Amsterdam and Europe for the Clouded Mind

PLANE TICKETS ARE EXPENSIVE, AND NOBODY REALLY HAS BETTER RATES THAN ANYONE ELSE, UNLESS YOU WANT TO SPEND FOUR DAYS GETTING THERE, SLEEPING IN AIRPORTS. IF THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANT TO GO, YOU ARE AN IDIOT AND YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN BE READING THIS PAGE.

What you need to have in check before you travel:
This is an abridged list of items that I feel are essential for European travel, and a short list of items that you won't need at all.
If you have never been to Europe, and you are thinking about going this year, read on. If you have recently traveled to Europe, you will likely not need any of this information. If you traveled to Europe recently and felt like you didn't know what the fuck you were doing there, you may get something out of this (hopefully you learned as you went).

DOCUMENTS AND TICKETS
PASSPORTS - All right, there really isn't that much you need, or may want to take with you, but you need to make sure that you have a few things in line well before you even think about traveling. The biggie is your passport. Do you have one? Is it current?
If the answer is "No" to either question, make it your highest priority. If the answer is "No" and you are planning on traveling in the next two months, forget your plans, you aren't going anywhere (unless you know someone exceedingly important , your company is international and your specific expertise is required, or if you are a celebrity).
Besides a chunk of cash, and a plane ticket, all you need to see the world is a passport, and while I know it is hard for connoisseurs of the dank to get motivated sometimes, this is something that you need to get motivated about well in advance of you planned trip.
Make sure that you have your original birth certificate. You must have the state one, not the hospital one. If you are unsure if you have the right one, get a new one issued by the state. Make sure you have your social security card. Also make sure that you can afford to part with both of them for up to four monts.
Get a passport application. You can print one at travel.state.gov/passport. See the links area at the bottom of the page. If you can't print the application, or if you just don't want to use the one provided on line, most major post offices have them available.
Next, get your photos taken. Don't do this yourself. Go to someplace like Walgreen's that does passport photos. When you get them, don't do anything to them other than store them until you are ready to turn in your passport application. Do not sign them until you are specifically instructed to do so.
Now you are ready to turn in the application. It used to be that you could simply mail it off with all of the appropriate documents. Now you must submit you application to the post master. Call around to find out where you can turn one in. If you are told that you must make an appointment, and it will be several weeks before you can be seen, call around some more. This is bullshit. It only takes a couple of minutes for them to ask you the questions they need to ask you, and to make sure that you are who you say you are. It took me about five minutes, even though I was told that I would have to wait for six weeks before I could be seen.
My wife received her passport about 18 weeks after submitting her application. Since the time in which we live is so unbelievably fucked up, this is now the reality. Get on this as soon as you can.
INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT/DRIVERS LICENSE - Get a permit for cheap at AAA if you plan on renting a car in much of Europe - about $20, and good for a year. This is good in the Netherlands and Belgium. If you have dreamed of tearing up the Autobahn in Germany, you'll need to get the International Drivers License.
AIRLINE TICKETS - Get them well enough in advance to make sure that you get to sit next to the person you are traveling with. Otherwise, there are a number of good options. Frequently you can get last minute tickets for up to half price of a normal fare, but you also may pay double. It all depends upon demand, and the ever changing decreasing dollar, and the ever increasing price of gas. At any rate, check with the airline itself before you get a ticket. Usually you can find the best fares directly with the airline.
You can get crazy cheap rates if you are willing to take unconventional routes, and spend the night at a few aiports.
EURAIL PASSES - If you are going to travel outside of the Netherlands, then consider getting these. For around $1,000 two people can travel anywhere they want in Europe for two weeks in first class trains. This is just and example, different passes may be purchased at different rates. Also note that these passes do have certain restrictions, and limitations. For example, if you want to travel to Paris, you must travel on a high-speed train, which requires travelers to purchase an additional ticket (for around $25 per person) with assigned seating. The extra fees are worth it. This is the best deal in European travel. If you are under 26 years of age, you can travel for about half the price, too. Check out the links.

OTHER ITEMS YOU WILL NEED OR WANT
HIKING BACKPACK - If you aren't particularly wealthy, good luggage can be expensive, plus a pain in the ass to carry around. If you are planning on traveling to more than one city in Europe, you will wish you had one of these rather than either pulling your luggage (cobblestone is not so conducive for luggage pulling as you may think) or worse yet, actually having to lug it around.
So you don't want to look like a bum when you show up to your hotel(s). That's fine, get a hiking backpack that converts into a duffel bag.
ELECTRICAL CONVERTER AND ADAPTER - Hopefully you are aware that electrical outlets and currents are different in Europe (and different in different places in Europe) than in the United States. Make sure that you get both a converter and adapter. If you simply use the adapter for items that aren't ready to handle 220 volts, you will likely destroy the item you are trying to use, and possibly set a fire.
TOILET PAPER - Look, my ass is pampered, as are many American asses. Our quality in soft toilet paper is second to none. Even if you travel around the US, you may notice that there is a lacking in quality TP, and in many places you travel to in Europe don't even seem as though they are a single ply, or for that matter paper. You may get lucky, it's your ass. Just remember the recommendation.
TRAVEL WALLET - No need to get anything fancy. I just got a wallet that was capable of holding my money and my passport. My wife got a security wallet that went around her neck. It looked like a pain in the ass to me. Do keep in mind that Amsterdam, and many other European cities are notorious for pickpocketing. These guys have real talent, and you won't ever know your shit is gone until it is too late. I wore pants that had zipping pockets or multiple buttons to secure the pocket and was fine.
CAMERA - I don't even have to say why you would want one.
TRAVEL JOURNAL - "I'll never forget going to Europe." You won't forget the trip its self, but you may forget some of the little shit, like what kind of dank you smoked at the Green House Effect, if you don't write it down. I'm not saying you should document everything including you craps, but you may be sorry you couldn't remember the name of the best nug you've ever smoked. It is easy to forget, believe me.

ITEMS THAT YOU WON'T NEED
LAPTOP - Even if it is light, it will seem heavy after a while, so unless you need to put assloads of photos per day onto it, leave it at home. There are several places, in addition to your hotel, where you can use a computer. A week's pass a most Internet cafes in Amsterdam isn't more than about $10. Or you can chose to frequent one of the Coffeeshop/cybercafes, where you can check your e-mail while you smoke.
PHONE - Bring it if you want, but before you do, make sure that it even will work in Europe. Most brand new phones will, but also make sure that you won't be paying the straight $$$ if you do. You probably won't be too concerned about calling anyone anyway. If it is a work phone, don't even consider bringing it (unless you own the company).
LOTS OF CLOTHES - If you are planning on staying in one hotel and you must have lots of different clothes, that may be OK. But if you are going to have to lug your shit around at all, you will be happy as hell that you limited yourself to sensible items. In all honesty, you will only need a few changes of clothes, even if you are going to be staying for a couple of weeks. Bring only one nice outfit, the rest should be all about comfort. Trust me - especially the girls. Leave the shoe collection at home. Blisters = badness. You will screw up other people's time, too if you get blister ridden.
MULTIPLE GUIDE BOOKS - Again, these are usually heavy. Bring one really good guide book if you have to, or better yet, bring a really good map with a list of places that you want to check out. In all likelihood, you will have researched everything that you want to see thoroughly before you leave anyway.

Pictured is my view from the Delta Hotel in Amsterdam. It is about 200 meters from the Central Station and the same to the Grasshopper. If you could see the lower right corner, you would see the outdoor sitting area for the Grasshopper.

ARRIVING IN AMSTERDAM -- THE WAIT TO GET THROUGH CUSTOMS IS BRUTAL
The first thing you notice is that it takes 30 minutes to taxi to your gate after landing.
A lot of things in Europe move with an eerie efficiency. This can not be said for the lines that you must wait in before technically entering the country. Expect to wait in the line for no less than 45 minutes.
Once through customs, you will want to go (if you are like most people who want to either party or sightsee) to the train station located within the terminal. You can take a taxi into town, but it will cost more than the train and take longer.
At the train station, you must purchase a ticket to Central Station, or have your Eurail Pass validated if you are going to use that trip as one of your traveling days.
Trains depart for Central Station about every 10 minutes. You will have to look for the next one, which may be more confusing than you think. Make sure you don't get on a train going toward Rotterdam and you will be good.
Many of the planes arriving into Amsterdam from the US arrive in the morning. It is almost guaranteed that you will not be able to check into your hotel at this point. If you are staying a a decent hotel, they should be able to hold your bags until check in. Make sure they put your bags in a luggage room, not in a hallway or something. Otherwise just take you bags with you to the nearest coffeeshop and shake off the trip over.
Once you are settled into your room, you will want to go back out and kick it. Make sure that you get a good amount of food in you. Some coffeeshops have snacks, but only a few have anything really substantial.

