Hi ya’ll, I’ve been traveling/moving/not-sleeping/plane hopping/running for the gate/running for the train, etc for more than 18 hours so I apologize in advance if this post doesn’t make any sense or starts to ramble ;D
I made it to Amsterdam by the skin of my teeth! What was I thinking booking a flight that connected through Chicago with only a 1 hour window? I must have been sleepwalking when I booked the flight because EVERYONE knows you can’t get into or out of Chicago on time. Duh!
Needless to say when I landed in Chicago I had to literally run for my connection to Amsterdam - which happened to be the ONLY flight to Amsterdam. And I made it…just as they were closing the airplane door. However, the flight crew was excellent and wonderfully attentive. The flight was non-eventful and devoid of any turbulence, bumps or any other vomit inducing moments.
The train ride from Amsterdam to Belgium was somewhat interesting in that none of it was unfamiliar. There were simple brick homes, apartment buildings, green pastures with lots of horses, cows and sheep (which we do see in Colorado just about anywhere but the city of Denver proper. Well, except for the green part. Colorado is DRY and BROWN most of the year). And graffiti. Even in the middle of a pasture with nothing but a single room itty bitty shack surrounded by cattle, there was graffiti. And surprisingly, it looked just like the stuff we have at home, down to the colors and style of writing.
One thing I did see alot of that I don’t see much in Colorado was DIVERSITY!! Amsterdam reminded me of my hometown, San Francisco. People from all over, all different races and nationalities, speaking all kinds of languages. It was cool. Nobody assumed I was American because of how I wear my hear, or the clothes I sported. They just walked up to me and started talking in one of the languages they speak here. When I looked confused, they switched to another language before finally settling on English.
I saw clean cut people. I saw ratty looking people. Young. Old. Rebellious looking teenagers, and sweet looking teenagers. I saw a guy so TALL he had to bend down to fit through the door of the trains. AND THESE ARE BIG FRICKING TRAINS - Think Amtrak, not light rail ;D
I’m in a pretty cool hotel, too. It’s all swanky and contemporary looking on the inside. Outside, it looks like a little brick and brownstone affair with not much to recommend it. It’s got a nice soft bed that’s calling my name, too. I would post pictures…but I forgot my camera! Can you believe it?!!
But no worries - My kids are going to meet me in Dublin in a few days and I made my daughter promise to bring her camera. That promise came with lots of e-mails and phone calls to her. Mind you, this bugging my kid happened BEFORE I actually left home (ever get that feeling you’re forgetting something?) complete with bugging her to pieces in person, on her cell phone and via e-mail!
Later, ya’ll, TJ needs some sleep!
TJ