I get giddy, excited, and impatient all at the same time while waiting for the train to enter Centraal Station and let me off. I always, and I mean always, pause to soak in the view. Even once when the rain was pouring from the sky like buckets, the view is always worthy of a pause and view. I always smile and know I am welcome back.
Moving along, I so often find myself drawn to the Jordaan. I rented in that area on the last several visits. It contains several good houseboats to rent, and a few boutique hotels are nice. Then I get to walk around the city and see buildings with the little open shutters. It practically feels like home.
Let's continue our stroll.
I'm always amazed at the flowers draped along windows like they belong to the home. Very beautiful and unique. This entire city is like one large outdoor museum to me.
Time to get something to eat.
My wife loves, and I mean loves, Wust for schnitzel. I admit I enjoy it myself. If you can get a seat outside, it's the best. Oh, and what is that next door? Why, none other than Easy Times CS! Don't worry. I know that by now you are thinking, this is a weed forum, so it's about time you mention weed. Yes, but you should know that I literally made a bee line to Paradox after exiting Centraal Station, so I'm loaded up. Nevertheless, it always seems that Easy Times has a good classic strain like AK-47 or White Widow. I'll usually do a buy and fly here and enjoy every minute of it.
While we are walking home, it's always enjoyable to take a stroll through the RLD. That AK-47 is burning a hole in my pocket, so time to stop at one of my favorite little bench areas on Oudezidjs Voorburgwal (or is it Achterburgwal?). Anyway, it's one of those that you know when you see, and you may walk around for several streets with your friends swearing you once found this place on a canal with all these benches grouped together.
How relaxing. You can also meet interesting people out there. But every good night must end, so before we turn in, we lazily walk back over to Spuistraat for a nightcap. Oh, don't forget to waive at the live camera while walking over.
Hoppe is commercialized as a brown cafe, but I find tourists usually go into the one next door. Often no one is at the actual brown café section of Hoppe. Heck, I was guilty of the tourist area myself, but you cannot beat a good Amstel here.
Time for a reset. If you have not treated yourself to renting a houseboat, you are really doing yourself a disservice. Go rent a houseboat. If it is more than you want to pay, know that the excess will be worth every penny. Only on a houseboat do you get to wake up, walk around and enjoy the day, then return to relax a bit and enjoy these sorts of views from your little houseboat terrace.
Oh man, after relaxing, you see that if you are going to make La Tertulia before it closes, you best get going. The weed Bioorganic, and not as potent, but it is clean, it's a good high, and I like the owners. It's a relaxing place to sit as the sun goes down. Plus I can function on the high from this weed. Good stuff.
Extra special high five in life because La Tertulia has outdoor seating available!
Ah, here we go. Some nice Kali Myst.
One reason that I love to sit outside is that you just never know what you will see. I've seen 2 girls do the side-straddle hop onto a moving bicycle. On this particular visit, I observe this fellow walking with a trolley. I highly suspect he is stoned or he may have some memory issues. I suspect the former. Memory loss would not be interesting, but thinking he is just a little high is very interesting. It is downright fascinating to behold. He brings the trolley out of the business, and it is empty. Then, about 1/2 way across the bridge, he goes back to the business and comes out with a package. Then 1/2 way across the bridge, he trundles back and comes out with a another box. He makes it all the way to the end of the bridge, then pauses. Stands there a minute, consults a sheet of paper, looks at the boxes, then returns with a satchel. Don't worry, he eventually made it across the bridge.
About 20 min. later, here he comes back with an empty trolley and a smile. Mission accomplished. I empathize with that stoner b/c that's what I'm like leaving the hotel or houseboat. I always forget something about 2 or 3 times.
Time to go enjoy a light head buzz from La Tertulia. As is my custom, about 1 block away from wherever I was seated, I need to pee like a racehorse! Praise the Lord that AMS has outdoor toilets. They are such a welcome sight for me. Every city in the world should have these!
You know the feeling when you walk around, get just a little bit turned around, wonder for a few moments where you are and how you got there? Then you get your bearings and are cool. I enjoy those little moments in AMS because I always feel safe enough to wander around aimlessly. The worst is when I amble to an undesirable area. Once or, I hate to admit, twice I've ambled about AMS and come to just as I turn the corner to the Ice Bar. Ugh! I know I've enjoyed a bit too much when I'm so high that my subconscious causes me to wander over and come to when I see the Ice Bar. I hope no one here has been suckered into that place!
I think my subconscious is trying to get me to Mulligans. At least that's what I've always told myself. Ice Bar? Jeez.
Keep walking, by all means.
More like it. The canals around AMS are magical. Not only can you pull out bicycles and cars as if pulling a rabbit from a hat, but strolling around the town refills my cup, helps me decompress, is good for my soul, or whatever other phrase you want to use that basically means gives you renewed energy and makes you feel better. Sometimes I think way too many people know about this awesome city. Nevertheless, no matter how many people visit, I can always find a little bridge crossing a canal and allow myself to absorb the view.
I usually find myself taking a big sigh as I leave the town. It is a special place that I hope does not change much throughout the future. In Austin, Texas, they have a saying, which is, "Keep Austin Weird." With big corporations, outside influence and money, and new ideas, the locals want Austin to change as little as possible. I couldn't care less about Austin, but for Amsterdam, I hope it never changes.
I also miss the greatest cannabis city in the world 
that is why I am here so much 
