The most amazing thing, though, is walking past a coffeeshop and seeing someone skin up in the window - right there, in broad daylight, for the whole world to see ... all perfectly legal. It comes as quite a shock to me. Back home, the same behaviour would get you thrown in jail with no questions asked.

After hours of exploring, we decide it's time to get out of the rain and make some clouds of our own at a nearby coffeehop.
This time we take things a little easier. We mix the Ganja with a bit of tabacco and enjoy it slowly, watching the world outside, having a chat and planning the rest of our stay.
We also buy a very special treat: a cube of Pollen. It looks like a block of hash, but more powdery with a golden colour. It is actually the pollen from a male Cannabis plant. We mix some with a bit of mild Weed and enjoy the delicious, fragrant smoke. Soon we're feeling a very mellow, happy high that lasts for hours. If only we could get this stuff at home.

One thing we decided to do was visit the Van Gogh museum. This was one of the highlights of the trip. Seeing those priceless paintings in real life and close-up is simply amazing. We spedt hours just getting lost in them. This museum has the largest Van Gogh collection under one roof, and is part of the Rijksmuseum which is also full of amazing artworks by the Dutch masters.

Seeking rest after the museum, we arrive at the Vondelpark. This is Amsterdam's central park. It is very beautiful with splendid, well-tailored displays of trees and flowers. There are also lots of surprising details everywhere, like astronauts in the lake and gnomes in the flowerbeds. It's a peaceful and quaint area that must be seen, mind-altering substances are not necessary as this park is filled with little surprises for you to discover.

Walking back to our hotel, we pass the Hash, Marijuana, Hemp Museum. Here you can learn about the use of Hemp and Cannabis throughout human history, see their Cannabis garden and an interesting collection of artifacts used to prepare and consume the holy herb.

Amsterdam has many incredible sights around every corner and it appeals to all types of people. The citizens all speak English and are friendly and hospitable.

The main mode of transport are bikes. These can be rented, but be careful of thieves - locks are a must. Trams are also a good way to get around and they operate on ticket strips which you punch when you get on board. Sometimes nobody is there to check, so a free ride is possible, but expect bad vibes from the other passengers.
You can also go for a trip on a canal boat for a different experience of the city, as you see the rooftops sail past, quiet from the hustle and bustle of the streets.

As night falls, our friend offers to show us the local dance scene. There are lots of clubs playing anything from House to Trance to Drum & Bass. We dance a few hours away at Mazzo, but get too tired to check out the rest of the clubs, such as the famous Melkweg. Amsterdam is famous for it's nightlife, offering something for everyone. Unfortunately, we are running low on funds and energy, so we leave it for another time as we head for our beds.

Although it's a small city, Amsterdam has lots of things to do. Our one-week stay was way too short to fully enjoy this city, but as we head back to Central station for our return to London, I'm already planning the itinerary for my next visit to this awsome place.

~JJ~