Looking forward to improving my experience this time with a solo trip I'm also quite nervous, this is my first proper solo trip anywhere.
It's a big leap for me and a real turning point in my life where I was actually starting to push myself as a person to do things I would normally shy away from and to do it "another time".
The excitement builds quickly and " The Return" is imminent, I choose to stay in Amsterdam for the first evening of my trip @The Flying Pig Downtown and then head down to the beach again for the remainder.
Day1
Feeling more confident and excited for my first solo experience I depart on my early Sunday morning flight, now accustomed to the benefits of KLM flights I make sure I get my free refreshments without hesitation(
like a boss
) The pilots slightly inaudible wispy Dutch accent comes over the speaker announcing our descent and explains it's cold today in Amsterdam. (Just like home no issues with this)
I make my way to the metro after buying tickets and head to Amsterdam, the train is pretty quiet , I hop off at Centraal and head out of the station totally amazed by the lack of people...it feels like a Sunday in my home city no one is a around it's very eerie!?
I head in the direction of the hostel but arrive to find it's not open yet
A staff member pops their head out and explains they don't open yet and that check in is later on due to check outs and room cleaning.
At a loss I wait for a bit outside and ponder what to do...suddenly a face I recognise is next to me...it's a South American guy that works\stays at the beach hostel (he drives the shuttle bus and is here to collect people) he turns with a head snap recognises me with a "hey it's you!"
I explain I'm travelling down to the beach tomorrow and he is over the moon.
At this point I need to taste some flowers and discover that Blues Brothers just across the street is open (Result!)
I laugh to myself that I can buy herbs before I can get into a hostel in this city (man I love this place!)
Time to scale the budtenders death ladder to examine some treats...BT is awkward as ever, there's no one else here but me, I look over the choices and select Pot of Gold and Tangerine Mango Haze.
Pot of Gold
Tangerine Mango HazeJoint rolled I take a seat towards the window and feel at home, there is still only me in here.
I get through the Pot of Gold joint and whilst it's a great looking nug the taste isn't what I expected...in fact I hate the flavour (bummer!)
The flavour profile is like pure earth no sweet or fruityness, beyond musky...I bought this on looks and due to non offensive smell I duly bought it on the BT's suggestion also.
Time to sample the Tangerine Mango Haze....now this is what I wanted! bursting with flavour, plenty of ripe orange tang with a very sweet mango tint and a slight Hazey finish...amazing!
I walk over to the window. And stare across the street to the hostel..again the reality of being able to purchase herbs before check-in tickles me and I can't help but snigger to myself.
Joints finished I can now head over for check-in..into the Pig
The bar/reception area is small and the front door is a really small awkward size (it's also really tricky to open and close, staff moan if you don't operate it properly)
Room is ready and I climb what feels like a million flight of stairs to almost the very top of the building.
The room is a 4 bed dorm and I'm sharing with 3 Argentinean girls
It isn't five star and girls being girls its a total mess! I put my stuff away, try to introduce myself and recieve a warm welcome followed by some Spanish whispering and giggling. (I make out some of what they are saying about me in Spanish and basically respond with a " thanks for the compliment") they look totally shocked and all start to giggle hysterically again..
I head for the smoking room to scope it out, at this point the joints have hit me and I've only slept a couple of hours.
I grab a seat on the cushioned seating area and make myself comfortable whilst rolling a doob, to the left of me is a huge window that looks into the bar area
The smoking area has a cool vibe and a wall length bookcase on the one side then leads out to a fire exit( The worlds smallest terrace also!)
Feeling myself slipping into a herb coma I decide to retire to the room and get some shut eye.
A few hours of well needed sleep and I'm up again ready to smoke...down to the smoking room for a quick smoke and then out to explore.
I head for Anne Franks house and see the huge queue....
