Wednesday
A leisurely start to the day with coffee on the terrace and then we set off towards the Spui district. Dampkring was packed as usual but there are lots of other good choices in the area which I had not yet visited. Doll left me at Tweede Kamer while she went off on her own tour of the area.
Tweede Kamer was fairly busy shortly before noon. A nice mature girl at the bar who was really knowledgable, training a new hire who was a real decent fellow. I bought 2 grams of Shasta Haze and a pure prerolled NYC Diesel joint. There was one seat free so I blazed the NYCD until Doll returned. It was a “sensible” sized joint which was fair but not the best NYCD by any stretch, just right for an Indica that time of the day however and it was a nice smoke.
Dutch Flowers wasn’t quite as busy so we moved across the street for a tea. The NYCD left me a bit hollow so I rolled a Shasta, and left well blasted after a short interlude. The weather was good so we spent the afternoon wandering the shops on the edge of Jordaan.
Returning home by Damrak we stopped by 420 for a beer. Not too busy, it was a pleasant rest stop after beating our feet off all afternoon.
With plans to go for dinner, then a coffeeshop, and finally a night bar, we dressed and made our way along Zeedijk. An excellent find was Abruzzo Italian Restaurant where we were met at the door with a handshake by the owner. It was just busy enough to be entertaining yet private with a romantic candlelight atmosphere.The food was fantastic, we had a five course dinner with Garlic Scampi as the main entrée and a decent wine for less than 100.00 with tip. Service was far above average and the house cat who visited every table shortly after their entrees arrived was so cute. It was a superb night out which lasted quite late, and being very satisfying we never made the coffeeshop or bar as first planned.
Thursday
Originally planned for a day to Den Hague, we woke up to terrible weather and decided to spend the day in the city. Not many coffeeshops open yet, The Coin was my choice for an early stop. Looks like it was sharp when first decorated but seems to be becoming tatty quickly now and could use a little touchup to restore its splendor. A couple of really nice guys running the bar. Small problem that their coffee machine was so totally broken they couldn’t even make tea and the Internet machines were gone as if stolen last night. Really sincere and friendly they suggested that everything was available just down the street at Hunter’s but both had the same smoking menu. Hey, really nice guys so we ordered a couple of OJ’s and I bought 2 grams of their Sage and Sour # 5. They also had a SnS # 7 which was totally different, but I took the dealer’s suggestion of # 5 which had really small compact buds. It was a Bio Sativa with a smooth soft taste, a great upper to start the day.
We visited the Amsterdam Historish Museum which has a superb collection of Dutch Masters paintings as part of their presentation of the city’s history. After spending most of the morning in the museum we took a taxi to Albert Cuyp Market. It was miserable day so not all that much fun walking in the freezing rain but there’s always a coffeeshop. Based on nothing but glowing reviews I was looking forward to spending a couple of hours in Katsu.
Katsu – YUK! Fans of filth will find this pigsty amongst the best, unfortunately negating all the good points. There was a super nice girl at the counter but she said they couldn’t make HC for some reason, so we had a luke warm fresh orange juice instead. The floor looked worse than the pavement outside Centraal station at 3:00am and the tables weren’t much better. Short stay as possible as Doll was getting worried about what was looking back at her from under the table. Pity, looks great from the outside but they really need to get a maid in more than once a century.
We found an Irish Pub called O’Donnells on our way to The Heineken Experience. Good food, the all day breakfast is served until 5:00pm, and they serve a perfect pint of Guinness.
As I expected, The Heineken Experience was a good way to pass a rainy afternoon. Being one who appreciates brewing science, I admired the historic facility in a way which only a brewer would notice and thought it was a great tour. Plus they give you 3 beers and a free glass which is more than good value for the 10.00 ticket price. When we came out the wind was driving the rain so hard you couldn’t face it without goggles and we were lucky to flag down a passing taxi.
With a late lunch and lots of beer we weren’t feeling like anything for dinner but I braved the elements and walked to AH for a few grocery items. And as often happens in Amsterdam, my walk back was under a perfectly clear sky with no rain and barely a wind.
We went down to Stix for the evening. Bought another couple of grams of Gunpowder and two of NLX (Northern Lights Indica grown for Stix). The NLX was a good deep body stone and I dragged my ass home with much difficulty. Stix is a really comfortable shop and we were fast becoming friends with the bartender who was just incredible with each day we returned.
Friday
We planned the day to Apeldoorn regardless of the weather, otherwise we would be wasting the rail pass. Apeldoorn is a bit less than an hour from Amsterdam and the weather was just clear enough to see the countryside along the way.
