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LISTEN TO WIN A TRIP FOR YOU AND A GUEST TO JOIN GEOFF AND HJY!
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Join Geoff Charles for his twelve year celebration in Amsterdam.
Your package includes roundtrip air from Providence, RI
to Amsterdam via Delta Airlines, roundtrip airport transfers,
4 nights’ hotel accommodations at the Sofitel Amsterdam,
all hotel taxes and service charges, buffet breakfast, and loads of fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Book your trip today, call Gina at Liberty Travel at 401-421-8400 x206

 

******ALL PASSENGERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A VALID PASSPORT******

 

For further information and to purchase your trip, please contact Gina Mahoney at
Liberty Travel in Wayland Square, Providence at 401 421-8400 ext 206. Email:  Mahoneyg@libertytravel.com

 

Office hours:  Monday- Friday 9:30am-6:00pm and Saturdays 10:00am-5:00pm

Click here for official contest rules 

YOU KNOW ITS A BIG WORLD WHEN THE MARKETING OF SMOKING POT AND HASH GOES TO SEPARATE STORES OFFERING COFFEESHOP MERCHANDISE.

NOW ABRAXAS HAS ITS OWN RETAIL OUTLET FOR THE SAME ASHTRAYS, COASTERS, AND PARAPHENALIA FOUND IN ITS TWO WELL KNOWN COFFEESHOPS. THE ROKERIJ IS SOON TO FOLLOW AS OTHER SHOPS REALIZE PROFIT FROM THEIR BASIC COFFEESHOP MOTIF. IN THE ABRAXAS SHOP YOU CAN PURCHASE HAND CARVED STASH BOXES AND PIPES; BASEBALL LOGO CAPS , GLASSWARE, AND MORE. THE DAY I SHOPPED THERE THE PLACE WAS PACKED, AND NOT JUST WITH SMOKERS LOOKING FOR SOUVENIRS. GRANDPARENTS WERE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR STUFF TO BRING BACK FOR THEIR GRANDKIDS IN COLLEGE. THE MINUTE THOSE KIDS LEARNED THAT GRANDPA AND GRANDMA

WERE OFF TO AMSTERDAM TO TOUR THE CANALS AND THE MUSEUMS YOU CAN BET THE PLEA WENT OUT TO BRING THEM SOMETHING BACK WITH COFFEESHOP CACHE' FOR THEIR DORM ROOMS.

SMOKING POT AND HASH IS NOW MAINSTREAM IN AMSTERDAM AND OTHER DUTCH CITIES. WHILE THERE WERE RUMORS OF A CUTBACK ON THESE SHOPS, THE TREND NOW HAS GONE THE OTHER WAY.MORE SHOPS ARE OPENING AND MORE OF THEM ARE REALIZING THE NEED TO UP-DATE THEIR MARKETING PROJECTS  WITH AUTHENTIC MERCHANDISE. TO BE FAIR, THE FIRST TO DO THIS WAS COFFEESHOP SIBERIA. WHJY FM HAS AN ISDN LINE LINKED TO THAT SHOP AS WELL.

THE ONLY DOWNSIDE OF RECENT COFFEESHOP MANAGEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT IS A MEASURE IN APRIL THAT WILL FORCE THE SHOPS TO EITHER SERVE COFFEE, POT AND HASH...OR JUST ALCOHOL. SOME SHOPS WERE GRANDFATHERED UNDER AN ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE THAT ALLOWED BUSINESSES SERVING ALCOHOL TO ALSO OFFER POT AND HASHISH. NOT AFTER APRIL. THAT MEANS THAT PLACES LIKE THE ROKERIJ AND THE DAMPKRING WILL HAVE TO FORGO THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE IF THEY STILL WANT TO SELL POT AND HASH AND MUSHROOMS AND SEEDS. I TALKED WITH JOHN AT THE GREY AREA AND HE AGREED. IF IT  COMES DOWN TO SELLING ALCOHOL OR POT, ALL THE SHOPS INVOLVED WILL GLADLY CHUCK THE BOOZE IN FAVOR OF HOOTIE.

