Advertisement
Published: June 26th 2017
Edit Blog Post
Geo: 52.3741, 4.88673
Time check:
0602 local. CET. Just thinking about unpacking "mini SHREK" our hand cranked coffee bean grinder specially imported from Japan. Coffee in Japan must be at a premium as it grinds each bean personally and takes about 20 mins of hard wrist action to produce enough.
Summary:
Consternation at T5 abounded when our flight was just posted as "wait in lounge" as every one before and after was "last calling". Cathy went for a "chat" with INFORMATION to put on the pressure. Meanwhile, various smart young pilot types strolled past.....is it too late for me to retrain me thinks.......turning a shade of green.
All our worries evaporated as our little A319 ripped down Runway 09R and arrived 5 mins ahead of schedule into a bright
and sunny Schipol. En route, we were fortified by a bag of mixed nuts served by a rather delicate flight attendant called Dominic........
Schipol Airport: A short 45 min flight from LHR and then only 15 mins by train into the heart of the City. An 0700hrs flight from LHR could enable a decent day trip.......me thinks.
A short cab ride from the Station through tree line canals and cobbled streets full of people on bikes we arrived
at our converted canal house hotel called The Pulizer. Hand picked six foot doormen (reminiscent of camp Luftwaffe pilots in top hats that probably moonlight as bouncers at the local Turkish baths) whisked our luggage away as we trotted behind to our well appointed room. Then in time honoured fashion we headed off in search of supplies in the local convenience store.
Whisky!!! so far 4 attempts have resulted in failure. I fear that Holland is now a radical Muslim state only selling banana milkshake and cheese......
Sign of the Day: A vital and strategic piece of public safety information was spotted on the door of a lift at the airport...... NO BALLOONS!!
I immediately burst all of mine as did Cathy. How mean of them.....
Today's Misson: to spot someone wearing clogs.
Foiled! Despite all efforts to construct our coffee I have forgotten our travel kettle. Had to resort to room service .....DRAT.
More to follow.......
What a great day!
Distance from London 222 miles......what a world apart! Beautiful tree line canals with sophisticated boutiques selling crocus bulbs and weird contraptions made of bicycle tyres! Only in Amsterdam can you build a viable business run on the sale of painted eggshells and fuzzy felt characters! The
stressed "eric" London business robots are replaced with men sitting in cafes with laptops wearing suede jackets and deerstalkers reading the local version of "Tulip Monthly"!!
We head off after an abstemious breakfast of scrambled eggs, shrimp, smocked salmon, veal sausages topped with thousand island dressing. En route to the reception we pass The Pulizer Gym packed with "Hatchet Faced" American Bimbos using every muscle at once in a vain attempt to burn off the calories of the solitary grape consumed yesterday!
Today heralds a 6 hour walking tour of The City. Canals - more canals and little bridges with loads of sit up and beg bicycles padlocked to the iron railings. Amsterdam is an eclectic mix of old, modern and the darn right quirky. Where is can you find a stuffed plastic cow sitting on top of a barge in front of a huge floating Chinese Restaurant!
Height: Well I am 5'9" (give or take). The local indigenous population are at least 6'2" and look like extras from Conan The Barbarian. No inferiority complex here I assure you but........
Max the Luftwaffe ME109 Pilot is still in "control" at reception. Cathy has already tested his patience with a room change request (granted) to
a "Canal View" for the last 2 nights. We currently have the small flat roof and fire escape view. To be fair, the room is great despite being trashed within seconds by fluff and remnants of "Chickenville" from a pair of old flip flops brought along by Cathy!!!
Whisky: found, purchased and in action.
Tomorrow we are off to the Bulb Fields and also for the first "Windmill" sighting........
Tonight we are off to The Five Flies Restaurant for dinner. Possible an office lunch venue....we will see but I reckon it's possible with a following wind.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.038s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 9; qc: 23; dbt: 0.0184s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb