NYE report

Lafe · Post by **Lafe** » Mon 9th Jan 2006 04:09 pm

We arrived Friday morning 30 Dec. Staying near the Albery Cuyp market, Katsu was a logical choice to stock up on gear. I had six with me in a group, and so could not move as fast nor go as many places as I normally would do by myself. However, there is one real advantage to a group of this size: you can sample a lot of gear, and we did just that.

First stop was in Atlantis, just off the market, for a quick pick-me-up coffee and a gram of India Kush. Pleasant enough smoke, fair price, nice coffee, and Rasta music for the playback.

Next stop was Katsu. There was a queue for the gear with some tourists (yeah, I was a tourist as well :-) buying T-Shirts and such. When I finally made it to the menu to order, we ended up with Northern Lights Special, Orange Bud, Haze/Silver Pearl, Sage, Super Moroccan hash and Moroccan Ice hash.

All of these were worthy, and of course when you are working through varied samples this large it is difficult to report on the individual effects of each. I remember finishing the evening and the day's jet lag with the remainder of the India Kush.

Saturday: here come the heavyweights. At Greenhouse Tolstraat we procured Arjan's Ultra Haze #2, Neville's Haze, AK47, Northern Lights and NY Diesel. Both Arjan's and Neville's are very strong, almost too much for the lightweights in the group. On that day I first smoked Arjan's and let it sink in, and it is very strong with the classic sativa head blast.

The NY Diesel at Tolstraat is quite worthy, much tastier than some of the other Diesel varieties I have smoked in the city over the last year. It has the strong citrus taste on inhale/hold, and sure enough, that almost undefinable taste on the exhale that once someone says "diesel fuel" you say to yourself "yeah, diesel". This was my favorite smoke of the trip.

We also picked up some Polm hash and it kicked everyone's ass. Very nice.

On Saturday Dec 31 we also picked up some MK Ultra and Amnesia Haze from Amnesia. I tried Dampkring for some Ocean's 12 Haze (yes I'm a Haze maniac) but the queue was far too long, so we settled for some chips around the corner.

I also tried Grey Area, and again, there must have been 12 people queued in that tiny space. They were closed on New Year's Day so we didn't get to sample any of their wares at all on this trip.

Sunday saw us at Barney's picking up Caramella Cream, Love Potion # 1, perhaps some more MK Ultra (can't remember :-), and a couple of other things. Later that evening back to Katsu for a re-up of some of what we had earlier.

Overall, it was a good smoking trip but not such a good "go everywhere I want to go" trip. I reckon I'll go back in the spring with possibly one other person, or by myself. I fully intend to explore the area around Van Limburg Stirumplein area, including De Republiek. I see almost no reviews of coffeeshops in the Oude West, so I intend to take notes.

I was very impressed with the quality of goods at Greenhouse Tolstraat. Katsu had some nice smoke, but Greenhouse, whew...... :-)

I think the greatest gifts you can give to someone who you take to 'Dam for the first time are:

1. teach them how to use the public transportation system. Once you can do this, you're free to roam.

2. show them where some of the major coffeshops are (get away from RLD) and teach them coffeeshop etiquette

3. take them to the market to stock up for a small amount of money. I bought two fat bags of produce, eggs, and sausage (20 eggs and a half kilo of fresh sausages, plus a huge pile of fresh vegetables) for 11 Euro.

This fed seven people for most of one day. Try that in a restaurant :-)

lctricity · Post by **lctricity** » Mon 9th Jan 2006 08:40 pm

Nice reporting there mi amigo!

Having searched out Greenhouse Tolstraat unsuccessfully in the past. COUld you give a detailed description of how to get there?

I know Tolstraat is off of Van Woustraat but is it a left or right going South and how far down the street is it, on which side.

Thanks!

Lafe · Post by **Lafe** » Mon 9th Jan 2006 09:55 pm

Tolstraat is easy. Tram 4 (others as well), get off at the Lutmastraat stop. Walk back toward centrum and make a right on Tolstraat. If you're going south when you get off, the tram stop is basically right there at Tolstraat.

Greenhouse will be just on your left, maybe 50 meters off the main street.

If you want to go back into the "chilling" area they have to let you in through a locking turnstile. Otherwise you can buy up front without going all the way in.

check it out....

Weed is a deed · Post by **Weed is a deed** » Mon 9th Jan 2006 10:02 pm

grand report man.

You live in the states?.

How do you get to travel there so often?.

Lafe · Post by **Lafe** » Mon 9th Jan 2006 10:18 pm

Yep, a Colonial :-)

Had this trip planned for a while. Other trips I swung back through 'dam after business elsewhere in Europe. It's easy enough to book an open jaw ticket, you know, fly to Paris/London then to 'dam at the conclusion of business, then fly home from Schiphol.

I went in August and again in October taking downtime from working (unplanned) and used airline miles and hotel points to take almost free trips.

I'm looking at another trip perhaps in March. Just have to get the cash together to do it. Life is short, you never know what's around the corner. International travel has become a high priority for me, following that line of reasoning. I have been just about everywhere in the U.S. (hard to believe perhaps, but in my line of work not hard to do, eventually) and I'm just not interested in spending money on a U.S. holiday now. I would rather stay home and wait until I can go overseas.

The thing about Amsterdam is I would probably continue to go even if the cannabis situation were not what it is. Cannabis is a big plus, obviously :-)

AzLaker · Post by **AzLaker** » Mon 9th Jan 2006 10:38 pm

Lafe, wait a month and come on over for the ACD 4-20 trip. Many of us are going to meet and have a nice smoke out on 4-20. hope you can make it. AzLaker

Post by **Lemming** » Tue 10th Jan 2006 12:17 am

Thanks Lafe. I get quite excited when someone posts a new travelogue

Valo · Post by **Valo** » Tue 10th Jan 2006 02:21 am

Nice report Lafe, mentioned a couple of shops I never been to which was cool. The Neville's Haze was a favourite of mine (from De Kuil) on my last trip!

Thanks for sharing.

Lafe · Post by **Lafe** » Tue 10th Jan 2006 02:43 am

You know, we stopped in De Kuil (4:20) for beer but did not buy any gear. It 's a good chillout for the middle-aged crowd. I never thought I would say this, but I wish they would turn the music up just a wee bit. One has to strain to hear, at least near the door. And if it's FZ then it deserves to be heard, IMHO.

I have to say, the Arjan's #2 was outstanding, but the Neville's is right up there with it. It is stunningly strong, even if it was shaken :-)