Day 4 - Friday 19th April 2019
It's another lovely day as I set off towards Ballonnetje. I head down Spuistraat, being distracted by coffeeshops that I feel compelled to photograph along the way.
My apartment is next to
Cafe Palace and a little further along is
Mediterrane, which is being refurbished at the moment. It seems to be progressing rapidly as I pass each day.
Turning towards the Spui, I spot the new sign outside
Tweede Kamer. I posted some old pictures of this sign a couple of years ago. At that time the wooden perforations around the stamp had been replaced by a plain frame around the 2010 picture. I think the latest incarnation is an improvement.
2009 and 2010
2019
I cross the Amstel River and attempt to continue down the east bank but find my way blocked by the Walter Susskindbrug being open to allow a tall double-decker tourist boat through.
Walter Susskindbrug
After all of these distractions and delays I realise I'm running late so I push on and somehow take a wrong turn, popping out at an unintended point on Roetersstraat. Momentarily disorientated, I look up and down the street and spot Hestia and Trad walking towards me so the three of us continue into Ballonnetje. Inside we find a serious session already in progress. A selection of jars are already scattered around (being late, I missed the introductions) and there are piles of meat rolls in the middle of the table. I'm handed a vegetarian roll.
This is our third year of enjoying exceptional hospitality at
Het Ballonnetje. Yet again they've generously invited all ACD Forum members in town to join them for an afternoon of sampling their wares. Clearly this is an opportunity to promote the shop but I can honestly say that I've loved this place since my first visit in the 1980s and the
cannasseurs in our party tell me that the wares are genuinely excellent. Certainly works for me. Thanks Ballonnetje!
After half an hour or so the Ballonnetje crew are getting a bit concerned that there is still some food left. It seems our lot are too busy smoking and vaping to stop and eat!
In the house we have Mr & Mrs CopenhagenCouple, Danny211204, DeLekkersteNUGS16, Drugsbunny, Gapie, Hestia, Mr & Mrs Macky, Matty223, RoMoney, Sanchez_, Smirks, Trad and me.
Ballonnetje Menu
Regular readers and participants may recall my shambolic efforts at distributing Ballonnetje merchandise in the past. This year more t-shirts appear and again distribution is a bit chaotic but I think Danny got one this time so some redress made.
After a couple of hours or so we don't want to outstay our welcome so we begin to plot our next move. The schedule says we should be wandering around the Pijp before a Yo-Yo meet at 5.
Drugsbunny, Hestia, Trad and me set off on foot. We take our time, pausing at the Nieuwe Achtergracht on our way to Sarphatistraat. There's a tram stop here but none of the trams go directly to Albert Cuypmarkt. This leads to typical confusion. (The stop on Roetersstraat near Ballonnetje has seemed abandoned for a while now, incidentally).
The first stop we encounter is a short distance along Sarphatistraat. We mill around for a while and Hestia decides to hop down the road a bit on wheels. It becomes clear, however, that we're on the wrong side so we walk on a bit further until we find the stop for the right direction. By now we're well along the road and it's only one stop further before we need to turn off the tram route.
The other three of us leave Hestia at the tram stop and continue walking. We stare into each passing tram ready to wave at Hestia as she overtakes us.
We soon arrive at Frederiksplein, where there's another confusing array of tram stops. We select a vantage point overlooking the whole junction and wait. So far we've seen nothing of Hestia on any tram but then we spot her approaching from an unexpected direction. It turns out she followed us on foot!
Our reunited little band now crosses the Singelgracht and arrives at the end of the Albert Cuyp Market. Some cruising around the stalls commences but without much enthusiasm. It emerges that nobody is very interested in shopping now we're here so we set off again towards Yo-Yo, a little early.
Yo-Yo
We're soon joined by others until we have a nice little gathering going. Cool_Chillum, Drugsbunny, Mr & Mrs CopenhagenCouple, Hestia, Trad, Mr & Mrs TransApenninesCouple, their dog Tor and me.
It's always great to welcome first timers to our gatherings. A couple of days ago I met Marok21 and now Cool_Chillum and TransApenninesCouple gives me three new names to add to my epic list of
420 Veterans. I make that an incredible 151 forum members that I've met over the years and the real number is probably even higher. That's only at 4/20 too, there's a few more, such as Doody, that I've met at other times.
Along with Ballonnetje, Yo-Yo is one my old favourites so it's cool to spend some time here with excellent company. We chill for most of a couple of hours before a move to the Plug Lounge is suggested.
Some head off on pushbikes while I lead the rest to the tram stop on Van Woustraat. Most are taking the tram and I suggest the Dam stop as closest to Plug Lounge. That just leaves the very keenest of us to walk back into the city centre.
It seems that even the back of my hand is unfamiliar in my stoned state as I take a wrong turn at Muntplein and start down Vijzelstraat. A quick course correction and we're soon at Plug Lounge.
Inside we find another brilliant little party going on. And cake!! RoMoney has somehow organised this wonderful chocolate cake and even has napkins and forks! The cake is delicious and the catering very impressive.
RoMoney's cake in
Plug Lounge
I note Cool_Chillum, Drugsbunny, Gapie, Hestia, Mr & Mrs Macky, RoMoney, Trad and me. I get some beers. Somehow Gapie loses his beer to Cool_Chillum. I get Gapie another one.
Having hung out with everyone for a while, I pop out briefly to my apartment for some cheap calorie intake (cheese and rocket sandwich). Then a short stroll taking photos on my way back to Plug Lounge.
Blauwburgwal
Still in Plug Lounge I find Drugsbunny, RoMoney and the last slice of his cake.
I get a text message from a mate of mine in the UK. It seems he and his son have ridden over on their motorbikes and are now staying down by the Oosterpark. I tell tem to join us at Plug Lounge. When they come in it's quite a weird experience for me. I'm used to seeing him in an old pub back in our little backwater home. Seeing him here in Amsterdam is incongruous. Two worlds mixed up as in a dream. Must be stoned again.
This little Flytlab Lift came with a rubber sheath that I've found is very handy for storing the poking tool.
In time the crew changes. My mate and son have moved on and Trad and Gapie have come in. We get a message from some more of our crew at The Black Dog. They suggest we join them there. It takes us a while to get ourselves together but eventually we head off in search of this new venue.
The Black Dog
There's no sign of the others when we get there so Gapie, Trad and me have a quick drink and spliff before moving to Batavia.
Batavia is remarkably empty for a Friday night, although it is about 2am now. It does give me the chance to take lots of pictures inside.
Batavia
Gapie attempts to fill the space.
That's it for another excellent day. 4/20 tomorrow.
Good to hear from you OB. 