Travel Day to Amsterdam 5/3/2010

---

Sorry there was no blog entry for yesterday but we couldn't get the wireless to work in the hotel at the airport in Amsterdam. We were surely sorry to leave our new friends at the New Holiday House Roma but we were off to a new adventure. Till (hotel manager) hired a car to drive us to the airport. We were thankful that we didn't have to struggle with our luggage on the subway and then on the train. The driver took us on top of a hillside to see the panaromic view of Rome. It was awesome. He told me to get out and take pictures...didn't take me long to do just that. Unfortunately it was hazy but I did get a couple good pics.

Rome airport is very unorganized. We ordered a wheelchair for mom but it took them forever to show up. Then we had a gate change...plenty of notice to get to the new gate...but instead of taking people who need help to board first....we were pulled off into a corner and made to wait until last. This airport has to transport some of its people by buses to the planes as there is not enough room for all the traffic there. Larry, mom and I were transported by a special van and again made to wait. They did give us seats at the front of the plane so I guess it worked out okay.

What a difference when we arrived in Amsterdam. We were treated like royalty by the "transport people" there. The young man ran us through customs...right to baggage...showed us around the airport in anticipation of meeting our group the next day. It was great. We grabbed a bite to eat and made our way to the IBIS Hotel Amsterdam Airport. It wasn't very far to go by shuttle.

Once we got settled at the hotel we went back to the airport to catch a public bus to Keukenhof Gardens. We were able to see the rows, and rows to color from the plane and figured out they were tulips. Keukenhof Gardens it renowned fo its bubl field...tulips, hyacinths and narcissi as well as other beautiful plants and flowering trees. It was absoutely breath-taking, however it was also VERY cold....We were there for about an hour but we were all freezing as it was raining and cold. In spite of that I did get some good pictures. I concluded there was no good way to get the rows and rows of flowers except from the plane.

We hurried back to our hotel so mom could get warmed up. I found the laundry room and washed up all our clothes. We got our supper from the hotel and we loved the food here...at least is wasn't fish pizza.!!

The IBIS is a very nice hotel and we all had a good night.

---