SO IF YOUR FRIENDS DRINK, BUT DONT SMOKE, ITS UNLIKELY THEYRE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND A PLACE IN WHICH BOTH CONSUMPTIONS ARE HONORED, ALTHOUGH THERE IS RUMOR THAT YOU COULD BRING POT INTO A BAR AND SMOKE IT THERE IF THE STATUTE ALLOWS.  WE'LLSEE. ILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THIS SITE AND DONT FORGET ITS NEVER TOO EARLY TO BOOK YOUR TRIP WITH US FOR NEW YEARS EVE. THERES A GROUP OF TWENTY OR MORE JUST WAITING TO SIGN UP SO GET IN LINE NOW AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEW YEARS EVE IN THIS REMARKABLY FREE CITY.

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WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT IN AMSTERDAM, YOULL TURN RIGHT AS YOU EXIT THE WALKWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT. YOU'LL HEAD DOWN THE AIRPORT GATEWAYS TOWARDS CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION. THERE WILL BE TWO LINES. ONE FOR EUROPEAN PASSPORTS AND A LINE FOR ALL OTHERS. WITH AN AMERICAN PASSPORT, YOU'LL GET IN THE LINE FOR "ALL OTHERS."

ITS QUICK, EASY , AND FRIENDLY. THEN YOU'LL GO THRU A DOOR RIGHT BEHIND THE PASSPORT BOOTHS AND INTO THE AREA WHERE YOUR LUGGAGE WILL CIRCLING ON THE CAROUSEL. PICK UP YOUR GEAR AND FOLLOW THE SIGNAGE TO "TAXIS..BUSES..TRANSPORTATION " . THATS RIGHT. NO TOSSING OR OPENING OF BAGS AND LUGGAGE. YOU JUST PICK UP YOUR STUFF AND GO OUTSIDE TO THE TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED BY LIBERTY TRAVEL.

IF YOUVE BEEN WITH US ON THE TRIP BEFORE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE THE TRAIN INTO THE CITY. YOUR HOTEL, THE GOLDEN TULIP INTEL, IS ONLY 6 MINUTES FROM CENTRAL STATION. THIS IS ONLY IF YOUVE BEEN WITH US BEFORE AND KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND AMSTERDAM. DONT DO IT IF YOU HAVENT BEEN WITH US BEFORE. LEAVING CENTRAL STATION AND HEADING INTO A CITY YOUVE NEVER BEEN IN BEFORE CAN BE VERY DISORIENTING EVEN WITH A MAP.

THE HOP ON THE TRAIN INTO THE CITY IS QUICK AND ONLY COSTS ABOUT 3 EUROS. YOU SEE THE COUNTRYSIDE AND HANG WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE. AND IF YOURE REALLY ADEPT AT NAVIGATION, YOU MIGHT EVEN WANT TO TAKE THE TRAIN BACK TO THE AIRPORT AT THE END OF YOUR STAY. THAT IS...IF YOU HAVE ANY EUROS LEFT WHICH I USUALLY DONT. I TEND TO SPEND EVERY DIME I TAKE WITH ME AND RETURN STATESIDE AS A PAUPER. THATS WHY ITS NICE TO HAVE FREE TRANSPORTION FROM LIBERTY TRAVEL INTO AND OUT OF THE CITY.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE ON THAT TRANSPORT FROM THE AIRPORT, WE'LL BE THERE TO GREET YOU...RIGHT OUTSIDE THE HOTEL. WE'LL SHOW YOU WHERE TO GO TO REGISTER AND IF YOUR ROOMS NOT READY, THE HOTEL WILL STORE YOUR LUGGAGE AND GIVE YOU A RECIEPT TO PICK IT UP WHEN YOUR ROOM IS READY . CHECK OUT TIME IN EUROPE ISNT UNTIL NOON. UNTIL THEN, YOURE WELCOME TO HANG WITH US AND IF ITS AN HOUR OR SO BEFORE THE ROOM IS SET, COME WITH US TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE COFFEESHOPS...THE ROKERJ ... . I RECOMMEND THE ROYAL DUTCH CREME. ITS ONLY 10 EUROS PER GRAM AND IS SOME OF THE BEST HASH IN THE CITY.