There are a few general things that you should know if you have never been to a coffeeshop. You may think that you walk in and sit down and someone takes your weed order. Or you may think you get your herb at the bar. Neither is true. Upon entering, you will want to make sure that there is an area where they sell.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COFFEE SHOPS (REALLY THREE)
Of course some coffeeshops are just places where people get coffee. These will be obvious becouse nobody will be smoking, and it will be self-evident.
Another type of coffeeshop allows you to smoke, but you can't purchase there. These are usually the best if you want to get a good meal or a snack while you get high. Plus you won't feel bad or get any fucked up looks or comments for bringing in your outside nugs into another shop. Most places won't care, but sometimes you still feel wierd.
The one you want to hit as soon as you get into town is the one that sells the herb. Most do. If you are lucky, you may find a shop like the Grasshopper where you can drink beer and smoke weed at the same time. Even better, you may find one that also is a headshop and smartshop, like La Canna.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO SMOKE, YOU MUST AT LEAST BUY A COKE
While coffeeshops make money on selling the nugs, their primary source of income is actually on selling the other items the shop has to offer like coffee, sodas, juices, smoothies, you get the idea. So, if you want to smoke, you have to buy a soda, at least, for each person that is occupying a table.

OK, SHOW ME THE WEED
Seriously, you will have to ask the guy selling the herb to see the list. A few years ago, they passed a law that prohibits them from just displaying the goods. This is not a bad thing, because you can check it all out. Although, sometimes you may have to wait a minute or two before you get to see the list.

WHAT THE FUCK DO I GET?
You will be bombarded with options on most menus.
Herb
You can get a mixed joint. You can get a pure joint. You can get a hash joint (hash and tobacco). You can buy by the gram (or less at some places). You can buy up to (I think) 10 grams at once.
Normally you will have at least two premium types of nug to choose from, and then a selection of herb on a declining grade. None will have seeds, and all will be pretty good. In my opinion, if you are going to smoke nugs, you should go with the best shit they have and not mix it with your good hash. You should get some lesser quality stuff to smoke joints with your hash.
HASH
I'm not sure of the limitations on how much hash you can buy at once, but it is pobably the same as with the ganja. Again you will have several options. You can get some crazy stuff that I haven't seen in the US that will really run you deep into your pockets, or like the herb, you can get hash on a declining scale. Still, all are good.

I'VE GOT MY SHIT, NOW HOW SHOULD I SMOKE IT
Not alot of folks smoke out of bowls in the Netherlands, but I like a good piece of glass, and used one plenty, and nobody said a damn thing about it.
You will notice that the locals smoke mixed joints, mostly hash and tobacco. You will also notice that most of them are smoking big ass cone joints, and they make a tiny filter for the end. You can learn to master this before you leave for the Netherlands, or most locals will be glad to show you, and laugh at your initial lack of success. I smoked pure joints, rolled the normal way when I was smoking joints. It really doesn't matter how you do it.
If you want devices like bongs or vaporizers, many places like The Green House Effect will let you use theirs. To use a glass bong or a vaporizer, you may have to put down a small deposit. 10 Euros at the Green House Effect.

WHAT ABOUT THE BROWNIES AND SPACECAKES
Of course. Everyone says that you have to have them. And they are right. But not if you are spending your entire day toking. Eat them before you walk into a museum and are not going to be smoking for a few hours.
Not every place sells spacecakes, brownies or cupcakes. Near Central Station, you can get them at the grasshopper. This is really convenient if you are right about to catch a train.
The brownies in Holland are second to none. You can't really taste the herb at all. I prefer the cupcakes. They go down super easy. And they are a lot better to start off your day than a brownie. I highly reccommend eating one while you are on the train, on the way back to the airport. It will make the trip back much better. You may even sleep.

