B.itchin @ After Rapido (03/01/11) @ Wester Unie
The short coach transfer dumped us at the area a little out of central Amsterdam and very luckily some guys knew where they were going as it was another 5 min trek across freezing minus 3c paths of this out-of-town entertainment area – although as they sprinted off we did winder for a moment if they were actually going to the club as well. Phew they were and walking swiftly to keep warm also meant we made the door before the rest of the coach and again – flashed our VIP tickets, no security checks and into the venue. Coat check was a surprise as we had to hire lockers – with all these layers of clothing then I need a larger one – although it seemed most were much smaller so no idea how people crammed their coats into those tight holes. Wester Unie is a club with a strong ironwork feel – girders and steel staircases – very open and warehouse style – so pretty chilly upon arrival when it was still relatively quiet which gave us time to familiar ourselves with the venue, buy tokens for drinks – we’d only even seen that before in Brazil – but the bar man was ever so helpful, again I think he was thinking who is this strange Londoner asking for exotic fruit juices like cranberry or pomegranate – continental European clubs need to catch up on this side of their drinks menu for sure! There was a chill out seating area upstairs but we chose to get into the thick of the action as London’s own Italian bred stallion DJ Pagano was on the desks spinning his delights as Rapido Afterhours resident – we actually forgot to go and say ‘Hi’ – we beg forgivesness! But all were perfectly mixed for this afterhours crowd.
There was an additional crowd that we hadn’t seen at Rapido but more of the same – hot hot hot (and the venue had warmed up!) and I again was on the receiving end of attention but attention that didn’t get converted as people seem to forget to make eye contact or chat – so I did ask one lad who was bum dancing into me ‘what time does it finish’ and then made a rapid exit to find the toilets – which surprisingly - if the ones upstairs were the only ones - seemed a bit small for this vast venue. Chilling on that upper deck reminded us that since we’d started mid afternoon and now being 3.30am – it was a bit confusing as to how long we’d been out but by 5.00am our tired feet suggested that the king sized bed beckoned. So returning to our locker where our Atlantis crew boys were already practising for HMS Pinafore – we donned the sexy longjohns - expecting some mammoth trek back to centraal Amsterdam. The cute lad on reception as ever so helpful, me thinking he was calling a taxi but instead he promised there would be taxis waiting and low and beyond at the park’s entrance barrier were a couple of friendly cabbies so top marks Wester Unie. Rapido After – we’ll be back After a short break :P
