I AMSTERDAMED Pt.3 Day&Night

I remember the moment I got to the Old Town for the first time, it was around eleven p.m. on a random Monday. People were slowly leaving the streets empty, heading towards their (temporary) abodes to get some rest and prepare for another day of eating and drinking and trying new things and there I was, almost running to the first person who crossed my path as I was getting off tram 13: ”Sorry to bother you. The nearest coffeeshop, please?”

 

I was lucky, the fellow was quite the connoisseur (although, a few more days spent there and I think I could have said the same thing about myself), so he pointed me to the nearest – it didn’t take him long to figure out that there was a sense of urgency in my approach – and most convenient funky little joint (pun intended) right in the heart of the Red Light District – The Jolly Joker, which soon became my first, therefore favourite supplier (I tend to remain loyal to my first timers).

On the way there, I was absolutely fascinated with every new corner, every neon light, every lamplight, every new face, but more than anything, I was curious, dying to find out how this would work, what I’d say, how I’d ask for it…

After being handed the menu and got into some details about each type of it, effects and what my intentions were (I came here to do some writing and deep introspection, I want something that would help with that ect) I went with the classic “Could I have an Amnesia joint, please?” and in response, I was given the largest joint I’d ever seen, marked with a green dot meaning “strong”. I realized on the spot how ridiculous it would look between my short, sausage fingers, but I couldn’t wait to find a romantic set, give my bones a little time to rest and light it on fire! I told the guy I wanted something super trippy, so he recommended Amnesia, something I found almost unbearable to inhale after almost two months of not smoking, but tried it anyway. Was not disappointed.

  

Following one of the many canals I started to pay attention to my surroundings. It was deep into the night, so the lamplights were already working, reflecting soothing yellow lights in the water, there were bikers everywhere (if we were in a video game, they would definitely represent the bad guys) – I didn’t leave Amsterdam before getting hit by one, just to check it off my imaginary ”must do” list. But, no, the bikers were actually very bohemian looking, with their long blonde hair, all casual and fit, on their vintage city bicycles that made squeaking sounds, having places to go and people to meet, always always catching you off-guard…

I don’t know if it was me or the city, but the first day in Amsterdam was pretty rough. Now that I think about it, it was probably me. Everything about me screamed “tourist here and I came by myself too and I look disoriented, perhaps you could try to lure me on a dark alley and rob me”.

I wasn’t the least bit afraid, I knew I had it together, but the newness of it all was somehow overwhelming. We were like two strangers getting to know each other intimately, flaws and all. On the first night there I got lost in Geuzenveld. It was around three in the morning and there was nobody to ask for directions (yes, sometimes I like to do it the old fashioned way rather than use Google Maps). Nobody. The streets were perfectly empty and…pitch black. Thank God for my internal GPS though, otherwise I would have probably had to spend the rest of the night on a dark alley, somewhere. But I found the place, had some rest and a whole different Amsterdam revealed itself to me the next day – busy, incandescent and yet cold…

But then the sunset came upon us and I witnessed the city changing again right before my eyes, almost as if it went through a complete make-over from bohemian-chic to exquisite and out-of-this-world romantic in a matter of hours. Then, just to tease me, the moon would appear from behind a cloud just to immediately disappear and leave me with the poetry of it all.

 

In the end, there was no escape. I fell in love with Amsterdam as I was looking for some long-lost pieces of myself I never thought I’d get back. It seems in the end I got the best of both worlds.

Green Eyed Kisses,