AS SOON AS I GET THERE I'M GOING TO TRIP BALLS
As fun and as legal as that used to be in Amsterdam, the powers that be recently have banned mushrooms of all varieties. It sucks. I haven't been there since this happened (Nov. 2007). Smartshops still have a bunch of other cool shit to check out, if you are into that sort of thing. You can probably get mushrooms easily, still. But you also probably have to deal with the sketchy fuckers you don't want to deal with. Fuck it. Hit the really, really good hash and trip out on that shit.

WHAT IF I WANT TO GET HIGH OUTSIDE OF AMSTERDAM
Not a problem. There are good coffeeshops in virtually every city in the Netherlands, not just Amsterdam. I haven't asked customs officials myself, but it is my understanding that you can legally import 3 grams into Belgium per person. I didn't take shit with me, just in case, but I wish I had. There would be nothing better than sipping one of the worlds best beers while high on some of the world's best weed.
I wouldn't even condiser taking anything into Germany from Holland. I didn't. It didn't seem like it would be a problem, but it definately is not legal to import any weed, and if caught, you are completly fucked. Probably not worth it.

MAN, I'M GOING TO SMOKE A JOINT WALKING DOWN THE STREET
That sounds really cool, but I highly advise against it. While it is legal to possess small amounts of nug or hash, it is strictly prohibited to smoke on public streets. Beleive it or not, you could find youself in jail. Probably not, but why fuck with a good thing.

I'M GOING TO STRAIGHT BURN IT DOWN IN MY HOTEL ROOM
You better check on the hotel's policies. It is hard to imagine, but many hotels in the Netherlands (where is seems like everyone at least smokes tobacco) are going smoke free. Many other hotels strictly prohibit the smoking of cannabis. Many will slap you with an extra 200+ Euros if you are caught. Check it out in advance.

Nieuwendijk 123
Central Amsterdam
See Map

It wasn't anything but a matter of convenience, but this is the spot my wife and I hit the most while in Amsterdam. While it isn't the best coffeeshop, it is your one-stop shop, and can even be your place to stay. It is a huge coffeeshop that has a headshop/smartshop attached, and it has a few hotel rooms on top. I haven't seen them, and I haven't read especially good reviews, but how bad can it be to stay at a coffeeshop.
The coffeeshop is two (or three) stories depending on how you view it. You have to make your purchases at the back of the second floor. Signs will guide you there. They've got plenty to keep you occupied, too. Pool tables, tons of seating, loud music, and a good spot for people watching along one of Amsterdams busiest tourist streets, Nieuwendijk.
After giving our bags for the hotel to hold until we could chek in, we hit up this spot that was right around the corner from where we were staying, the Delta Hotel. As we walked in they had just put on "Root Down" by the Beastie Boys. My wife grabbed us a seat, and for now we just decided to get a joint. I got us a pure, and struck it up halfway through the song. I can't remember what the next song was.
This place is a little expensive. You have to make at least a 20 Euro purchase, unless you are buying a single joint. The best stuff we had there was called White Russian. They had a decent selection, but we pretty much stuck to that.

Neiuwmarkt 14
Central Amsterdam
See Map

The original is a stone's throw from Central Station, and gets its name because it sits next to the police station, just outside the Red Light District. This one is much smaller and is located in the Nieuwmarkt, at the opposite end of the Red Light District.
There is always plenty going on in this part of the city. While my wife and I were there, we ended up finding refuge in this shop, while trying to circumnavigate a wildly drunken crowd during the middle of the day. It was worth it.
Here, you make your purchase at the front counter. Despite the extensive list, we purchased the Hill Street Special, why not. It was good looking bud. Nice and dense, very fragrant, and was lime colored, with lots of orange.
It chilled us out after dealing with a massive crowd, and we met a few good people. One American businessman, who absolutely looked out of place, but was there toking nevertheless, and a local, who mainly was trying to get a feel for how a guy like that loves to frequent the coffeeshops.

Haarlemmerstraat 44
Central Amsterdam Near Jordaan
See Map

While in Amsterdam, you will see multiple places with the name Dampkring. All are good. We liked this place the best.
This is a really good place to hang out for a while. Formerly known as Umma Gumma, or the Pink Floyd coffeeshop, this spot on Haarlemmerstraat has got great bud and a good atmosphere. Known for playing alot of Pink Floyd, when we went in they were kicking out some live Pixies, and the Irish proprietor was belting it out along with Frank Black.
Here, you make your purchase near the entrance. They have got good prices, and a great selection. We purchaed some Amnesia. It worked. Soon I forgot just about everything - like how to walk normally.
It may look small on the outside, but this is a three-story facility, with steep, winding, short stairs. If you smoke on the thrid floor, you better be careful getting back down. It seemed like it took me forever. Maybe it just seemed that way.

