Amsterdam: Day One

And finally, I arrive at Schipol airport in Amsterdam!! I go thru customs with no issue, exchange my US dollars for euros… very sad exchange indded! Then I went outside to get a taxi to the hotel. There was the usual taxi line being moderated by one guy and all was well until a group of young hooligans just started cutting the line. And once one group started they all began bumrushing and running past us civilized grown ups waiting patiently. And the line was short! Hey were just rude. I refuse to mention their nationality at the risk of sounding biased against any particular country. Take a guess.

Had a lovely cab driver from Afganistan who had a nephew living in Chicago, We approach Amsterdam and the first thing I notice is the vast amount of building going on.

We zoom in and out of the little streets and thoroughfares and he pulls up to what should be my hotel but alas all we see is this huge white wall and scaffolding and no entrance. There is a sign saying: “enter around corner…” I think to myself: “Oh shit, look at this dump!”

Then I go inside the lobby and the shaking (from the jackhammers) and the shrilling sound of metal being torched was quite disheartening. There were workers walking all around the joint and the lobby was nothing like the website photo. “Double shit!” I was connected to this place by an old college buddy and suddenly I felt just so disappointed…

But then: Dutch service…
The Dutch are known for their friendliness and service and suddenly that was all I noticed. I was told that my room was not ready. Check in is at noon and I arrived at 9:30AM.

I decided to take a stroll to refamiliarize myself with my favorite town and search for that café with the window and a cup of tea and my laptop… found it!!

And my view from the window? The oudekerk (14th century

And I made new friends with world travelers Lindy & Rob from Calgary. They were departing for South Africa the next day.

And so I strolled around my old stomping grounds from the late nineties…

it’s all still there and Amsterdam is still its wonderful crazy self.

Then just as I am about to drop dead from exhaustion, I get the call that my room is ready. OY! But I am happily surprised. My room is simply lovely. I am staying in the completed part of the building. The present lobby is an interim lobby as the original is being completely redone.

I took a nap for about two one half hours – important not to go to sleep or you get yourself all turned around! Got up and went walking around the canals at night. Got some fun shots!

Then to bed. My feet, knees and lower back was killing me!!!