After a shower I decided on a smoke of white widow from Old Church, putting me back on level terms with how I felt the night before! An hour of watching TV later I was up for a walk, and seeing that Tim was just waking up I decided on a quick window shop down the Singel RLD. Not 5 minutes later and I found myself in the heart of the smaller red light area, Oude Nieuwstraat, faced with an attractive lady, maybe 10 years older than myself. About 20 minutes later I was back in the hotel room €50 out of pocket, although happy I spent the money!
Singel RLD fom outside our hotel
Tim said the other two had gone museum viewing earlier and would call later to meet up somewhere; so I decided to introduce Tim to the volcano bags at De Kuil. I got a gram of Blueberry (€7) and asked the dealer to save enough for 2 good bags that he happily did; Tim also bought the Neville’s Haze (a favourite of mine last trip) but waited on the vapo bag first – the NH did not disappoint later however. After ordering a coffee the vapo bag was full and ready for use, the fruity taste and happy, mellow high was as good, if not better that last time I was here. Certainly was a great way to start a weekend off in Amsterdam. I found myself gazing out of the window for around an hour watching various people go by, but I kept my eye on the pastry shop directly opposite all the time. Then deciding on moving on to a coffeeshop neither of us had been to before – via the sweet shop just steps away of course!
Shop opposite De Kuil
We chose to give Homegrown Fantasy a look for some different scenery. It was a nice friendly atmosphere in the shop and we got a small 2-seater table next to the radiator, beside a window. I didn’t recognise many strains on the menu and came away with 0.7g of White Pearl for €5 – a nice price to test a few trains if necessary, but the White Pearl was a very good weed I thought, very crystally, smelt nice and high and powdered up well in the grinder. I’m a big fan of the ‘white’ strains in general (widow, rhino etc) and this one certainly lived up to its name. Served by very friendly staff also, they insisted on carrying any drinks directly to our table – the hot chocolate and whipped cream was as good as I’ve had in Amsterdam. Again ending up gazing out of the window taking a few pics on my phone which I tend to do most places, all for memories years down the line
View from Homegrown Fantasy
It must have been approaching 3pm and we thought of having a couple of birthday beers, but firstly I wanted to pick up some smoke from Tweede Kamer as I have always been very happy with their gear. At this time we also contemplated a walk down to Katsu as we did a trip before, but the bitterly cold wind soon made our mind up against that idea. Arriving at Tweede Kamer we were greeted by the older (than us anyway!), very attractive lady whom I have encountered the previous 2 visits here – also very friendly and seems to know her cannabis too. I bought a gram of Oceans 12 for €10 as I had never had it before and couldn’t really make my mind up on their very long menu. Taking it with us I was glad, as always, to have made a stop here as it’s certainly in my top 5 coffeeshop list.
Tim let me choose the next stop as it was my so-called special day – any day in Amsterdam seems like a special day to myself, and many others! But anyway, I had always wanted to try out one of the Greenhouse chain shops, so due to it’s close relation to us it would be Greenhouse Centrum…conveniently for my wondering eyes, also close to the RLD for a nice walk home
Entering the Greenhouse Centrum we saw it was very busy with many people standing round the bar, due to lack of free seats, with beers in hand. I almost chose to head on back to De Kuil, but Tim insisted on buying a beer since we were here; luckily as we did, 2 seats free-ed up on the big table on the right hand side – the table already consisted of one couple having their own conversation and another group of 3 foreigners smoking an extremely large joint. It was a very stylish décor with all the rocks and almost aqua vibe to the place and had a very nice low-lit atmosphere to the place that was very, busy but due to our positions, as well as very relaxing also. The Oceans 12 weed also helped add to the feeling of the place as it turned out to be a very nice tasting high weed. Two beers later and the couple had left the table and 3 young Dutch locals took the remaining seats whom we had a conversation on football and the RLD for a good hour or so. By then I had got a phone call from Ines asking saying that she was back at the hotel with Gee and if we wanted to meet up for the evening. I wasn’t planning on much alcohol during this trip (as I can do that anytime at home in Bournemouth!) so we chose to leave shortly after heading back to the hotel to get ready for the evening – via the RLD naturally.
Around 6pm, after a quick shower, the 4 of us were in our hotel room sharing a smoke talking about the day we already had. For the record, Ines mentioned that she was far more appreciative of the Van Gogh Museam than the Rijksmuseum – coming from someone with an interest in art I will chose to go to Van Goghs when I finally make my first museum trip. Ines, not being a regular smoker, had a little too much the night before and the smoke in the hotel room now (not to mention all the walking) made her feel too exhausted to join us on the night out, which was a shame but just as good to have a night out with the guys.
Wanting a couple more beers to celebrate my growing a year older (yeah right!) and the fact Tim wanted to give Gee his first vapo bag we decided De Kuil was the obvious choice and by 9pm we had arrived in the saloon style bar. A little more busier than earlier, but we were still lucky to get the window seats and it wasn’t long before the dealer had delivered us our first bad of the night, right to our seat! A very nice smooth smoke later and I was in a mind of my own – I do remember a brief conversation at the time knowing that Gee had caught the Amsterdam bug, as he was talking finding work and housing here…funny thinking back about it but I’m pretty sure anyone who reads this far into my reports has felt the same at one point (me included!!!). Gee was also hooked on the vapo, talking about getting one as well
Moving on, we wandered over to Warmoestraat and after seeing the Coin was actually very busy for once (I nearly took a picture for proof) we ended up going to the Old Church instead. Getting a table by the stairs we enjoyed a hot drink and smoke, talking about plans for tomorrow and such. A very nice relaxing moment in a very welcoming and friendly coffeeshop – quickly becoming one of my favourite hangouts. Just after midnight Gee wanted to get some Hawaiian Snow that Tim and myself saw on the Greenhouse C menu earlier, heading through the lovely ladies behind the Old Church area we made it to the Greenhouse and joined the long queue at the weed counter. It must have been half 1 by the time we left Greenhouse so Gee and Tim chose to go back to De Kuil and I went on a more detailed wander of the RLD starting with the Singel, tempting, but the ladies in the small alleys behind the Old Church were more so and I found myself walking back to the main canals not long after.
Outside Greenhouse Centrum
A couple of canal laps later and I saw a very sexy looking blonde down either the Tromp or Dolle that I noticed on a couple of trips that always wears black and white stockings – had pretty much made up my mind until a final walk down the main canal and I saw the blonde girl opposite Excalibur from my last trip. I knew it would be money well spent and so I went with her again; certainly not disappointed and she was very friendly company again. She was as talkative as ever and I remember she was from Germany but spoke near perfect English extremely quickly and very enthusiastically. Very nice girl and another blissful visit.
I didn’t think I would have enough time at De Kuil to have a couple of relaxing smokes so went on up to Moaz near the Centraal Station to get a falafel. Cheap, tasty and filling which was what I was after and this place did the job before a cold but pleasant walk back to the hotel meeting the others who had just arrived back. A final smoke in the hotel room was all we could muster before Gee went back to his room and I fell asleep before I could know it. Not the most memorable of birthdays that’s for sure, but the parts I can remember I will make it one of the best I have had!