ILL SHOW YOU WHERE TO BUY PIPES AND SCREENS AND PAPERS OF ALL SORTS AND WHERE THE BEST PLACES ARE TO CHANGE YOUR DOLLARS INTO EUROS. I FIND IT EASIER TO PICK UP A FEW EUROS AT CITIZENS BANK IN EAST GREENWICH SO YOU HAVE SOME EURO CASH WITH YOU WHEN YOU HIT THE GROUND.

AND WE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

OTHERWISE...BRING DOLLARS AND ILL SHOW YOU WHERE TO GET THE BEST RATES...CONVENIENTLY NEAR THE HOTEL. DO NOT CHANGE YOUR DOLLARS INTO EUROS AT THE BANKS. THEY CHARGE A USUROUS COMMISSION. FOLLOW ME AND ILL GET YOU THE BEST RATES.

ILL GIVE YOU AN ORIENTATION AS TO HOW TO ACCESS THE GOURMET COFFEESHOPS AND AVOID THE OTHERS. ABRAXAS AND KADINSKY NOW HAVE SHOPS CLOSE BY THE HOTEL. AMNESIA AND THE GREY AREA ARE JUST 6 TO 7 MINUTES FROM THE FRONT DOOR OF THE INTEL. THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT IS JUST A 7 MINUTE WALK AS WELL.

AFTER A BIT YOU'LL WANT TO GO BACK TO THE HOTEL...CHECK INTO YOUR ROOM...AND SACK OUT. IN THE MEANTIME, SCOTT LAUDANI AND I WILL BE RECORDING MY SHOW FOR AIR ON HJY. YOURE WELCOME TO JOIN US FOR THE RECORDING AS WELL. BUT IF YOU WISH TO NAP...WE'LL HAVE A SIGN IN THE LOBBY INDICATING WHERE WE'LL BE THAT PARTICULAR DAY. WE MAY BE AT AMNESIA AROUND 4PM. IF SO...WE'LL PUT A SIGN UP AND YOU CAN WALK OVER AND BE PART OF IT.

DONT FORGET THE BREAKFAST THAT COMES AS PART OF YOUR TRAVEL PACKAGE. I USUALLY RISE AT SEVEN AM...GO DOWNSTAIRS AND EAT....THEN GO BACK UP TO MY ROOM AND SLEEP TILL ABOUT 11 AM OR SO. I USUALLY ROUND UP PEOPLE IN THE LOBBY ABOUT 1 PM IF YOURE LOOKING TO HANG WITH US. IF NOT...WE'LL CATCH YOU LATER.

BUT ON NEW YEARS EVE...MAKE AN EFFORT TO MEET WITH US AROUND 10:30 PM OR SO AS WE GET READY TO GO TO DAM SQUARE FOR THE MOST INCREDIBLE NIGHT YOU'LL HAVE IN THIS LIFE.

AND GET READY TO ROCK WITH A HALF A MILLION EUROPEANS...SOUND STAGES....VIDEO SCREENS....THUMPING HOUSE MUSIC.. SKYROCKETS....EXPLOSIONS...AND NO SECURITY AND ALL THE BEER YOU WANT PROVIDED BY HEINEKEN TENTS SURROUNDING THE SQUARE. THERE ARE NO COPS AROUND AT ALL. YOU ENTER AT YOUR OWN JOYFUL RISK.

AND YOULL NEVER WANT TO SPEND NEW YEARS EVE ANY OTHER WAY EVER AGAIN .

