Amsterdam and Austria trip and pics

[Amsgroup]

On 4:20 this last April 20, eight of us participated in a bud judging contest in Amsterdam. We were a fairly international bunch: 3 of us were from California, 2 of us were from Austria, 1 from Peru, one from the UK and our host was from Holland.

Me and my wife had a easy flight from LA but still were tired when we got into Schiphol. Our host (who is a good friend that I have known for a couple years) was there to greet us right after we went through the "nothing declared" gate. Twenty minutes later we were pulling up to his house and our vacation started.

We were given an excellent bedroom and even better we had our own bathroom. We had about 2 hours to get ready for the 4:20 party and we called back home and then took baths to wash away the grime.

Bedroom picture http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/1900 ... ed1cn7.jpg

Bathroom--I love the fact you get unlimited hot water from the bathtubs http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7119 ... ed2rh7.jpg

At 4:00 we went downstairs and met up with everybody. My girlfriend and I knew everybody from the internet except the fellow Californian and his Peruvian girlfriend. Everybody did the meet and greet and then our host took us into the 4:20 room where we were greeted with this sign and a vaporizer. http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5020/partry1uw0.jpg

Then the herb to be judged was brought out http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5985/party5hn9.jpg

Little boxes of the buds were brought out and buds were crumbled for some vaping. http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/338/party7fp5.jpg

Our host explained the rules: all the smoking you want but take notes on which buds you liked and didn't like. These samples are all from the seeds he and his brother collected and grown out. They know how to collect and grow!!

The rest of the evening we ate and talked and smoked and all got to know each other. Mr. Austria is styling and profiling in a fine shirt. http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/3077/party8aun8.jpg

The first bud we sampled was number 2 on the chart. It looked and smelled so good (musky skunky) and was covered with resin glands. It was strong and did a real number on us. http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/9263/partyw2em0.jpg

The next bud we picked was more sativa in appearance so we could be a little less couchlocked. Number 3 smelled orangy and had a fresh citrus taste. Very nice up high that kicked us up. Suddenly everybody was talking and laughing.
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7433/partyw3ax1.jpg

[Amsgroup]

The next one we tried was number 5. This bud was mean. Strong sage taste and mucho expansion. It was packed with glands and made everybody ravenous. http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3865/partyw5xg6.jpg

We had been munching on all sorts of good munchy food up to that point: fruit, sweets, crunchies, nuts, cheeses and the like. http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/5523/partyf5sa4.jpg

After number 5, we went for something a little more substantial. Our host had all the Mexican food fixings needed so we made some tostadas. We had it all: refried beans, guacamole made with fresh avocados, chicken, hot sauce, sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro. Oh yeah. http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/7268/partyf3zo3.jpg
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/4904/partyf2or7.jpg

The last one we tried (meaning me and my wife) that night was number was number 1. It was a lighter type of high which was very helpful because the Mexican food had made my wife and I very tired. We managed to stay up until 11 and then we went up to bed because we knew that tomorrow we were going to take a trip into Dutch nature. http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5713/partyw1ez9.jpg

The next morning we were up before anybody else and had some toast, jam and some coffee to get us going. We also sampled Number 6. It was good bud. It had a haze taste and with the coffee buzz coming on, it made things really perculate. http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8483/partyw6fa7.jpg

After a while, everybody else straggled down and had breakfast and then it was time to go to the country--Holland style. We packed into two cars and drove down to a little place called Krimpen. Our host's family has a little summer cottage by there and we explored the area around there for a good 5 hours. It was beautiful and some (not my wife and I) took a few mushrooms to spice things up.
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/3936 ... nt5xv8.jpg
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2180 ... un2jj4.jpg
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/8485 ... nt3kj4.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5012/p ... nt4bk4.jpg

WE sampled number 4 and it was perfect for walking and talking in the country. It tasted like a spicy blueberry and it put extra energy in our step. http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/8991/partyw4di7.jpg

After a while, we then sampled Number 9. This bud literally knocked us out. It removed all motivation and made me want to just sit and daydream. http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/7462/partyw9fv2.jpg

We figured this would be a good time to eat our picnic lunch, so we all sat out in nature and had bread, cheese, tomatoes, and some good chocolate. After a while we walked back to the cars which took over an hour. We went back to Amsterdam, got cleaned up and went out to eat.

We ate at a Dutch restaurant called Cafe Loetje which is located on Johannes Vermeerstraat. It turned out its speciality is steak which I'm not crazy about but when in Amsterdam... I got a steak, pommes frites and a really excellent garden salad. I liked the food but it took over 2 hours for us to be served and us to eat. It cost a fair bit too--my wife's and mine share of the bill was over 65 Euros.