The Palais Het Loo is a spectacular Dutch Royal Palace built as a hunting lodge. The local bus takes you from the train station right to the estate for 1.00 return trip and runs frequently. The estate is enormous with lots of green space to walk around and enjoy a joint without bothering anyone. The stables house the Royal carriage and motor car collection with a café on the edge of the estate. The interior of the Lodge is breathtaking and worthwhile for anyone who enjoys extravagant decorating; this self guided tour can take as long as you wish. For us that was about three hours, but we could have stayed longer and would certainly return again.
ACD came up great for a local coffeeshop again, Bizar Coffeeshop seemed to be a good destination worth seeking out. Very spacious with lots of couches, green and dark wood, clean and classy. It was quite a bit like Stix in Amsterdam but at least double the size. The Rasta dude running the place single-handed was incredibly friendly and efficient. The quality was equal to that in Amsterdam and his prices were much lower. Iceolator hash was only 12.50 gram and was excellent – very spicy with a relaxing body stone that was offset by enough head high to keep you moving. He also had Santa Maria for 7.50 gram and much nicer buds than I found at Rick’s Café for 8.00 so I bought a couple of grams. Smoked a nice thin joint of Iceolater mixed with just enough SM to hold it together – absolutely brilliant, it kept me nearly delerious on the way back to Amsterdam.
A quick shower brought me back to top form and we were determined to make this another full night, after all it was Friday. First a stop at Stix for tea and a joint of Sativa, then back to our Italian favorite from a few nights earlier, Abruzzo for dinner. Doll had a nice salad and I had a pizza, excellent food and we were out in a bit more than an hour for barely more than 30.00
Rock Planet was really great for an hour with some vintage AC/DC videos but then the bartender went nuts again with the worst noise we have ever heard so it was time to blow that scene.
We went up to 420 for the rest of the night, should have come here in the first place… Cold Amstel beer, good tunes and outstanding NYC Diesel – the Best Indica of the trip, totally stoned so flat I nearly crawled home. Doll agreed that the NYCD was the best she smoked all week after we both passed out until nearly noon the next day.
Saturday
Our last full day, no plans except to walk and see what we find. Doll had been trying to get into a shop called Damask which keeps odd hours and we kept missing them everytime we passed by. Finally they were open and she told me to get lost for an hour, a sure sign that she was really serious about this shop. Take all the time you need Doll, I’ll find a coffeeshop down the street…
I found Smoking Bull looked good after sticking my head in a few other places along the street. Not a bad place at all, a very nice fellow dealing. They had an offer of 1.5g Super Silver Haze for 15.00. It was similar to other “Silver Hazes” with less lavender taste, but a very clean uplifting high.
Wandering towards the Jordaan, Doors Palace was closed so we went to Chocolata instead. Had the hash HC, one of their hash bonbons melted into warm Chocomel, which tasted nice but didn’t seem to do anything. Or so I thought, but we spent part of the afternoon at Waterlooplein maket and I have no idea how we got there.
Since window shopping for a restaurant worked well before, we gave it a shot again tonight and found a place that deserves a review all by itself. Gonzales Barbeque is hidden on Bantammerstraat, a small street near Chinatown that we happened to pass at least twice a day on our way past RLD. They have a unique setup for 2 to 8 guests at your own barbeque grill with an overhead hood and air makeup system that you could probably smoke a joint under with no one else noticing. It is an all you can eat - cook it yourself concept, really reasonable at 18.95 a person. Super attentive service with a young bubbly staff, excellent food with a wide selection of choices, and a really good deal as well. We will definitely go back again and recommend reservations. If you have a group of 4 or 6 this would be a fun place to spend the evening burning meat together but its perfectly romantic for a couple. Top score!
We retired to Stix for the rest of the evening. I just wanted a small bit since we were leaving tomorrow, a gram of California Haze. It was much like the other Hazes I found with more old canvas and less lavender, another outstanding example of Silver Haze. Our last night out at Stix was probably the longest and most enjoyable of the whole week.
We went home and I rolled a Super-Indica blend of the remaining 420 NYCD, Santa Maria, and NLX into two king size joints. I was on my own tonight as Doll had already withdrawn so I smoked one of them and completely passed out an hour later.
Sunday
Do we really need to leave today? After I showered, I put my last gram of Gunpowder into a HC while we packed. Ready with an hour to spare, I smoked most of the other king size Indica and we called a taxi.
After a couple hours to connect in Frankfurt, I was ready to sleep for most of the flight home.
Sweet dreams of Amsterdam.
Great trip February 2006 - Part 2
-
lctricity
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Sun 20th Mar 2005 04:44 am
- Location: Over The Hills & Far Away...