LIGHT EM' UP,

                     



HJY'S TOP EIGHT PREMIUM AMSTERDAM COFFEESHOPS

( NOT RANKED IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE AS THESE SHOPS ARE "ALL GOOD". SOME ARE MORE CONVENIENT FOR LARGER GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

AMNESIA ( 6 MINUTES FROM YOUR HOTEL) ( LARGE GROUP SPACE)

THE GREY AREA( 6 MINUTES FROM YOUR HOTEL) (SMALL GROUP )

SIBERIE(5 MINUTES FROM YOUR HOTEL) (LARGE GROUPS)

DE ROKERIJ( 5 MINUTES FROM HOTEL) (MEDIUM SIZE GROUP)

DAMPKRING ( 12 MINUTES FROM HOTEL) (SMALL GROUP)

KADINSKY (10 MINUTES FROM YOUR HOTEL (SMALL GROUP)

THE GREENHOUSE(8 MINUTES FROM YOUR HOTEL) (SMALL GROUP)

THE BLUEBIRD (12 MINUTES FROM YOUR HOTEL) (SMALL GROUP)

                                                             

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                                                             THE MUNCHIES

YOU CAN EAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING IN AMSTERDAM AND NOT WORRY ABOUT GETTING SICK. EVEN POLE MEAT.

WHATS POLE MEAT? I DONT KNOW. I DONT THINK ANYONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT POLE MEAT IS. BUT ITS ON A METAL ROD THATS ON DISPLAY IN THE WINDOWS OF PLACES THAT HAVE MIDDLE EASTERN LETTERING IN THEIR LOGO. SO ITS A MIDDLE EASTERN MYSTERY MEAT THAT REVOLVES AROUND A POLE AND IS SLICED OFF FOR SANDWICHES. THE SAME MEAT HAS BEEN ON THAT POLE SINCE IVE BEEN VISITING THE NETHERLANDS WHICH IS NOW COMING UP ON TWELVE YEARS.

I KNOW PEOPLE WHO'VE EATEN POLE MEAT AND HAVE HAD NO SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS. I ONLY KNOW ONE PERSON WHOSE EVER HAD ANY SIDE EFFECTS FROM DUTCH FOOD . HE HAD A BIT OF DISCOMFORT FROM A GRILLED STEAK. IT LASTED ONE NIGHT AND THERE WAS NO VOMITING.

SO EAT WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO EAT WHILE TOURING AMSTERDAM. CHEESE SHOPS ARE EVERYWHERE. A FRESH BAQUETTE OF ARTISAN BREAD WITH A HUNK OF DUTCH STREET CHEESE CAN BE A DELICIOUS SURPRISE. WASH IT DOWN WITH SOME WINE OR SPA WATER AND YOURE GOOD TO GO.

MOM AND POP ITALIAN RESTAURANTS ARE CLOSE BY THE HOTEL WHERE WE'LL BE STAYING. THEYRE FAMILY OWNED AND RUN. THE PASTA IS HOMEMADE AS ARE THE SAUCES AND OTHER ENTREES. AND ALWAYS ORDER FRENCH FRIES. THE FRENCH FRIES IN AMSTERDAM ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY....BUT THEY ARE.

LOAD UP YOUR ROOM WITH FOOD. .DONT USE THE MINI BAR UNLESS YOUVE GOT A WEALTHY UNCLE PICKING UP THE TAB. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN HANDED A $290 BILL FOR DESPERATE MIDNIGHT MUNCHY RAIDS ON THE MINI-BAR.

A TRIP TO AMSTERDAM IS NO TIME FOR DIETING. LEAVE YOUR SIX PACK ABS AT HOME AND CHOW DOWN WHILE YOURE THERE. ANYTHING FROM A SIMPLE GRILLED CHEESE TO OUTRAGEOUSLY DELICIOUS THAI FOOD CAN BE FOUND IN JUST A MATTER OF MINUTES.

AND STOP AT RENEES IN THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT. THE PASTRIES AND DESSERTS WILL HAVE YOU DROOLING UNCONTROLLABLY. STRAWBERRIES...THICK WHIPPED CREAM...KIWI FRUIT...AND CHOCOLATE THINGS ALL DISSOLVE IN YOUR MOUTH AT ONCE. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE DOWN THERE AT MIDNIGHT ( A SIX MINUTE TRIP FROM THE HOTEL) JUST TO GET MORE .

