Weasel, perhaps we passed each other by ;-) I will appreciate having your trip reports when I return in July; but in the meantime, here's mine...
Prices. When was it that coffee at a Coffeeshop was 2,- Euro? - this week during an unplanned visit, I was surprised to be charged €3.50, or was it four? I paid 8 Euro for a plain fresh waffle at Croissanterie d'Oude Brug where into I often jump, crossing the street after leaving 420. The weed prices haven't changed here much; contrarily, at the recommendation of the budtender at Amnesia, I smoked the comparatively less expensive prime Amnesia Haze - for 12 Euro a gram - for a very pleasant energetic high. My impression is that the current gradient of prices means it's fitting to shop around. I always find a nice price for great weed at Bagheera, but I wasn't in the mood to walk so far - I had only this one evening to spend in Amsterdam. My room at The Old Quarter (I wasn't staying at the
Pretty Woman attracting Grand Amrath as I recently have during the less expensive cold and rainy winter seasons) was only €90, and I was complimentarily upgraded to a room with a canal view because the woman whom I know at the reception admitted she was in a good mood being it was her birthday.
I hopped coffeeshops because I like them so much, I wished to visit two. I used a Volcano at Amnesia, spoke to some people, and stayed too long before realizing it was time to play with girls. Vanessa is no longer working in the capacity she was when I first met her, I didn't have time to shop around for a new red light district companion in the hit-or-miss pursuit which takes hours or days to discover someone I like, and feeling Vanessa would be quite disappointed if she found out I looked for another; I headed directly to La Vie. Getting through the door is €10, a bar dance is still 20, a cocktail for a lady to join me for a massage is also still either 20 or 27 Euro depending on her taste and my budget. Even though I know I'm paying for love, I love when the girls whom I mostly all know welcome me when I arrive. I typically focus my attention to the topless bartenders first in order to create an aura of fairness for the remainder of the evening.
I absolutely cherish Amsterdam for the dynamics. I enjoy talking to interesting foreigners who pop into coffeeshops, clubs, and strip joints. Escaping to Amsterdam is like being in a reality show I find terribly intriguing and entertaining.
Out of respect, I hand either concierge at La Vie, both of whom I've known a long time, a ten for a tip on the way out.
It had been a disappointing last December when smoking weed at Stones (and other bars lining the RLD) was forbidden - it was a nighttime downer; but the law was reversed. A last beer and joint at 3am at Stones wrapped up an evening so unexpectedly cool I couldn't imagine - it's about a young woman who reads me so well she teases me just right in a game of envy, love, submission, and domination; whom I was certain I wouldn't see, but karma on this day just before May made me wonder which gods had been wanting of the "super fun" she said it had been.
Cheers,
... Eric