- Contact:
Another great trip, and report indeed! I'm remiss to hear KATSU was less than pleasurable due to lack of a proper cleaning. I always love this place and never found it to be dirty. Other than that good times were had it sounds.
Thanks for takin' the time nonetheless.
Cheer to more trips to come and the tales that will be told.
Thanks for takin' the time nonetheless.
Cheer to more trips to come and the tales that will be told.
According to Smokers guide NYD is a Sativa ~ Clickynytvd wrote:great report, seems like you had a good time!
quick question...(am getting my diesels confused...)
NYC diesel is an indica and sour diesel is a sativa?or are they both indicas?
thanks,
I believe the Sours a sativa as well.
Being pedantic and knobbish since 1972
Great reports there Doc - had a lot of fun reading them.
I must admit I was a little dissapointed about The Coin this time around, and I can't believe they still didn't have the coffee machine working - I was there the week before and it was broken then. It almost seems as though they are putting all their profits into the new Hunters Vodka Bar next door instead of refurbishing what made them the money in the first place. Still a favourite hangout of mine though!!!
Cheers again for sharing your adventure.
I must admit I was a little dissapointed about The Coin this time around, and I can't believe they still didn't have the coffee machine working - I was there the week before and it was broken then. It almost seems as though they are putting all their profits into the new Hunters Vodka Bar next door instead of refurbishing what made them the money in the first place. Still a favourite hangout of mine though!!!
Cheers again for sharing your adventure.
~ Is that a grinder in your pocket? ~
Thanks to Boner for pointing out that NYCD is a Sativa. It leaves me questioning the general rule that Sativas produce a head high and Indicas produce a body stone however.
In revising my picks for Best of trip I would need to say that I was a bit disappointed by the Indicas overall. Instead I should say the best upper was Bizar from Stix and the best sedative was 420's NYCD, both Sativas. To pick the most potent and powerful strain of everything we smoked I need to add Doll's opinion (she only smokes on rare occasions like a trip to Amsterdam, and then only later at night when we were back home - unlike myself who was a smoking pig from the time my eyes opened) 420 NYC Diesel wins hands down...
One thing I noticed about NYCD, or didn't as the case may be; I tasted a hint of grapefruit but none of the fuel oils as many other have reported. Very enjoyable smoke with incredible potency. 10/10
In revising my picks for Best of trip I would need to say that I was a bit disappointed by the Indicas overall. Instead I should say the best upper was Bizar from Stix and the best sedative was 420's NYCD, both Sativas. To pick the most potent and powerful strain of everything we smoked I need to add Doll's opinion (she only smokes on rare occasions like a trip to Amsterdam, and then only later at night when we were back home - unlike myself who was a smoking pig from the time my eyes opened) 420 NYC Diesel wins hands down...
One thing I noticed about NYCD, or didn't as the case may be; I tasted a hint of grapefruit but none of the fuel oils as many other have reported. Very enjoyable smoke with incredible potency. 10/10
Last edited by DoctorJim on Fri 17th Feb 2006 04:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
thanks Boner, knew I could count on you for clearing things up...
hey DoctorJim - I have been to the Stix by Rembrantplein and thought their gear was top notch but the rounded wooden bench was back breaking... i guess this is why many locals just come in to buy and go.
(this is the first place i saw locals order gear , pay with a credit card, sign the scrap of paper and go on as if they just bought groceries for dinner....why oh why can't it be like this here in the drug war crazed US...
)
anyway i digress - how comfy (or not) is the Stix by Nieumarkt?
thanks,
nytvd
hey DoctorJim - I have been to the Stix by Rembrantplein and thought their gear was top notch but the rounded wooden bench was back breaking... i guess this is why many locals just come in to buy and go.
(this is the first place i saw locals order gear , pay with a credit card, sign the scrap of paper and go on as if they just bought groceries for dinner....why oh why can't it be like this here in the drug war crazed US...
)anyway i digress - how comfy (or not) is the Stix by Nieumarkt?
thanks,
nytvd
Religion Race Color Creed... Whatever
I think I saw every cobble in the streets around Rembrandtplein one afternoon but oddly never found the main Stix location. Stix Nieuwmarkt has a large table in the front window with 6 padded barstools, 3 booths each seating 4 and 5 or 6 barstools at the counter. There is also a bench along the other front window (Stix has a corner frontage) which could seat 4-6 without interferring with the dealer's counter. They have their printed menu displayed in a metal frame on the counter, pressing the button illuminates the menu. The music was a techo-jazz played at a background volume which was extremely relaxing and allowed us to enjoy a conversation quietly.
I can't say enough good things about this place. Go there!