Falling out of Love with my favorite city???

zunkii · Post by **zunkii** » Thu 1st Dec 2005 01:05 pm

Am I getting too old for this???

I just returned from Amsterdam after having spent a weekend there, and was very disappointed.
Have fallen out of love with Amsterdam? Am I bored with this fantastic City? Have I been too many times in recent years (9 times in the last 2 years)? Has Amsterdam changed?
I think probably a bit of all of the above are true, by Sunday lunch time, sitting in Dutch Flowers sipping a beer and puffing a joint my departure time could not come quick enough.
I arrived at lunchtime on Friday and went straight to the hotel to drop off the bags, then to 420 café to make my first purchase of the trip, some Super Silver Haze and some Neville’s Haze.
First major disappointment of the trip was that the pool table in de Kuil is no longer there. I have spent many afternoons playing pool, drinking beer and getting stoned in this café and was my home base on previous trips.
I found that the grass was good, but no better than the stuff we get in the UK, my main reason for going is the Hash (not ice, but dark Afgani, Nepalese or Indian), which is non existant in London. The quality of this is still great, but if I can get stoned on grass at home, how can I justify 5 trips a year just for hash?
If one looks at it, if I stayed in London, I would save +/-£150 on accommodation and travel, In the summer, I’m sure we all know pubs with beer gardens where if you are discreet, you can enjoy a spliff or two, you can walk in the parks smoking, and I never have any issues with smoking in the street either.

So the question is what would I miss?

I would miss is the variety of smokeables available.
The atmosphere is unique, but not as good as it used to be
The RLD and openness of the sex trade is something I find fascinating, but I don’t indulge myself

I know that I’ll probably get slated for this view, but it is how I feel at the moment.
Would I return?
I have a booking for April, I’ll see how I feel then

By the way, best grass was Ice Haze from the Old Church.
Best Hash was either the Sherezade or Melana Cream

Cheers

Zunk

Tommy G · Post by **Tommy G** » Thu 1st Dec 2005 01:17 pm

I partly agree with u, I`m currently getting some of the best Green and hash I`ve ever smoked here in the Uk. I was gonna visit the dam over xmass but couldn`t get in2 my fave hotel so I didn`t bother. But the fact is when I smoke in the UK I`m breaking the law and when I visit Amsterdam I`m not, they have a civilised attitude 2 drugs and I like 2 go over and experience that. Hopefully I`ll still go over again next year sometime and have a great time like I usually do.

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Thu 1st Dec 2005 01:37 pm

I must admit firstly I dont smoke in the UK partly because its all soapbar hash or not very well grown weed but secondly because I actually got bored of smoking all the time, I dont just go to Amsterdam/Holland anymore just for the smoke, I also go for some of the lovely beers they have but I also go for the food, I love to eat probaly more so than smoke nowadays.

Have you tried somewhere different than Amsterdam? maybe Haarlem (a personal favourite of mine), Delft is also very nice and what I saw of Utrecht I'd also put that in.

Valo · Post by **Valo** » Thu 1st Dec 2005 07:31 pm

I can see where you are coming from zunkii - my trip next January will be my 4th 3-night stay in Amsterdam in 13 months and currently still looking forward to it as much as any other trip...but I could almost imagine if I went too often some of the excitement would dissapear gradually.

I sometimes get hold of some Amsterdam quality weed back home but still think of visiting the Dam mainly for a good smoke along with the uniqueness of a good night out in the RLD. Hope that doesn't change too much in the future - but having no pool table in De Kuil really sucks now, was especially looking forward to having a game or two next Jan.

At least the Neville's Haze was still about - any vapo bags this time? When are you booked for in April, as I was looking at a couple of days late April and would be cool to meet for another smoke if our dates crossed again.

JSB · Post by **JSB** » Fri 2nd Dec 2005 10:36 am

Boner wrote: I love to eat probaly more so than smoke nowadays.

A man after my own heart!

In all seriousness, Amsterdam is bound to get boring if all you're going for is the weed. Expand your horizons: the museums, the shops, the canals, the beer, the food, the cigars!

Obviously A`Dam is still attractive mainly because of the coffeeshops/cannabis, but if you feel you're getting bored with it, either go less often, or try & do some different things once you're there. The first couple of times I went I was focusing solely on smoking as much green as possible, but now I have a plethora of reasons for visiting, weed isn't my only desire in Holland's capital any longer.

I sincerely hope that the coffeeshops in Ver Dam do not start turning away tourists, making it hard for us to get a smoke, but if they do, I would still like to think that I will visit the city again many times, providing the hotel, food, drink & fags are cheap!

Valo · Post by **Valo** » Fri 2nd Dec 2005 12:23 pm

JSB wrote:Expand your horizons: the museums, the shops, the canals, the beer, the food, the cigars!

Sorry but the coffeeshops and RLD beat those hands down in my opinion. I could get all the above at home but not the atmosphere of a coffeeshop or the aura of the RLD.

At least I can say i'm going next month now!!!!

zunkii · Post by **zunkii** » Fri 2nd Dec 2005 01:00 pm

I have visited most of the European capital Cities and have been to museums, churches, markets, bars and night clubs, but would not go back to any of them 5 - 6 times in a year.
What ever way you look at it, the majority of people who visit Amsterdam do so for the weed and wenches. Just look at the Channels and this forum, there is no other European capital city that has such a forum or generates so much interest. Where is the section on the channels or here that deals with museums, architecture and culture? It does not exist because Amsterdam = weed. Yes we all like the architecture when we are there and yes I have visited most of the museums, but I would not go back so often were it not for the coffee shops.

