jim...u will LOVE it in Amsterdam. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying it. Even without the coffee shops, it rocks. Funky clothes, vibrant people, friendly no-nonsense attitude, lots of shops n little alleys, canal boat takes you all over for only about 13euro which'll last until midday the next day if it's still the same rules. Museums rock too - I wasted my day at the rijks museum, looking at paintings that I wasn't so into, then found the part with the dolls houses and furniture - so beautiful. And van gogh muse just behind it.
cafes, food not coffee, are great too.
It's really easy to get into the city from airport, train goes from the basement of the airport. Only thing that shits me is waiting in line for a train ticket, sheesh can take 20 mins or more. It's about 15 mins to central station, which is absolutely...well central. the first thing you'll see are heaps are bikes outside the station. Some of them have been there for years. And...it's a bit sad, all the junkies and illegals trying to make a buck by helping you figure out the very confusing lockers at the station. I used to let them help me even after I'd been shown how to use the lockers bcoz...easy to get messed up, hard to get sorted out once you're messed up...shame.
mmmm please please can of choco milk, i'll pay for it, mmmm it is heaven in a can. I used to take 4 cans home for me and 4 for my housemate.
Hill st blues used to have the best range of prices, from total budget (which is still better than stuff can buy here) to rich-people's stuff. I used to get an ounce and a half of hash for under 100 euros...but that's going back a fair few years. Might not even be there now.
Only thing I don't like about Amsterdam, they use ultra violet light in the toilets...which made me wonder how often they actually cleaned them, and also gave me a shock when I was stoned and my skin n clothes were glowing! Trippy!
