"European Vacation...Part Three"

En route to Downtown, from the Amsterdam suburbs, the scale and texture of the architecture, the flowering gardens (even in the winter), and canals got better and better...the mid day traffic was heavy between the autos and cable cars especially with the "bicyclist terrorists"!!!   My friend's wife would normally avoid the traffic by taking the buses to a point where she would cycle the rest of the way to her post-collegiate Dutch classes...

While walking toward the Van Gogh Museum, I ran into friends and joined them for a glass of wine, while observing the beautiful (tall) people and modern architectural elements of the museum zone.  My camera was brought into action from posing in front of a full-scale mural of Van Gogh's childhood village, in front of the "I Luv Amsterdam" central park zone; in the sky-lit atrium of the Beautiful Riijks Museum; in front of the Bull Dog Cafe (where coffee wasn't the known menu item) while nearly getting a "contact high" while waiting for my friend to arrive; on top of some of the canal (in this city of canals) pedestrian bridges, en route to the infamous "red light" district; not in front of the street-front glass case partner selection sex booths; while trying to capture some of the essence of this special place.

We walked down a three foot wide alley to a small outdoor bougainvillea covered courtyard to one of my friend's favorite restaurants...Le Bleu.  We sampled the red and white wines, rabbit, rock oysters, quill, and an incredible chocolate dessert!

Near midnight I was taken back to my third-story dormer bedroom to get some rest...the rise to run ratio of the open winding staircase never meet U.S. Codes...the bath was on the main floor...the windows were open (because the homes are not normally air-conditioned) for the unseasonably warm weather for Amsterdam  which with my running cool system meant use a comforter!  After viewing my photos this far, I fell asleep!

By the time I awoke the house was quiet, and I went down to a delightful continental breakfast (people have "tiny" refrigerators and shop daily for fresh foods). My friend brought out some of his clothes to take unless my luggage would not arrive. Then airline called to say that my luggage had arrived from Stockholm, so in lieu of joining my friends for a canal cruise tour, we went to the airport for the first of a few times before it actually did arrive about an hour before my cruise was to depart!

I boarded the beautifully recently "Solsticized" updated Celebrity ship, ran to the muster drill, had a late lunch, unpacked in the beautifully appointed balcony cabin, had a swim and cardio workout, enjoyed an incredible sunset over a flat sea "sail-away party",  had a delightful dinner in the upper level Tuscan Grill, and enjoyed the welcome aboard show... 

"European Summer Vacation...Part Two"

Our take-off was only delayed about 1/2 hour, and when we reached our travel altitude we were informed that headsets would be sold for $5 to watch the in-flight movie (I had seen it), and that the beverage "service" would begin soon, and that the airline was pleased to offer a selection of "gourmet" snacks for purchase. The air temperature was cold (the fan controls were broken) and a passenger was informed that pillows and blankets were no longer available on domestic flights.

Note to self...as I did this time, always remember to bring a blow-up neck brace pillow and a warm sweater in your carry-on!!!

The attendants "charged" out from the galley with their cart hitting my elbow and leg as the aisle was nearly as narrow as the seat legroom!  No apologies were offered.  As the attendants and their cart returned from the front of the plane, with each couple of rows, less beverage selection remained. By the row in front of mine they ran out of everything but water and hot tea! (note that on the next leg of the trip I went back to the galley, dehydrated, and  when I mentioned the story to the attendant, I was scolded..."it's always about you...the passengers...this is my break time..." as she tossed me a bottled water!

Note to self...TRY not book reservations on American Airlines...or one of their soon to be merged other airlines!!!

We landed at JFK late at about 5:00 PM, at the furthest gate from the next departure gate, so by the time I exited from the rear of the plane, I had just enough time to arrive to board the next flight at 5:45 PM.

Once again I was at the rear of the plane, in a seat with no leg room, but with a plastic-encased pillow, blanket, and headset, and individual entertainment screens!  Again, the flight was full, and the attendants had not improved for this international leg!  Five movies, three tiny meals, and a glass of wine later, and after 7 hours (5 hour time change), we arrived at London Heathrow...

Now the rush to the World Alliance British Air connection...RUN the length of one terminal...descend to the lower level... hop on a bus...wisk while being tossed along with the other passengers from side to side to another terminal...ascend and go thru a security check point...run the length of that terminal and descend to a "people mover train" to yet another terminal...ascend thru a security check points while repacking my carry-on small containers of liquids into provided plastic zip-lock bags and then thru Passport Control...and finally RUN to the LAST gate  of that terminal to arrive 1.45 hours after landing,  for the final boarding call of the flight to Amsterdam!   I was winded and my clothes were soaked from sweat as I entered yet another chilled cabin!  Little did I suspect where my luggage was headed...

Note to self...make every effort to not connect thru Heathrow Airport!!!