I decide to join and eventually gain entry and experience this place... I read the diary of hers and learnt about this in school.(this is just one of those things you have to do in Amsterdam)
I decide to take a stroll further afterwards and end up in the Jordaan area (lovely little area)
I feel quite buzzed and dont want to get lost so start heading back up one of the canals.
Feeling unhappy with my Pot of Gold nug it's decided I "need" to purchase some new flavours, all of a sudden I come across a CS called Black Star...on entry an African BT greets me and a menu with a lot of old school strains and what feels like odd weights offered, browsing through something catches my eye "Dynamite 1.6g €20" I ask about it and he says it's good.
He gets out a prebagged deal (I wasnt used to this so was sceptical at first) In the bag a great looking and sized bud, almost black in colour with deep red hairs. I have never seen anything like it to this day.
He points to the basement smoking area and I go down to roll my chosen herb.
It smokes and tastes great a good hybrid for sure....then a slightly delayed onset of fuck me thats strong!
Aware of my sudden baked state I move on wishing the BT a good day and thank him for the fire.
I head for Popeyes to get some Pink Kush, the guy tries pushing everything on me and the Vanilla kush smells synthetic and awful, I get the Pink but is nowhere near what is was last time, smells odd burns poorly and ash is dark (Yuck!)
After a quick Joint I return to the hostel feeling I need to consume some more and try and use up the dreaded Pot of Gold, the smoking area is a lot busier now with people from all walks.
Some very stereotypical American stoners are being brash and playing the big I am amongst the room, this makes for great observation and I sit in the background taking it all in.
There's a large bearded Alaskan fellow that keeps giving the "my story and experiences are better attitude" it's entertaining to watch and also cringe worthy
Another guy wants to wrap a Philly Blunt but this Alaskan guy buts in and makes it clear he should let him roll it as he is so good at it( the guy reluctantly allows him but explains "hey man it's my last cigar don't fuck it up")
They aren't travel companions so it seems quite funny what is going on with the Alaskan taking over....
He opens up the cigar, removes the tobacco loads the paper with herbs and starts to roll......all of a sudden "Snap!" The paper splits and the contents everywhere. I have to contain my laughter its pure car crash viewing.
The guy who's cigar it was is clearly pissed and the room fills with an awkward silence.
Time to go! I search for some food from Albert Heijn and return a while later.....
As night time approaches I'm a little nervous about wondering around the streets with very little knowledge of where I'm going as I'm seemingly sticking out like a lost tourist clueless to my location at times looking confused and pacing back and forth the canals and streets.
Back to hostel smoke room and I get talking with a solo American travelling dude, we chat for a while and both need some food we decide to go on a little excursion.
I'm feeling much better to have someone with some more geographical knowledge with me.
We want waffles and he tells me he knows the only place where it's cheaper than everywhere else (€3 I think was the cheaper price)
Fully baked I order a waffle and a sandwich roll laden with mayonnaise, cheese and ham...perfect stoner food, we sit and scoff our treats then head back out into the street.
A walk over to Rockerij (RIP) on the canal and we both buy some Laughing Buddha, this was great quality, nice sweetness and a good feeling high.
We chat for a bit..my companion explains he leaves tomorrow and we share some stories, I offer him my Pot of Gold and he happily accepts and gives me some extra Buddha for my bag!
Back at the hostel we have a final joint and say our goodbyes (I still can't remember the guys name to this day) but it's one of the real feel good memories of my first solo trip, this amazing place where you can meet a total stranger in similar circumstances and just go with the flow and embrace the moment.
The weed hits me hard and my body reminds me of broken sleep of the last 24 hours, I climb the stairs to my room and slowly sink into the mattress listening to all the people running down the stairs and hallway in this busy hostel.
To be continued...
so I grab 5g of Laughing Buddha and head straight to De Eerste Kamer...(in here it's similar, no smoking just buy, roll and fly type operation with a pinball machine from what I remember. Same menu and products)
(typical me!)...
what on earth! (Still spongey when pressed and no way I can grind or even pick at it to make a joint, I accept my fate and leave it for another time)