After dinner we went back to the house and had some Number 7. Good stuff. Really good stuff. It tasted citrusy and put a nice laughing buzz on the crew. http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/6442/partyw7qf0.jpg

[Conditor]

Great report and what a trip! (I would have done a few mushies in the "nature" lol). I hope we ultimatrly find out which "number" is what smoke although the smoke isn't the most interesting part of your reports for me.

[Amsgroup]

There was only one bud left to try and that was bud number 8. http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9929/partyw8mt7.jpg
This was one seriously good bud. It tasted like Sour Diesel and it gave the proverbial warm ears, warm hands and warm heart.

We stayed up late that night smoking all the different buds until about 2 in the morning. The next day our hosts wife and kiddies were coming back from a visit to grandma and grandpa and our stay was to be over. So we got down smoking and noting.

The next morning we all got up and had a light breakfast and then discussed our ratings. One thing was obvious--Number's 3, 5, 7 and 8 were by far the most smoked bud gram-wise. Numbers 3 and 7 had sativa dominant highs and numbers 5 was indica dominant and number 8 seemed like an indica/sativa hybrid. Our host gave us the breakdown of the strains.

Number one was a Durban Poison/Haze mix
Number two was Bhuddas Sister
Number three was Himalaya Gold/Hindu Kush mix
Number four was Stella Blue
Number five was SAGE/afghani mix
Number six was Haze
Number seven was Haley's Comet
Number eight was Sour Diesel
Number nine was Sensi Star/Afghan mix

We all picked our top 3 giving a 1 for first, 2 for second and 3 for third. Lowest score wins.

The top three according to the group were:
1. With 16 points, Himalaya Gold/Hindu Kush (#3) http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7433/partyw3ax1.jpg
2. With 19 points, SAGE/afghani mix (#5) http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3865/partyw5xg6.jpg
3. With 20 points, Sour Diesel (#8) http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9929/partyw8mt7.jpg

Personally, I picked 1. Haley's Comet, 2. Sour Diesel and 3. Himalaya Gold/HIndu Kush Since we were comparing such different strains if wasn't particularly scientific but it was a lot of fun. Our host liked the outcome since two of 3 top strains were the ones he had grown.

We re-established that we were going to ride with our new best Austrian friends to Austria at the end of the week. The rest we said good-bye to and then it was time to go to our new place to live.

The new place we stayed at was an apartment on Egelantiersstraat. Here's a tip about this apartment. It is offered at several different websites but the price of the place varies from site to site. If you rent this apartment from lovingamsterdam.com it will cost you 160 Euros a night for two people. http://www.lovingamsterdam.com/Amsterda ... _1587.html City Mundo offered this apartment for 120 Euros a night. (L10589) Guess who we went with.

We really liked this place. First of all, it was the cleanest place that we have ever stayed at in Amsterdam. Even though it wasn't on a gracht, it did have a nice terrace that was perfect for smoking on at night. And Roland the greeter was there on time and was generally a really nice guy.

The apartment is in a nice area --go straight about 60 feet in this picture and turn right and there you are:
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2992 ... ghtis2.jpg

The apartment is one street over from the Egelantiersgracht. We walked by here 10 times a day.
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/7249/egalcanlr7.jpg

I'd recommend this place to anybody unless you plan to do a bit of drinking or are a bit clumsy. The steps up and down to this apartment are as steep as we have ever encountered. Lets be honest--most steps in Amsterdam places are steep and some are really steep. These steps were really, really, really steep. http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/93/stepswm9.jpg

Apartment has nice living room http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/576/livroomvk3.jpg

This is what we saw when we looked through the living room window http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/899/ ... indxu4.jpg

Nice bathroom although the tub was a bit narrow. http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5269/bathroomhj7.jpg

Separate toilet from the bathroom http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/3956 ... athgs2.jpg

Big dining room and small bedroom (top right) http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/3784/dinroommn0.jpg

Great kitchen http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/8641/kitychenkm0.jpg

The terrace--pretty flowers and a great place to smoke http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9427/terracebh2.jpg

[Woob]

Thank you for the fun read..really anjoyed :)

[NewYork, New York]

Amsgroup,

Where did you go in Austria? I love Austria.

[woody]

Amsgroup,

Where did you go in Austria? I love Austria.

It's the leather shorts, isn't it?

[muckypup]

Amsgroup,

Where did you go in Austria? I love Austria.

Stop butting into conversations and do your own research.

[NewYork, New York]

Amsgroup,

Where did you go in Austria? I love Austria.

Stop butting into conversations and do your own research.

Now you need to follow me aroung like the rabid dog you are?