I actually thought that I would take a lot more stick than this, probably guys are being polite.
Boner I can’t imagine anyone going to Amsterdam for the food. I have eaten in plenty of places and can get better Chinese, Indian, Steaks, Italian, French infact I can not think of any cuisine better in Amsterdam apart from possibly Indonesian.
I was referring specifically to Amsterdam, that is the main draw, the other towns and cities do not have the same attractions (on a similar scale) to Amsterdam. Yes I have been to Rotterdam, The Hague, Harlem, but they have even less of the Amsterdam atmosphere.

Zunk

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Fri 2nd Dec 2005 03:04 pm

zunkii wrote:I actually thought that I would take a lot more stick than this, probably guys are being polite.
Boner I can’t imagine anyone going to Amsterdam for the food. I have eaten in plenty of places and can get better Chinese, Indian, Steaks, Italian, French infact I can not think of any cuisine better in Amsterdam apart from possibly Indonesian. Zunk

Dont think anyone will flame you for having a honest opinion I certainly wont, I prefer Haarlem to Amsterdam as the bright lights and the rush of people is too overpowering for me nowadays, I like to relax on holiday hence why I choose to stop in Haarlem 9/10.

As far as food is concerned I've found the more you pay the better you get, I dont think twice about paying €80-100 for 2 people with drinks, I've tried loads of places near where I live and in all honesty the foods shite.

Tommy G · Post by **Tommy G** » Fri 2nd Dec 2005 03:20 pm

I usually get an enjoyable meal with drinks for 25 euros for 2 people. It is important 2 get nice food on holiday.

JSB · Post by **JSB** » Tue 6th Dec 2005 02:26 pm

Valo wrote:. I could get all the above at home

I wouldn't agree with that re: the museums or the canals, & there isn't anywhere you can (Legitimately) get fags, baccy & cigars at Dutch prices here in Merry England!

Though it's not a competition to see what features makes Amsterdam most desirable as a holiday destination, I was just pointing out some vague additional attractions for the bloke who says he's "falling out of love" with his favourite city.

I wish I had repeated chances to stop loving Amsterdam, but I don't & quite frankly, some people just can't be satisfied if they get tired of a city that quite literally gives you everything...

Valo · Post by **Valo** » Wed 7th Dec 2005 03:22 am

JSB wrote:I wouldn't agree with that re: the museums or the canals, & there isn't anywhere you can (Legitimately) get fags, baccy & cigars at Dutch prices here in Merry England!

Fair enough point but England does have some very nice (not Amsterdam quality) canals all over the country - the Birmingham/Walsall area has a big canal system as well as Peterborough and not to mention the famous Bingley locks on the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

I mentioned the museums in England as I personally would have more satisfaction at the National History Museum or Science Museum rather than art museums - although the cat museum in Amsterdam does sound rather unique!

I am also lucky enough to not smoke tobacco at all so havn't had the need to buy any since I was 16. But after reading zunkii's comments, I do also feel lucky that I am still looking forward to my next trip as much as my first...my day to day life does not feel complete without a booked trip to Amsterdam to look forward to

Cowboy Copus · Post by **Cowboy Copus** » Thu 8th Dec 2005 01:15 am

I've been twice in the last 18 years. I'm going this spring for 30 days. With all the talk about tourist bans, etc, I thought I'd better get a good trip in. My wife and I are going. We like to eat a lot, she likes to shop, which I can't stand unless I'm stoned, so I think we'll have a good time. 30 days straight stoned silly. Smoking cigars by the canals. Eating Mexican food and steaks.

JSB · Post by **JSB** » Thu 8th Dec 2005 10:31 am

30 days? Blimey! Have a great time, Cowboy!

Cowboy Copus · Post by **Cowboy Copus** » Thu 8th Dec 2005 07:51 pm

Thanks dude. Coming from the US it's so expensive I decided just to go for it. Of course last time I was there I was supposed to stay for a few weeks and lasted about half that time before I had to go to Munich and crash at a German friend's apartment for a while before heading back. Too much smoke at the time. But I'm not such a lightweight now. I'm especially looking forward to the haze and the ice hash, followed by a fine cigar.

JSB · Post by **JSB** » Fri 9th Dec 2005 10:26 am

Valo wrote:
JSB wrote:I wouldn't agree with that re: the museums or the canals, & there isn't anywhere you can (Legitimately) get fags, baccy & cigars at Dutch prices here in Merry England!
Fair enough point but England does have some very nice (not Amsterdam quality) canals all over the country - the Birmingham/Walsall area has a big canal system as well as Peterborough and not to mention the famous Bingley locks on the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

I mentioned the museums in England as I personally would have more satisfaction at the National History Museum or Science Museum rather than art museums - although the cat museum in Amsterdam does sound rather unique!

I am also lucky enough to not smoke tobacco at all so havn't had the need to buy any since I was 16. But after reading zunkii's comments, I do also feel lucky that I am still looking forward to my next trip as much as my first...my day to day life does not feel complete without a booked trip to Amsterdam to look forward to

I wouldn't ever say that any of England's canals have the romantic & aesthetic quality of Amsterdams, but I see your point, Valo!

Trust me, you are lucky not to be hooked on tobacco, my friend. The last time I gave up cigarettes was when my wife fell pregnant in 2002, & I put on so much weight, I've been rather "large" ever since. I ate so much junk to substitute God-awful cravings for fags, & even when I started smoking again a few months after my daughter was born I couldn't shift the excess weight.

I go to the gym most mornings with Tommy now, & it's benefitting me slowly but surely, but there's no way I'm gonna try giving up smoking again anytime soon, or else the combination of cig cravings & working up an appetite after the gym will have me going into Bastion Booger territory!...

... well, maybe not that bad!