Fond Coffeeshop Memory

[LLMReb]

After a long-time of reading, I finally joined. For those of you who, like me, read and enjoy this forum, I highly encourage you to take the plunge and join so you can enhance the forum.

I've been visiting AMS for a while, and since 2010 I've increased my visits to at least 1 per year. Flying from Texas takes a bit of planning; otherwise, I'd visit 2 or more times a year. You guys that can visit more often on a short-haul are fortunate.

I thought I'd begin by sharing one of my more fond experiences at a Coffeeshop. If you enjoy this post, please feel free to share a similar experience from one of your visits. This topic will revolve around great experiences from prior visits to Coffeeshops. I think everyone reading has a special experience at a Coffeeshop where mystical powers of the cosmos held hands to create an experience like none other.

My fondest memory:

Before I begin, I must first clarify that I am not an advocate of Popeyes. I like the big TV where you can watch soccer; my wife likes the fruit drinks. Nevertheless, on a prior visit with my sister and brother-in-law, we somehow found ourselves in Popeyes. Don't ask me how, as none of us can remember. I do remember smoking a great deal of Laughing Buddah and enjoying the visit like no other. One of my favorite memories just happened to occur at Popeyes. Oh well, when it is time for a great memory, in my experience, you just never know where you will be to encounter it. The trick is to put yourself in position to experience something great, and eventually you will . . . even at Popeyes.

We are minding our own business. We sit on the upper seating area at a table facing towards the TV. Immediately to our right (or your left as you walk up the stairs) we notice a super, super skinny fellow sitting with a VERY heavy female companion. They are facing the window and staring out it. I don't even think either were blinking. I'm starting to chuckle a bit b/c I swear at least 1 hour passes (which means perhaps 5 minutes). My sister is starting to notice. My brother-in-law is noticing. They are not moving.

Suddenly, a female walks up and sits at a table next to us. She starts smoking one of the biggest joints I have ever seen, then opens a paperback book. We feel like time is standing still, which makes us laugh a bit harder. Then the new lady starts looking at this odd coulple who still, I swear, has not batted the first eye lid. Without any warning, the skinny guy drops his hand and pulls out the largest damned water bottle I have ever seen in my life. It is a monster. To this day I don't know how that much plastic can hold its integrity. He turns that water bottle straight up and sucks every drop of H2O out of that bottle. I don't think camels can drink that much water.

After drinking, he carefully sits the bottle down. The lady sitting next to us is watching the entire scene unfold. I am so amazed that I stop laughing. She looks at us (probably b/c we suddenly stopped giggling), then looks at the skinny fellow with his hefty lady-friend, holds the joint at arms length with a quizzical look and ever widening eyes that indicates she is trying to remember if she laced her joint with anything, shakes her head and promptly puts out her joint. She goes back to her book.

Now we are focused on the lady. Skinny guy has resumed his demeanor of staring out the window. His large friend has still not even blinked. He did not offer that small tub of water, and she did not ask. But the reading lady, she is now staring at her book. My sister then scribbles on paper that this mysterious book lady has not turned the page in at least 30 minutes (probably 3 min.). She just keeps staring at the same page. I am mesmerized, and starting to laugh again. I was certain at the time that I was laughing quietly to myself, but as I get older and reflect, I'm pretty sure I was laughing out loud.

Without any warning, the skinny dude at the table stands up. Large female, without saying a word, stands up barely a fraction of a second later. They march right out the front door.

Book lady looks up to watch them walk out the door. She picks up her joint, starts to light it, then sits it back down. She leans forward to look past me to my sister and asks, "Can you please confirm that the couple who just walked out the door had a very large bottle of water?" Her question had the effect of a dam bursting. I just started laughing and laughing. She then admits that she has been staring at the same page in her book since she walked in because she could not focus on anything but that unblinking couple with the gigantic water bottle.

My brother-in-law, who has not said a word for what seemed like forever, chimes in, "I'm not smoking weed in Amsterdam anymore." My sister is laughing. I'm laughing. My brother-in-law is not laughing. He says, "I'm so stoned that this song will not ever end. It has been playing for more than 30 minutes." It was ambient/electronica, and we soon found out it was The Album Leaf, Twenty Two Fourteen.

Book reading girl then says, "This song has been playing a long time." I am just then noticing the song. Brother-in-law proclaims that he needs to go lay down. We are laughing at him b/c he thinks this song has gone on forever and ever. Then as soon as he stands up, it ends. My sister comments, "See, it's over." Then no sooner does she speak those words than it starts again. He cries out, "See what I mean! It never ends."

We must have been speaking loudly because just as we start walking down the stairs, the budtender comes over to apologize and says, "I'm sorry about that song. I had it on repeat for the last hour and didn't even realize it."

I would give a great deal to relive that hour at Popeyes. You just never know where or when you will experience something special in AMS. Every time I exit Centraal station and breath in the air, I get so excited over the possibility of another great experience. And I always have a journal. I can recall the above so vividly b/c I jot down my notes while in the moment. If I had a suggestion for anyone, old or new visitors to AMS, write down your memories so you can revisit them over and over and over as you grow older.

I'll share more memories in the coming days! Meanwhile, if you have some great memories to share, I'd enjoy reading them!!

[OneHighMofo]

A cracking read - thanks for sharing

[macky]

Thanks for sharing....How many of us got burned trying Popeye,s Pink Kush...basrards

[Jesscass]

Thanks for the write up and welcome to the forum,LLMReb !

I remembered this similar gem here which is difficult to find via search I think but my memory still seems to work:

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=11148&p=120325&

Had a bit of a reread yesterday evening along with some indian hashish I just picked up before locally(which is quite good for what it is, this time Jungle Charas, but still prefer highgrade moroccans. First world problems !). Worked well together! Fantastic read and one of my favourites on here, enjoy !

[OneHighMofo]

Thanks for the write up and welcome to the forum,LLMReb !

I remembered this similar gem here which is difficult to find via search I think but my memory still seems to work:

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=11148&p=120325&

Golden! I've been reading it all afternoon thanks for dredging that up Jess

[stu1983]

Not a coffee shop memory but still a memorable memory got arrested my first time in amsterdam after only being there 8 hours.

[puffpuffgive]

ghahaha loved this thanks for sharing! Only in Dam..

[Black-King]

Hehe =) nice post! And welcome to the forum!

[TwoCanucks]

Great story had me giggling for a bit, thanks for sharing.