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Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-08-08, 4:00 am

nyc diesel
Posts: 308
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I tend to keep two small glass or metal pipes going when I hit Amsterdam - one for regular weed during the day and evening, one for hash at night in my hotel. Some places in NYC sell decent small glass pipes for about $5, which would be a plus in saving me time (and money) from shopping for paraphernalia once I hit the Vondelpark area, where I'll be staying. They will be unused. Any idea if I'll be in trouble when my checked luggage is screened heading to Schiphol from NYC or NJ? Or is this OK because it can be used for tobacco?

If I'm best off just buying in Amsterdam, any affordable headshops to pick up the basics? In Leidesplein, last year, the convenience and tourist shops were really charging ripoff prices for very basic pipes, and I hate paying all that money for just something I have to leave behind after a week's use.

Also, obviously the vape is the best way to keep the smell down in my hotel room. But I'm not buying one for a short trip. The hotel I stayed at had a decent situation where the rooms were far apart and I had a large window, a bathroom without a smoke detector, etc. The Piet Hein seems like a small place where the windows are close. Do these hotels REALLY evict guests for weed or hash smoking?
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-08-08, 5:33 pm

Shinken69 Power Kat
Posts: 722
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All advice seems to suggest that if your pipes are clean then there shouldn't be a problem.
However, Is it worth risking a drug paraphernalia charge to save a couple of bucks?

You can buy the same pipes you see in the head shops at the Waterlooplein market for around 50%.
It's not in the Vondel park area, but it's less than 10min walk from Nieumarkt or Rembrandtplein, where I'm sure you'll be at some point.
There are usually two or three vendors selling smoking paraphernalia and more besides to peak your interest.

I haven't smoked in my hotel room for many years, by the time I make it back to the hotel I've smoked more than enough.
If I feel the need for one last toke, I'll stand outside the hotel.
I'd be quite comfortable having a smoke sitting on the concrete bench seats outside the Piet Hein, at the park gates.
That being said, with the exception of the Kras, every Amsterdam hotel I've ever stayed in has stunk of weed, in the corridors, during my stay.
The hotel staff weren't exactly beating down the door to throw anyone out.
As long as you aren't taking the piss and don't set off the smoke alarms, you should be OK.
I do know someone who was landed with a hefty fine for setting off a hotel smoke alarm while smoking a cigarette.
That was due to an automatic call out of the fire dept.

Don't some of the rooms at the Piet Hein have a balcony?
I think they also have a few tables and chairs outside, at the back:
Sounds like a solution.

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So many windows, so little time.... or is that money
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-08-09, 3:00 am

nyc diesel
Posts: 308
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Thanks for the heads-up on Waterlooplein. I'll check it out. I imagine if I head toward de Pijp there will be some items priced for locals, too.

I'm older, nearing 60. I smoke nightly in my apartment. In the past, I'll hit Rookies or, if I'm in the area, Dampkring 2 at night, and have a few tokes of weed. Now I'll need to hit some new places---and some good tips were given to me on this board. But with insomnia and Park 118 closing early, I tend to enjoy that rarity---hash---in my hotel room, where I'm safer and in a situation where I'll make less of a fool of myself. ;-)
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-08-18, 7:14 am

neurosynthPower Kat XXX
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Personally I wouldn't bring back a pipe used or unused. If nothing else it might trigger some kind of search or something.

For a souvenir you might pick up a couple of those tacky lighters that have a pot leaf on them or some such. I have to admit that when I use one of those to light up back home it brings a smile to my face.

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Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-08-21, 2:36 pm

officematt2002
Posts: 267
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I too quite enjoy my collection of lighters brought back from Amsterdam. Right now my go to is an "I 'heart' Amsterdam' lighter that I overpaid at one of the local stores that up charge everything. Still makes me smile.
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-08-21, 8:10 pm

nyc diesel
Posts: 308
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All those weed-related knickknaacks (and other things) were so affordable before the euro. I still remember the shock when the window girls went from 50 guilders (US $20) to 50 euros (US $75) about 15 years ago. I haven't been to one since I knocked on a window and made a U-turn at the price. It cemented my relationship with the prives, clubs, and escorts (now overpriced and rarer due to lack of competition, immigration law, blah blah blah). I give the window girls credit---I guess mongering in the RLD is as affordable in 2016 as it was in 1999 with the price being steady at 50 euros. But 15 minutes is too short for an old fart like myself.

With US "Homeland Security," I'm not even sure if one can travel with a cigarette lighter these days.

I'm still in shock that in 2016 the US Food and Drug Administration retained its insanity and classified weed as a drug with the same "dangers" as heroin. A Native American teen is up for a four-year prison term for having a joint in his possession.

My nation is insane. I wish I had the money and health insurance to relocate to the Netherlands.
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-08-23, 10:40 pm

neurosynthPower Kat XXX
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Actually at the time of the conversion the Euro was something like 87 cents.

Also beware the grass-is-always-greener effect. A friend made a permanent move to Utrecht and encountered a stream of unexpected disappointments unknown in the US. It got to the point where she wanted to leave, So then she got another dream opportunity, a post in London. Again, a bunch of unexpected problems relative to her previous life in NYC.

_________________
http://tinyurl.com/eurolights - CLOSED FOR NOW - Sadly Google has disallowed public access to this map. I'm seeking alternative platforms. If you have suggestions, please message me!
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-08-25, 12:20 am

nyc diesel
Posts: 308
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There are few utopias, neorosynth, but the US is an armed madhouse. Of course, as a tourist when I'm in Amsterdam, I get to see the pleasures, not the mundane lives of "real Amsterdam." But at this stage of my life, I'm stuck in NYC, which, aside from some great weed and museums, doesn't offer much else.
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-09-13, 5:48 pm

HighClouds
Posts: 93
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A couple of points, all of which have been made already, I'm sure!

