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Travel Day (cont)
Entry 3 of 40 | show all | print this entry |
SJ - I've got a fairly long part 1 to this message sitting on my bb that I don't want to to re-type so this one kind starts in the middle. I'll post the first part when I figure out why I have no cell coverage in the Netherlands. Hopefully you see that one here later - although out of order
This message typed from the PC in the lobby of the Ambassador Hotel.
Yes - we're in our first Hotel stop in Harleem about 40 minutes by bus from Amsterdam.
But first some catch up.
We had Heidi's sister take us all to the airport - thanks Amy. It occurred to me that when we made our travel plans over a year ago we decided to come 1 day early. If we had left 1 day later we would have been fighting all the DNC crowds leaving time - more good fortune. Flights were perfect, no problems at all - even through O'Hare.
DIA - Chigaco - London - Amsterdam
London is not on the tour but the airport is worth some comments. London's Hearthrow is very modorn - somehow I had a vision of the Hogwarts train station in my head. The clean-lines\brushed steel design felt decidedly German, but the volume of selections in the World of Whiskey store and the neon blue backlit buttons on the condom machine in the men's seemed more in keeping with what I've come to know from my friend who hale from merry old England.
I was a little thirsty at what translated to 5:00 am Mountain Time, so a decided 'no time like the present'to begin the European beer tour. I went to one of the airport bars and ordered "a pint of some lager". The bartender said "Becks or Carl[something]" I opted for the Carl[beer]. It was more bitter than I like, and somewhat thick. I decided that I'm going to have to get used to the European concept of "beer as food".
We landed in Amsterdam, along with all the luggage (shew!)- another beautiful airport and got on a bus to take a 40 minute ride to Haarlem. Beautiful countryside, very green. It looks like there had been a recent harvest of some crop that was plastic wrapped in huge cubes. At one stop, about 5 official looking folks got on and started asking question in Dutch. When it became clear the I didn't understand, one of them said "papers". I immidiately felt like I'd been warped in to a WWII flick where jack-booted thugs were trying to roust out escaping POWs. It was an interesting adrenaline rush. I then started to wonder if maybe therse was some sort of terrorist activity and maybe I should be really worried. After and few more moments of "maybe if I talk louder you'll understand me" I figured out that they were just making sure that everyone on the bus had a valid ticket. We did.
I met a chap on the bus from Whales and we started chatting a little. He said that we were lucky to come when we did. It had been raining heavily for the last 3 weeks and this was the first sunny day they had seen. The forcast is for more of the same. More good fortune.
A little confusion finding our hotel - especially when some local said, "the only Ambassador hotel I know of is in Amsterdam", but found it pretty quick.
Back to the room for to peel off our travel slicked clothes, freshen up and meet for dinner. My first adventure with the local quisine.
.... mmm.... Sourdough Jack [you'll understand when you see my first Travel Day post]
( is a thing of the past)
We went to a restaurant adjacent to the hotel called Pasta Pasta. Heidi and Don had the Spaghetti Carbonara, Judy the Salmon stuffed Ravioli (which looked like a plate of lumpy seaweed to me - very green pesto I guess) and I had a $30 plate of prawns with the heads and shells still on them. Something just doesnt seem right about needing a bath after you've peeled 6 prawns çoated with butter and spices when you spent that kind of money. Food might be an issue on this trip. I'll think I'll try to get the gang to focus on Pub food.
We went for a quick stroll after dinner and had a delightful Gelato [yes, it made me think of you, Bill]. The evening was a little cool, but the surroundings were as antique and quaint as you can imagine. It really was beautiful.
At one point we saw a vey nattily dressed chap - velvet jacket and very pointy boots - exit one of the pubs, straddle his bicycle and pedal off. Now that's soemthing you don't see every day in the U.S.
Back to the room for a much needed night's rest. We were out cold in 5 minutes
OK - now this blog is current. I'm of to bring Heidi a cup of Joe. More later.
Latest Comments (2)
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Keep 'em coming! (reply)
Aug 30, 2008 10:17 EST by amylweaver
Steve, if your comments continue to be as entertaining as this one, I will enjoy reading them every morning with my cup of coffee.
Glad the LUGGAGE (!) all got there, and you are off and running.
Remember, officials don't like any sudden movements...
A
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