Again, there are multiple places with the name Kadinsky, and again all are good. I don't know if this one is any better than any of the others, but if you are near the Flower Market or the University, this is a good place to sit back for a minute to get your mind right.
This place is not particularly large, and doesn't seem to get a shitload of traffic, at least not during the middle of the day in the summer.
while the selection here was small, the prices were hard to beat. I can't say too much in terms of atmosphere or of the bud knowledge of the person working - doesn't ever even smoke or eat the herb. I couldn't beleive they were playing Pussycat Dolls at a coffeeshop. I wasn't worried about the music, and if she was playing that shit I wouldn't be listening to her bud opinion anyway (Unless it made the Pussycat Dolls soud good). They had some gnarly AK-47, which we purchaesd, along with some Marakessh hash.
The AF-47 was fluffy, and surprisingly mild, probably just compared to the Amnesia I had purchased the day before. The Marakesh was some good, not-too-high-end hash. I wish I had purchaesed some lesser quality bud to smoke with it. I wasted some of the AK, then just smoked tobacco/hash joints.

The Greenhouse Effect is a bad ass spot in the Red Light District. It is actually somewhat split up. There is a small coffeeshop,two doors down is the bar, and it also has rooms to rent at the actual location and just down the street. It is located on the main stret running through the Red Light District.
The coffeeshop itsself is very small, but offers a great selection and average prices. One of the best reasons to visit the coffeeshop is that you can use one of their vaporizers, or borrow a bong.
Here we decided to go Oriental. We purchaed some Flying Budda (bud), and some Nepal hash. Flying Budda was really dark, and really strong, both in aroma and in potency. The Nepal hash was also dark. It had much more of a tar feel than I am used to, but was wildly potent. It (in my opinion) didn't compare to the Budda, but was good and tasty.

Haarlemmerstraat 102
Central Amsterdam Near Jordaan
See Map

Before my last visit to Amsterdam, I knew that this was one of the places I would most like to visit. Unfortunately, I didn't end up going there until two days before I had to leave. But fortunately, that is a mistake that I will not make again.
There are many things for which Amsterdam if famous. This place combines two of my favorites - pancakes and the dankest nugs on the planet. If you are like minded to me, you must enjoy a wake and bake while spending time in the Netherlands. This is the ultimate place to do so. Just imagine being able to smoke out at IHOP.
Pancakes are not the big buttermilk kind that you may be used to, but if you like your crepes on the thick side with eggs, fruit, and anything else you could want for breakfast, while being able to enjoy a good morning puff before being served, this is definitely the place for you.
The coffeeshop and the restaurant are actually next door to each other, but you can get breakfast (and other food) in the coffeeshop, and you can smoke you hash and nugs in the restaurant.
Barney's offers a wide selection in choice buds and in hash. One of the best benefits of this place is that you can purchase just enough for a nice bowl, and sample until you find the one you must have. This is a really good thing mainly because it is hard to find a seat in the coffeeshop at any time.
HONEYBEE
If they don't have the Honeybee on the menu, ask if they have it anyway. You will be glad that you did. This bud is 100 percent sativa, the only of its kind in Amsterdam according to the person supplying it. It is perfect for the wake and bake. You get high as hell, but you are ready to go out and see the sights. Definitely the right bud for anyone who wants to get high and socialize.

You can enjoy good bud in almost every city in the Netherlands, and Maastricht is no exception. It is the oldest city in the Netherlands, dating back to around 27 B.C. It is a small town with much to offer.
While Maastrich is in the Netherlands, it is wedged between Germany and Belgium, so there is alot of cross-cultural influence. The food in town is highly French/Belgium in design, and food and hotel prices are amond the cheapest we encountered while in Europe.
There wasn't a ton of selection here for the nugs, but if you were after the hash, this was the right place. They are very strict about people being of age here. They will look at you passport to validate, no matter how old you look.
We skipped the hash because they had some good looking Northern Lights. After not smoking for several days, it more than did the trick.
Note that if this place is busy, it is not very big, and it may be hard to get to the back to make a purchase, much less find a place to enjoy your purchase.