The flight was in an OLD and broken jet (so much for my previous "like" of British Air!) with attendants modeled after the new U.S. domestic variety, some in-flight cartoons, and a small snack of British "cuisine"!

Yeah...22 hours after departing my home, I had arrived in Amsterdam!  Happily, we did not have to go thru Customs again as we were in the European Union, so I headed directly for the luggage pick-up.  I was so tired that I could barely locate the carousel number on the screen. 1.25 hours after arriving at the designated carousel, the first piece of luggage arrived.  Luggage continued to SLOWLY come out for the next 2 hours and then it stopped...and my suitcase was not there!

Luckily there was no language difference as I spoke to the airport rep...my itinerary, luggage claim number and contact information were taken..."We will locate your luggage, but it might take a few days...where will you be in two days?"..."In town overnight with friends, boarding a ship at noon and departing at 4 PM the next day...and then a sea day, before arriving in La Rochelle France in 3 days!"..."We will phone, e-mail and "text" you once we locate it (oh boy...with no "roaming" plan for the international cell phone use!) , and will get it to you wherever you are!  Here are some toilet accessories and a sleeping t-shirt as a gift!"

Then I used the agent's phone to call my friend who had taken off from his executive job, and was waiting outside of the "secured" exit for 4 hours, wondering what had happened to me!!!

My luggage had arrived in Stockholm on KLM Airlines!

Note to self...take a few change of clothes along with all irreproachable personal items and travel paperwork in the carry-on...BECAUSE if you have international connections today, there is a high incidence of lost luggage, and I was to later learn, an even greater chance with British Air thru Heathrow!!!

Now...off to my friends' home for a shower, a change of clothes into an outfit borrowed (my friend is about the same size!), lunch, and a drop-off in-town to meet my travel friends at the Van Gogh Museum!



"European Summer Vacation...Part One"

Wow...a different itinerary, with a cruise that departed from Amsterdam; headed south to La Rochelle as a port access for the Bordeaux region of France; to Bilbao, the city of design in northern Spain; La Coruna, Spain; overnight in Lisbon, Portugal; Cadiz, Spain as the port for Seville; overnight on the Island of Ibiza, a renowned international "party crowd" destination; and then arrived in Barcelona, Spain.  The September departure had appeal because the European travel crowds of August would have reduced, and the weather would have cooled...

 

I had started to accumulate frequent flyer points on American Airlines, and they had an itinerary with a direct return flight from Barcelona to Miami for what had been considered a modern-day reasonable cost of $1,050 in coach. 

 

The mid-day departure from Miami had appeal because any later in Florida at the time of year, risks a passenger and luggage loading and take-off delay due to developing thunderstorms (that close the airports until they pass, nearly daily).   With the suggested three hour terminal arrival prior to departure for international flights, and the 1.25 hour leisurely drive from northern Palm Beach County, I allowed 5 hours.  As this meant driving during Interstate 95's rush hour, and for her change of pace activity, I took Mom.  This allowed us to travel in the high-speed lane.  Nevertheless we ran into some anxiety-producing all-lanes traffic!  We picked up my brother in Fort Lauderdale, so that he could drop me off at the terminal that would save over $200 for parking for the two weeks.

 

Miami International is a "gateway to Latin America" and the departure passenger drop offs are spread out.  From the American sign it was quite a walk with my one-piece of rolling lightest weight luggage and small carry-on to the LAST passenger check-in area.  I arrived to the large "Disney-esque" switch back coral check-in line.  45 minutes later, I was at the counter; my luggage weighed in at 45 pounds (under the 50 pound extra fee limit); and the attendant was able to switch me from center to aisle seats for all THREE flight legs to Amsterdam.  "Security" had another long switch back line; and after "undressing" and hands over head x-ray scanning and titanium shoulder implant wand scanning I made it thru, and to the LAST departure gate in the terminal in just over 2 hours!

 

I was in the last boarding group to be called that probably meant that the overhead bins would be full!  The plane was full!  A number of the passengers apparently cheated because I was the first in line for my group but when I arrived at my next to the last row from the back, most of the seats were already full!  Ahhh...the carry on was put under my seat; the baby was already screaming behind me; the passengers beside me did not acknowledge my smiles and hellos (nor did they speak for the 3-hour flight, but did jab me a few times in the ribs!); and I "wedged" into the smallest seat with the least leg room I've yet to see, to prepare for take-off !  My...aren't the flight crew members young, attractive, thin , smiling, welcoming and attentive?  The taped security instructional animated video played and we were ready to depart!

 

We taxied away from the gate, and I noticed the storm clouds building, and the pilot related that we were in a long cue to depart...would we best the storm and would we arrive in time with less than 2 hours of connection time at New York's JFK, to make the next leg to London's Heathrow?  To be continued...