The Prequel - Moving On with Cannabis and Champagne

Dutch Treats

I checked out the floating flower market and was disappointed with the flowers, but was impressed with the cannabis starter kits! I sat in yet another outdoor café and had potato pancakes, kopjes I think they were called. Nearby, I discovered a shop selling hallucinogenic mushrooms. The shop looked like a clean, bright pharmacy, not like the dives that would sell marijuana in the Village in New York. The drugs were not only legal, they were also organic and -- how considerate! -- were neatly labeled with a description of the high one would get, and -- how practical! -- an estimated length of time the high would last. I was so busy admiring their sense of organization and efficiency in even this, that it didn’t even occur to square old me to buy and try some. An opportunity missed!

Then it was time to catch our evening flight to Vienna, the starting point of our bike trip.

But Amsterdam had some last surprises to delight us. Schipol Airport was vast and had some luxurious outlets. The one we went to had chocolate in all its forms: liquid, pastries, cakes, ice cream, pralines, with accompanying wine and little snacks. Beside it was a bar called Bubbles, that had a wall of niches containing the best champagne and wines, all available by the glass. To go with the Dom Perignon or Veuve Clicquot or Cristal there was, of course, nothing but caviar, smoked salmon, sashimi and other pricey delectables. All very classy and unexpected in an airport. It reinforced our impression that the Dutch know how to live, and that Amsterdam is one hot city!

We were ready and raring to go on a 400-kilometre bike trip....