As you cross the Maas River from the train station, if you look to your right, you will see two Mississippi River-style paddle steam boats. What you are looking at are the two largest coffeeshops in the world - at least that's what I've been told.
It takes only a few minutes after crossing the river to access the shops, but to make the walk you have to want to get there. It was the only place in town that seem even somewhat difficult to access. I had high expectations from these two places.
Upon getting to the area where you access the boats, my wife and I were confronted by a couple of strange guys telling us not to bother going in, because they had what we needed. This was one of the nicest cities I have ever visited, but it also was the only time that I felt sketchy about any place.
There is nothing to brag about on the inside. I wasn't that impressed. The herb was more expensive than on the other side of the river, and the vibe was different, too. More thugish.
Getting high on a riverboat is pretty cool, though. Once you're completely baked, the motion of the boat in the river is really odd.
If you go to Maastricht, you have to go to either the Mississippi or the Smokey, even if it isn't what you may expect.

Many Western countries including the US (1912), France (1915), and even eventually Switzerland (1916?), which was the birthplace of modern Absinthe banned the drink due to the belief that its main constituent, wormwood, caused insanity, or at least poor health and early death. Other countries including Czechoslovakia, Spain, and surprisingly Canada let the good times continue to roll.
Most countries have now realized that, while sometimes producing different effects than other forms of alcohol, it was no worse for the body than any other liquor. Today the only major country which bans its sale is the US.
With its first recorded use dates back to the Egyptians, Absinthe as we know it has been around since the 1700 to 1800s. Its history of use has primarily been for medicinal purposes for treatments of ailments ranging from jaundice to tapeworms. Eventually, it became evident that its greatest benefit seemed to be its other side effects.
The once banned drink can be found readily now in Europe, and in some places you will still find bars dedicated to Absinthe. There you can have a bartender prepare you an absinthe drink in the traditional method or Bohemian style. Also the proprietors of the bars usually have profound knowledge of the different types of Absinthe and are extraordinarily versed in its history. You should definitely strike up a conversation with the person running the place if you are interested in finding the best stuff to sample later.

WAIT A MINUTE, I THOUGHT THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY TO REALLY TAKE ABSINTHE
For a lot of people there is only one way to take Absinthe - Theirs. In actuality, I don't think it matters which way you take it, but here are a few ways to do so.

NEAT - Pour it in the glass and kick it back. Absinthe is really strong shit. Not just in a mind altering way, but most absinthe is at least 50 percent alcohol, and most of it closer to 70 percent. It isn't an easy one to just slam down. Also without adding the water, you don't get the cool clouding effect associated with the absinthe drink.

BOHEMIAN STYLE - There are bohemian (Eastern European) types of absinthe found prevalently. And apparently there is a different method of preferred ingestion that I was not familiar with until recently. It is actually pretty cool, at least in presentation, and easy to perfect.
Pour one shot (1 oz.) of absinthe into a glass. Dip a sugar cube into the absinthe and let it soak for a few seconds. Then, after pulling out the sugar cube with the spoon, light it, allowing the sugar cube to caramelize. Just before it goes out, let the caramelized sugar fall into the glass. Quickly extinguish the flame using mineral water (2 oz.), and stirring with the spoon. The sugar is now completely dispersed in the now cloudy absinthe.

GLASS IN GLASS METHOD - If there is another name for this method, please let me know. This is a really easy method, and may be from the makings of a lazy man. I have never seen this method in practice.
Pour 1 oz of absinthe into a shot glass. Place the shot glass in a tumbler or a similar glass. Place one sugar cube in the absinthe. Pour 3 ounces of water into the shot glass. In the tumbler, you will have 2 ounces of now cloudy absinthe, and 1 ounce of only water remaining in the shot glass. Remove the shot glass, and there it is.

TRADITIONAL METHOD - This is the most common method associated with drinking absinthe. It also is not to hard to master. Simply pour a shot of absinthe into a glass (like a tumbler, not a shot glass). Place a slotted silver spoon over the glass and place a sugar cube atop the spoon. Pour cold water over the spoon to dissolve the the sugar cube. Stir and drink it down.

