It's early evening as we arrive.
This year we're staying outside the centre so our first stop is the Centraal Station GVB office to get a pair of tram passes.
After a bit of administrative confusion we reach our apartment.
It's a nice modern place in the Old South courtesy of Amsterdam Stay (thanks guys!)
It's already getting quite late so we head straight for New China Town restaurant on Van Woustraat.
They're looking at their watches as it's nearly closing time but agree to serve us so long as we're quick.
Suitably fed and we're in Greenhouse Tolstraat to stock up.
A tram into the centre and 't Nes for the traditional first night session.
Elasticband, Gapie, Occasional Bowl and Trashcanman are in the house.
Exchange greetings with them and head for the bar.
The barman hands me an ashtray onto which he's written the rule.
Joints are flying around all over the place and it's getting messy already.
This is part of the tradition - first night in Amsterdam, low tolerance, generous ACDers plying me with all of the tasty buds they've picked up during the day, me blitzed.
I'm grinning broadly and enjoying the company of these wonderful people.
I nod occasionally and try not to appear rude despite all of the words reaching my ears being scrambled by my wasted brain.
I'm vaguely aware of Elasticband telling me about his fascinating life and explaining the boat situation.
Friday 18th April 2014
We had 4 people up for a boat trip today but EB decided to leave it till Monday to see if more people want to come.
There's a nice day going on as I awake at our apartment on Rustenburgerstraat, near Greenhouse Tolstraat, in the Old South.
J is still asleep so I go out for a walk around the area, heading southwards and photographing coffeeshops.
Warda 1
Greenhouse Tolstraat
de Keeper
Het Wolkje
Topweazle
Nederlicht
Happy Days
the remains of Goed-Goed
On completing my express tour, I return to see if J is ready to go out in search of breakfast.
Our apartment is in the grey building to the rear in this picture.
The ultra-modern part is actually attached to the small older house in front like a huge extension.
Very odd!
After breakfast we wander down to explore the Albert Cuyp market,
passing coffeeshop Blue Sea along the way.
The market is nice in the spring sunshine.
I'd planned to pop into de Graal after the market but find it's closed until 6pm.
Stroll back to Katsu but find that's shrunk!
It's now tiny and full so, finally, we try Club Media.
That's also changed a lot since I was last there.
You have to be buzzed in now.
I grab some Champagne Haze and we sit down at a large communal table with our drinks and skin up.
It was clouding over a bit when we came into Media so J decides that we'll go back through the market if it's raining when we leave or through the park if it's not.
... Good news! ...
Sarphatipark
On the way back we pass Yo-Yo.
It's a bit of a sad sight.
All of the growth around the building has gone and so has the nice seating area in the sunny spot outside.
Trade continues from a portacabin so I guess that means the licence is still alive and there is hope that it will be restored to its former glory at some point in the future.
We continue until we reach the River Amstel and then follow the Amsteldijk back to the apartment.
Evening now and it's onto the tram to Spui, across to Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, stop for a pizza (which J is unimpressed by) and into Utopia to catch up with the crew.
There's a good turnout in Utopia.
A few more people are in town ready for 4-20 now.
I haven't got everyone's names yet though.
One person is trying to tell me their name but I don't understand.
Gapie shouts the name at me repeatedly and I still don't get it.
[Who ever you are, very sorry. Please let me know your name. I should have got you to write it down. (RvanSteensel maybe?)]
I meet Banshee Beat and have a bit of a chat.
Cool guy.
I get some Blue Dream and Ingi has the isolator going.
A serious session ensues.
It's dark as we leave Utopia.
I take several pictures of Homegrown Fantasy's signage.
J & I enjoy a short detour along the Brouwersgracht.
On our return we pass Abraxas Two, as it now seems to be known.
I'm sure it used to be Abraxas Too, as in "we're also Abraxas", which I rather liked.
Oudezijds Voorburgwal. Coffeeshop Feels Good is on the left.
Dam
And so into the Nes.
DC is in and the Verdamper is going.
Gapie, seen here on the Verdamper, has also brought along some of Uncle Ron's oily buds for our pleasure and obliteration. I meet Roccy Tittzenbeer. Bump into Worsall and several others too.
We're having a great night. I'm particularly enjoying the music in the Nes. A diverse mix and all good. I listen to a lot of Radio 6 back in the UK and this is similarly eclectic.
It's fantastic that DC has organised this for us (thanks Dave) but the message for the future is ominous. These few days might be our last here.
Saturday 19th April 2014
It's a lovely day.
Glorious spring sunshine.
The weather gods are smiling on us once again.
After breakfast J sets off on her own quest and I catch a tram to Centraal Station.
Thinking I'm running late (as usual) I'm rushing to get to Voyagers.
But I've misread my watch and I'm actually early. Unheard of!
Mr and Mrs Highlyblessed aren't around and there's a young guy working.
He tells me his name.
On his recommendation I get some Sour Power.
I find a nice seat with a table facing the door and skin up.
The view through the door is fascinating - waves of people pouring out of the station and flowing both sides of the shop.
Between waves there are trams and trains to watch.
I've already forgotten BT's name. oops!
Meant to try to commit it to memory but already stoned.
People start to arrive:
Ftcarer & 1st born, Trashcanman, Occasional Bowl, Banshee Beat, Danny211204 and Jack Ganja.
More joints and then a rush of enthusiasm for a mission to Haarlem.
A small party has formed up and they're edging towards the door.
Ftcarer & 1st born, Trashcanman, Occasional Bowl and me are swept up in the flow and start to drift across to the station.
Banshee Beat says he'll cycle and meet us in Birdy for 4:20.
A nice stoned train ride and now we are taking a quick tour of the centre of Haarlem.
We pass Willie Wortals Sativa with its wonderfully unsubtle sign.
No 'coffeeshop' euphemism here, just straight to the point with 'Cannabis Shop'.
Continuing south towards Grote Markt we pass Theehuis/Join Us along the way.
There's a funfair going on around the cathedral.
Did I mention that it's a beautiful sunny day?
Having completed our whistle-stop tour for the Haarlem virgins among us, we head back north.
Birdy
There's loads of good stuff on the menu but it's the Jelly that's attracting most attention from our crew.
Then disappointment as we're told they don't have any just at the moment.
The lady says there should be some in about an hour though.
Oh well, better skin up then.
Hash I bought here.Sure enough, after a manic session of maybe an hour or so, the Jelly turns up.
More indulgence follows.
Did I imagine it or did someone come in and offer to buy this clock?
And so back to Amsterdam.
The old Shell Tower is currently a massive advertising hoarding across the IJ from Centraal Station.
Somehow Trashcanman, Occasional Bowl and me have made it to Sound Garden.
We've got beers and joints outside as the sun goes down over the Singelgracht.
Perfect!
We've seen the garden. I guess this is the sound.
Leaving the guys to check out Eerste Hulp, I head back to the apartment to catch up with J.
J is a big fan of Thai food and I spotted a Thai restaurant just a little further south down Van Woustraat when I was out exploring yesterday.
We eat there and then catch a tram to the top of Rokin.
A short walk and we're back in the Nes again.
More people have arrived in town, tonight we welcome Bifton and Scandalous Monk to the gang.
We don't have any oily balls but the Verdamper is going and we're getting blitzed again.
Part 2 soon ...
Also I didn't realise you guys were on Rustenburgerstraat as well - I was staying at the very end of it where it meets Ruysdaelkade. Great to meet you and looking forward to the rest of the story!
