amsterdam: the coffee shops.

bryndia loves holland. they love a country that believes in the legalization of marijuana. and a country that is successful in regulating responsible businesses that are cenetered around the production of cannabis. the two of them spent much of their week in amsterdam visiting different coffee shops, making friends with strangers, taking it in. it felt good to be with people in a place where marijuana is not a taboo. it is a lifestyle.

going to amsterdam soon? these were our favorite coffee shops.

AMNESIA. it's small but never packed. the wall paper is a royal purple with shining swirls and the windows are always open. there are big blank books filled with drawings and messages by people who had come from all over the world. there are colored markers and pencils and the employees, and token stoner regulars, are incredibly encouraging of your art. they make incredible fresh squeezed juices and the door opens right on to a canal. when the weather is nice, you can sit with your feet dangling over the edge and smoke in the sun. be careful. there might be a dutch rap video being filmed out front.



DAMPKRING. where george and brad smoked pot in ocean's 12. the waitresses are gorgeous, they stomp around in their cowboy boots and big hair and call you "baby". and there is a cat that roams around but doesn't let you pet it. fresh mint tea tastes like a dream. the weirdest part? the walls are covered with anti-smoking posters. http://www.dampkring.nl/

GREENHOUSE. the floor is a giant aquarium. below your feet swim orange and black fish that are as big as your arm. the walls are adorned with hundreds of pictures of celebrities who have visited the shop. (this includes a fresh picture of 50 cent rocking a Blazers throwback while lighting up a fatty.) two levels of seating and lots of internationals. induldge in the chocolate spacecake. yum. http://www.greenhouse.org/index1.htm



ROKERIJ. what tarren calls the most well known and established coffee shops in amsterdam. (a coffee shop chain!) amsterdam hosts four of them. feels like you're transported to morocco. the tables are low and the seats are small wooden stools or big cushions. the chocolate muffins are huge and bomb. just ask caitlin about them. an easy place to go and spend hours. especially after a dave matthews band concert. http://www.rokerij.net/

COFFEESHOP MILLENIUM. the small shop that tarren and dani live right above. the cheapest bud we found, probably because it's not in the center of the city. you can buy prerolled joints. and the guys are nice. there is a pool table. but we never played.

finally. our warning.

DO NOT GO TO LE JOLLY JOKER. the waitstaff was rude and short tempered. the people were boring. the drinks were way overpriced. that is all.

the best thing about the coffee shops is the people watching. the tourists and the locals. older married couples who are traveling to amsterdam to partake in a little ganga together. it's romantic. the college kids. the hippies. the brits. the homeless. vagabonds. we all share an appreciation. a plant unites us. it's wonderful.