OTHER METHODS - For those that have to do things just right, you can use Brouille glasses (kind of like a glass in a glass method). Or if you are a true perfectionist, you may decide to use an absinthe fountain. Both of these methods I am not profoundly familiar with, but they are designed to control the dripping of the water onto the sugar, enabling the best method of producing the louche (clouding effect).
Another method I have seen used in German absinthe bars is to keep chilled sugar water, and pour it slowly into the absinthe. While not especially glamorous, this method works just fine.

SEE THE LINKS FOR ABSINTHE BARS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
coming soon

If you are venturing beyond the confines of the Netherlands but you don't want to go far, Brussels is a great place to go, even for a daytrip. It only takes a couple of hours to get there.
GET OFF AT GARE CENTRAL in Brussels
Gare Central is not the main train station in Brussels, but it takes you to the center of the old part of the city. From the train station, simply follow the hill down to Grand Place (the historic center of the old city) - you can't miss it.
Grand Place and the rest of the old city aren't that big, you can see it all in a few hours. You should see it at night when everything is lit up, though.
A FEW REASONS TO SEE BRUSSELS
The Mannequin Pis
It is the national symbol of Belgium. It is literally a statue of a kid pissing, hence the name. See attached photo. While it was not in costume while we were there, it is frequently dressed. It has outfits from countries spanning the globe, and for every occasion.

Beer
Belgium is regarded by most beer lovers as the home to the best beers in the world. I'm certain that it is the only place that you can get a lambic on tap, something that my wife says is worth the visit alone. You could spend a week in Brussels and not even sctatch the surface of the available beers, even if you drink all of your meals. I dare you to find even a halfway shitty one. Go to a beer store, of which there are plenty, stock up and drink them for your entire stay in Europe. They won't last long enough.

Chocolate
The original Godiva Chocolatier is adjacent to Grand Place. It isn't even the best place to get chocolate. In about a square mile, there are no fewer than 20 different chocolatiers. Do not leave without at least eating some. If you take some with you (as you should) make sure it doesn't get too hot.

Waffles
If you are in Belgium, you should definately try the waffles. There a vendors everywhere. Try it with Creme Fraiche and strawberries. You will not be dissappointed.

Food
Brussels has some of the best food in Europe. If you aren't going to make it to France, but you really want good authentic French cuisine, Brussels is the spot. Also try Greek, Italian and other European restaurants. It is hard to find bad food here. The same can't be said for the service. It is hard to blame them. I defy you to find a person there from Belgium that isn't serving you food, or running a store.

LEARN SOME FRENCH (or Dutch)
Belgium has two national languages - French and Dutch (Flemmish). You can get by without, but if you speak French (or at least attempt to), you experience will be much better. I fucking hate it when people come to my country and can't speak the fucking language, don't you?
If you have come from Amsterdam, and you bothered to learn some Dutch, this will be your first chance to actually use it, as nobody in Amsterdam speaks Dutch anymore. The only problem is that even there only a few speak Dutch as their normal tongue.
Most people may not be aware that there is currently a rift between the Flemmish and the French speaking states within the country. It is probably better to speak French than Dutch, at least for now.

If you are renting outside of a hotel, you may be fortunate enough to have your own kitchen while staying in Holland. If so, here are a few recipes to try out.

STANDARD GANJA BUTTER
1 oz. semi chopped ganja
1 part water
1 part butter

Boil the water. Put in the butter and turn the heat to low. Add the ganja. On a very low heat, simmer for a minimum of 2-3 hours. Turn off heat and allow to cool.
The contents will seperate. Scoop the butter our and leave the water and excess weed.
This is and effective way to make the butter, as THC is not water soluble, and when the butter solidifies, the now useless ganja remain in the water and all the THC combines with the butter.
Cooking Hint: For a less strong taste, sit the ganja in warm water overnight. All the chlorophyll will drain and all the THC will remain in the ganja.

GANJA BUTTER THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY
1 lb. butter
1/2 oz. ganja bud, floured
or
1 oz shake, floured
or
2 oz leaf, floured

Dry ganja is floured most easily when using a coffee grinder.
Place floured ganja and butter in a crockpot. Heat butter and ganja flour in the crockpot on the lowest setting for 24 hours. When cooled, pour through a layer of cheese cloth-lined strainer into a large bowl. Twist the cheese cloth to ensure that you are not losing any butter.
For most effective cooling, place in small bowls and refrigerate. After cooling, he best way to store the ganja butter is to cut it into pieces and place in a ziplock bag.