beautiful colors and perfectly cured. This might be the best Amnesia Haze I have had.

My room here at Els' Place has 2 single beds, a microwave oven a small refrigerator, laptop and inernet connection, no TV at this time, but really, who watches TV while on holiday? She rents this room out on a referral basis, to travelers who don't mind having a room in someone's home for a weekend or week. I will gladly share more information about Els' Place to anyone who's interested. PM me.

I don't know if I'll even make it into Amsterdam today at all... heck, it's already 5pm on Sunday... not exactly the most party happening night in Amsterdam... I'll be checking back in here a little later, so if there's something going on maybe I'll hop on the train and come on in for a little while.

It's time to toke some more of this Amnesia Haze...

Here I Go Again!

From Monday, April 15, 2013:

This day was a great day in Amsterdam. Traveling from Almere Haven to Amsterdam Centraal, I was able to meet up with gapie at Utopia at around 10am. We had some drinks and some smokes and eventually we were joined by the Canadian Delegates led by Trad.

I spent a few minutes filling out a ballot for the Hestia awards and finally we were ready to head to 1e Hulp, which we did by tram. I was very happy to be able to spend a little more time in this coffeeshop as opposed to last year. Here we were eventually joined by Nimrod and Uncle Ron and we all had a great time smoking the wonderful hashish on the menu at this shop.

Next we took a tram down to De Pijp where we dropped in on Club Media. I shot some video here.

Finally I made my way back to Voyagers where I had one more smoke with gapie before heading back out here to Almere Haven. Tomorrow I will head off to Switzerland for some fun and a visit to the secret Swiss Hash Den.

Here I Go Again!

From Tuesday, April 16, 2013:

Arrived in Switzerland without incident. I got an early start from Almere Haven so that I would have plenty of time to catch the ICE that was scheduled to leave from Amsterdam Centraal at 8:04am, direct to Basel SBB. I am now with my Swiss associate and I have already smoked 3 kinds of hash out of the 9 different varieties available at the Hash Den.

Interestingly enough, the star offering here is Zero-Zero which I had tried at 1e Hulp in Amsterdam. This apparently comes from the same source: "berber" charras in Morocco.

Also there are 4 kinds of weed available here, all on the same level quality as any I have had in Amsterdam. So far I have only tried the Dragon Seed but White Heaven is also available and a couple of mystery strains one known as Greenhouse and the other, Crystal Ball.

I am definitely stoned and there's more here to be smoked, so I better get busy...

Here i Go Again!

From Wednesday, April 17, 2013:

It appears that me and my Swiss associate will be returning to Netherlands on Sunday, 21 April. We will be spending Sunday and Monday nights in Almere before checking into the Greenhouse Effect Hotel on Tuesday, 23 April.

I will be meeting additional friends from other places in Europe after arriving and I hope there will be some kind of afternoon T-n-T going on at a nearby coffeeshop...

If anyone is interested in meeting in Almere at The Boat, I would be up for that also, around 4:30 PM on 22 April. I'll only be going to the boat if someone else is interested in meeting there to get the "Almere Experience" of coffeeshops.

Looking forward to my post 420 return to Netherlands... it's gonna be a good time...

Here I Go Again!

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[geekymonkey]

Sounds like a great trip so far! Thanks for sharing.

[DRA]

Sounds like a great trip so far! Thanks for sharing.

I've been having a blast and it just keeps getting better! geekymonkey, when will you be in Amsterdam?



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[gapie]

nice travelogue and a like this stylie short but very strong

[Big C]

Thanks for taking the time to write this Dra.
Maybe we'll have a smoke next week.

[DRA]

Thanks for taking the time to write this Dra.
Maybe we'll have a smoke next week.

If you're going to be in town, then I must insist that we meet and toke! When do you leave Amsterdam?

[DRA]

Another day here in Switzerland and I wake up to a cool, cloudy and damp morning as the showers of last evening seem to be lingering...

I've been observing, once again this year,

EDITED BY REQUEST

More reportage to come...

I am in the middle of my morning wake-n-bake so I'ma gonna get back to that...

Here I Go Again!


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[geoffk]

Thanks DRA, great info on Switzerland and Almere Haven sounds interesting. I see you have a video out on El's Place.

[DRA]

Thanks DRA, great info on Switzerland and Almere Haven sounds interesting. I see you have a video out on El's Place.

Thanks for checking out my entries. When are you planning to be back in Amsterdam?

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[EasilySuede]

Thanks DRA. The Almere info's especially appreciated since I'm wanting to spend a day there next month checking out all the new architecture and urban planning, and of course, The Blow Boot...
https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/Blowboot.html
enjoy your trip!

[DRA]

Thanks DRA. The Almere info's especially appreciated since I'm wanting to spend a day there next month checking out all the new architecture and urban planning, and of course, The Blow Boot...
https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/Blowboot.html
enjoy your trip!

Yup, I've been to the Blow Boat several times. The experience in Almere is a lot different than the Amsterdam coffeeshop experience. I have not been to the other Almere coffeeshop, the Lounge or whatever it's called. I like the Boat because it's ON A BOAT!

Since you're intereted in the neighborhood planning, you're definitely going to want to check out Almere Haven, which was the first community in Almere. The layout and design is loyal to the original intent of the city planners in regards to the feeling of living in a park, etc.

While in Almere Haven, by all means, check out the Chillie Kiki coffeeshop. It's buy and fly but the product is top notch.

[Big C]

Thanks for taking the time to write this Dra.
Maybe we'll have a smoke next week.

If you're going to be in town, then I must insist that we meet and toke! When do you leave Amsterdam?

Leaving Amsterdam Friday April 26th

[DRA]

Happy, Happy 4/20 to one and all!

Yesterday was another great day here in Switzerland despite the continuing rain and cool temperatures.

My Swiss associate and myself took a short drive to Zurich where we went to the Zoo specifically to see the Masoala Rainforest display. This was an amazing display inside a controlled environment where plants and animals native to the rainforest of Madagascar are living. It was very impressive and seemed to be quite popular as the exhibit was very busy with families and tour groups.

Here's a link to more information about the Masoala Rainforest exhibit at Zoo Zurich:
http://www.zoo.ch/xml_1/internet/de/app ... tail.event

In the evening I sat in the Hash Den again while customers made their calls and came by to make purchases. It should be more busy tonight as clients come in to stock up for the weekend.

Tomorrow, we will leave for Netherlands, arriving in the early evening to Almere Haven. I am looking forward to returning and meeting all the cool ACD folks who have made the trip to Amsterdam for this year's events.

I should get my holiday wake-n-bake started...

Here I Go Again!


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[gapie]

[DRA]

Wow! What a great 420 celebration today. I took pictures and video of the 9 different types of hash available at the Hash Den. More on that to come.

Tomorrow morning my Swiss associate and I will leave from Switzerland and make the 7.5 hour drive across Germany to Netherlands finally arriving in Almere Haven. Sunday and Monday nights will be spent in Almere and then we will move into the Greenhouse Effect on Tuesday.

Looking forward to hanging out with all good people.

I am currently getting my gear ready to travel tomorrow...

Here I Go Again!


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