AND THE BEST BOTTLED WATER IS SPA WATER. IT'S BOTTLED IN HUGE HALF GALLON SIZES AND COMES IN CARBONATED ( WITH GAS) OR NON-CARBONATED( WITHOUT GAS).

AND THE BEST PIZZA? THE BEST PIZZA IS THE LAST SLICE YOU HAD AT WHATEVER PLACE YOU PURCHASED IT. AS THEY SAY IN AMSTERDAM..."ITS ALL GOOD."

                                              

                                                ITS ALL ABOUT THE PASSPORT

I HAD MY PASSPORT READY. MY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS...EVEN MY BOARDING PASS. I HAD PASSED ALL THIS STUFF THROUGH THE CHECK-IN MACHINE AND NOW A HUMAN CAME TO ASSIST ME...TAG MY CHECK IN LAUGGAGE AND ASK TO SEE MY PASSPORT AGAIN.

THATS WHERE IT WENT ALL WRONG. SHE TOOK MY PASSPORT OVER TO ANOTHER AGENT AND THE TWO OF THEM FUSSED WITH IT BACK AND FORTH. WHAT A GREAT DAY TO FLY, I THOUGHT. SO GLAD IM EARLY . SO GLAD MY DRIVER...JIMMY FROM ESCORT LIMO GOT ME THERE AS HE ALWAYS DOES...SAFELY AND WITH TIME TO SPARE.

THATS WHERE IT WENT ALL WRONG. MY EXPRESSION MUST HAVE RESEMBLED THE LOOK OF MEDUSA WHO COULD TURN LIFE AND EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT TO STONE.

'IM SORRY MR. CHARLES...BUT YOU CANT FLY OUT TODAY."

"HOW COME?

"YOUR PASSPORT EXPIRES IN NOVEMBER."

"YES I KNOW...BUT ITS SEPTEMBER...NOT NOVEMBER"

SHE SHOOK HER HEAD. "REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY YOUR PASSPORT MUST HAVE THREE MONTHS LEFT ON IT BEFORE IT EXPIRES IN ORDER FOR YOU TO DEPART."

THREE MONTHS? THEN WHAT GOOD IS THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THE PASSPORT ( IN MY CASE...3NOV..06) IF I CANT USE IT FOR THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT DATE?

"I CANT TELL YOU THAT SIR. ALL I KNOW IS THAT YOU CANNOT TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY TODAY. YOU COULD GO THE THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON...BUT THEN YOU'D NEVER MAKE IT BACK IN TIME FOR YOUR FLIGHT AND BESIDES THE FEDERAL BUILDING IS CLOSED FOR THE DAY."

THATS IT. IM AT THE AIRPORT...ALL SET TO GO AND IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE. NOT UNTIL I HAVE A PASSPORT THAT DOESNT EXPIRE WITHIN THAT THREE MONTH WINDOW.

I KNOW. YOURE ASKING THE SAME QUESTION I AM. WHY NOT BACK DATE THE PASSPORT TO REFLECT THE TRUE EXPIRATION DATE....NOT THE ONE WE ALL RELY ON?

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY TRIPS ARE RUINED...HAVE BEEN RUINED... BY THIS GLITCH? NOWHERE IN THE PAGES OF YOUR PASSPORT( I LOOKED) DOES IT STATE THIS REGULATION. SO IF YOUR GOING TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY...MAKE SURE YOUVE GOT MORE THAT THREE MONTHS LEFT BEFORE YOUR TEN YEAR ISSUE PASSPORT EXPIRES.

IF NOT...YOU...LIKE ME...ARENT GOING ANYWHERE EXCEPT BACK TO YOUR CRIB UNTIL YOU GET THE PASSPORT RENEWED. THE POST OFFICE HAS A TWO WEEK TURN AROUND. LIBERTY TRAVEL HAS AN EVEN FASTER RATE. SO CHECK CAREFULLY . I DONT EVER WANT ANYONE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO "GOING" ON A TRIP AND ALL THE EXCITEMENT OF A NEW ADVENTURE.

CHECK YOUR PASSPORT NOW!