[woody]

Amsgroup,

Where did you go in Austria? I love Austria.

Stop butting into conversations and do your own research.

Now you need to follow me aroung like the rabid dog you are?

...Or is it the little hats with the feathers?

[boneymaroni]

...Or is it the little hats with the feathers?

Those plumes are actually hare whiskers collected over time by hunters or Jaegermeisters....

[Conditor]

Why would a rabid dog follow NYNY around?

[woody]

...Or is it the little hats with the feathers?

Those plumes are actually hare whiskers collected over time by hunters or Jaegermeisters....

Trying to care... hnnnnnn....

No, sorry. Don't give a toss.

[Beer]

Much as I hate to admit it NY NY has a point.

Disassembling his hopelessly fractured rhetoric in the Politics Section and in the Bar is one thing; This is quite another, you're disrupting unrelated threads.

[muckypup]

Much as I hate to admit it NY NY has a point.

Disassembling his hopelessly fractured rhetoric in the Politics Section and in the Bar is one thing; This is quite another, you're disrupting unrelated threads.

What gives you the right to dictate what people should or shouldn't be doing?

[a bollocks]

this is the trip report section.

I told the other dickhead, Drano, that this is untouchable. Sacred territory.

Try to keep up and leave this guy's thread alone.

Some people put their mind and heart into these reports.
Try to be polite, you fucking thoughtless limeys.

[muckypup]

this is the trip report section.

I told the other dickhead, Drano, that this is untouchable. Sacred territory.

Try to keep up and leave this guy's thread alone.

Some people put their mind and heart into these reports.
Try to be polite, you fucking thoughtless limeys.

Hahahahaha!

Bollocks taking the moral high-ground! LO*F*L! Bollocks, the man who sticks his camera in people's faces in coffeeshops and demands they say their names, preaching that others should be polite and thoughtful!

OM*F*G!! I've wet myself!

[Beer]

Much as I hate to admit it NY NY has a point.

Disassembling his hopelessly fractured rhetoric in the Politics Section and in the Bar is one thing; This is quite another, you're disrupting unrelated threads.

What gives you the right to dictate what people should or shouldn't be doing?

I didn't dictate anything. Now ... Bolsy is making sense for the first time in his entire life, pay attention to it. It won't happen again.

[Cat]

sticks his camera in people's faces in coffeeshops

That is pretty invasive and annoying when you think about it.

[NewYork, New York]

this is the trip report section.

I told the other dickhead, Drano, that this is untouchable. Sacred territory.

Try to keep up and leave this guy's thread alone.

Some people put their mind and heart into these reports.
Try to be polite, you fucking thoughtless limeys.

Thank you a bollocks.

[skyhigh420]

christ you guys act like children.

[muckypup]

christ you guys act like children.

Yes. but it really is _such_ fun!

[woody]

this is the trip report section.

I told the other dickhead, Drano, that this is untouchable. Sacred territory.

Try to keep up and leave this guy's thread alone.

Some people put their mind and heart into these reports.
Try to be polite, you fucking thoughtless limeys.

Thank you a bollocks.

Is a bollocks now your bestest, bestest friend?

[a bollocks]

GREAT REPORT!

umm .. uhhh.. whomever wrote that thing, oh so long ago in a galaxy far, far, away.

ttku

no WOOT for you.

WOOT! AUTHOR!

[woody]

christ you guys act like children.

'act'?

[Anne]

Amsgroup,

Where did you go in Austria? I love Austria.

It's the leather shorts, isn't it?

Lederhosen, ganz geil!

[NewYork, New York]

Amsgroup,

Where did you go in Austria? I love Austria.

It's the leather shorts, isn't it?

Lederhosen, ganz geil!

Not the Lederhosen. The LodenMantel.

What I love about Austria is:

The people, the skiing, the beautiful alpine views, the pristine alpine lakes.

Wienerschnitzel, Bier, Linzer Torts, Sachertorte, Brezels and most of all?



Wurst!

[LastHamlet]

Wow, this was a very nice report. Complete with pictures of the ghanja and all... Really pretty buds, and the scenery is always nice. Beats the hell out of photos from my home town.
I like the way you had a point system to tally up the final winner and such, although it did have to be a little tough.

Many Thanks,
LH

Oh yeah, not to be nit-picking here, but I didn't know it was Bollocks that shoved the camera in people's faces, I thought that was OHD????
I could be wrong, so I apologize if I am incorrect.
Footnote: not that I am defending Bollocks, but I wouldn't want to accuse him of actions he didn't do.
Far as the NYNY and Mucky thing, my money is on the Pupster, by 30 IQ points, at least.

Far as growing up, I guess I have to be placed in the children category also... :-)