One, I don't believe it is worth trying to save a couple of euros/dollars taking pipes there. In the scheme of things - airfare, hotel, food, entertainment - the difference in the cost of a pipe is negligible. From my point of view anyway.

Secondly, if you prefer vaping anyway (as I do), there is simply nothing to worry about except for being limited to certain coffeeshops. To me, this isn't a huge deal because places like the Greenhouse, Amnesia and Barney's are pretty good in my book, even if they're not boutique shops. Besides, you can always buy some wherever you want, and get just a little more at the vaping place.

The three places I mentioned all have Volcanos available for use, and personally, one bag of hits from a Volcano is a lot!

HC.
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-09-13, 5:55 pm

HighClouds
Posts: 93
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neurosynth wrote:
Actually at the time of the conversion the Euro was something like 87 cents.

Also beware the grass-is-always-greener effect. A friend made a permanent move to Utrecht and encountered a stream of unexpected disappointments unknown in the US. It got to the point where she wanted to leave, So then she got another dream opportunity, a post in London. Again, a bunch of unexpected problems relative to her previous life in NYC.


This is such an excellent point. Even though, as nyc diesel points out, the US is armed to the teeth, moving to another country is always a dicey experience. Life tends to be a lot more than weed and women, and I would think that having gotten used to the way we live in the US, Europe - let alone Asia - could be a huge challenge.

Even a seemingly small thing like transportation could become an issue. As much as we all love the excellent public transportation in Europe, to those of us who are accustomed to jumping in our cars for a trip to the grocery store can find even that very difficult to adjust to. Then there's food. Say what you will, but you're simply not going to get the diversity of choices that you do in the US - depending on where you live, of course!

I know enough people who have spent time in the UK, which is arguably the closest to the US in terms of culture and certainly language, who have been disappointed - not with the place, per se, but with simply not being able to find a niche. Admittedly, I've only been to the UK a couple of times. I found it totally wonderful, with great and friendly people and lots of stuff to do; but life in the UK is very different from life in the US. I would think the Netherlands would be even more different, given the language issue - non existent as a tourist, but very prevalent if you relocate there.

All that said, I have not been to, say, Boulder, or Seattle after legalization, so I have no idea what the situation is; and I've never been to Portland anyway. I'm willing to bet that the herbal experience is likely to be far superior to Amsterdam in those places.

My two cents..:)

HC
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-09-14, 3:57 am

nyc diesel
Posts: 308
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The US has been a war empire since I was born. People are homeless. The rich are worshiped, the poor are spat upon as "losers." Intellectuals are loathed. We have a madman running to control the largest nuclear arsenal in the known multiverse. Racism is all the rage. African Americans are assassinated by the police weekly and they walk; some even get promotions. Before each sporting event---and during---there's an orgasm of nationalism and war worship and military recruitment. People are in prison for marijuana use. The social-safety net is minimal. About half of US citizens don't believe in basic science.

It's too late. I can never get out of here. I'm too old, not rich.

But if I could, I'd depart the US for Amsterdam in a nanosecond.
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-09-14, 4:24 am

HighClouds
Posts: 93
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There is evidence for everything you said, no question. But you'll find nationalism anywhere you go, and if the right buttons are pushed, tribalism will show up. That is human nature. Look at Denmark, the happiest country in the world, and see how the refugee crisis is changing some peoples' liberal views. In fact, it may be worth keeping in mind that when - not if - the refugee crisis gets a lot worse (due to wars and climate change), the first continent to be overrun with refugees will be Europe. When that happens, you can be sure that attitudes like the ones you're describing here in America, will surface - that is how human beings operate. The social safety net that some of us here admire about Europe will crumble. It is statistically not viable to support that many non-productive members of society unless you create a multi-tier system of benefits, and that will then closely resemble what we currently have here in the US.

Believe me, I'm in complete agreement with your political views. All I'm saying is that moving to a different country is not for the faint of heart. I could be completely wrong, but countries with basically homogeneous populations are especially difficult to relocate to. The Netherlands is awesome if you're Dutch, Denmark is phenomenal if you're Danish. I'd say there has to be something extremely compelling for anybody to move to Europe, like maybe love or family ties. For an alternative to right wing America, you need look no further than Canada - legal weed next year, nice social safety net and an enviable Prime Minister.

Again, my two worthless cents..:)

HC
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-09-14, 8:45 pm

nyc diesel
Posts: 308
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Thanks. I don't disagree with you at all. I have considered Canada, although I think I'd still have to pay to go to Europe to have sex (being "legalization is a ruse to arrest clients" per one of our fellow discussion-board members). Sadly, I'm too old to legally emmigrate to Canada per their website.

I might look into some apartment-sharing situation in Amsterdam and try to get some freelance work via computer from the States. I believe I can stay about four months, check on my apartment in NYC for a few weeks, and then return for another four months.
Re: Traveling with unused paraphernalia - US to AMS
Posted: 2016-09-14, 9:53 pm

HighClouds
Posts: 93
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Now that is a very good idea. This way, after the first few long terms visits you can gauge how easy or difficult it is to live there, and even if it isn't a piece of cake, you're not living there permanently. I've thought about doing a home exchange thing myself, although that can be an extremely risky proposition.

HC
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