I'm currently sitting in an internet cafe at the Schriphol airport in Amsterdam. Exhaustion is setting in.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Hurricane-force winds and rain lashed northern Europe on Thursday, disrupting air, rail and sea travel for thousands, toppling trees and construction cranes, and killing 11 people, including a 2-year-old boy crushed by a collapsed wall in London.
That is an excerpt from MSNBC today. The wind storm pretty much mucked everything up from the moment we crossed the North Sea. First we had to circle for a little under an hour. Then we dove into the wind for a CRAZY landing. Actually the plane touched down quite softly, but getting close to the runway was a chore. I don't know how those pilots do it! Next most all avenues of access to the city center were canceled and I was stuck at the airport for three hours wandering and wondering how I would get downtown. Finally I gathered enough nerve to hop on a bus that was headed in the general direction and planned to work things as I went. Thankfully I found a bus driver that spoke english and got some help with the transfers. A Surinami woman next to me was headed to the City Center as well and she graciously offered to show me through the jungle of transit options (Commuter Rail, Bus, Subway, and Tram systems!) Well, because of the storm all of the busses and trams headed downtown were stopped as well and there was no way to get downtown. The woman (who I later learned was named Pearl) told me she was going to walk so I tagged along. We walked for about 40 minutes and the journey turned into a delightful tour of the non touristy Amsterdam. What a beautiful City! The architecture here is fabulous. Pearl took me through various neighborhoods and showed me some of the popular sights. When we finally reached Central Station and she left to board her last bus home, I was happy to have the local expertise and company.
My time is expiring at this terminal. So I'm signing off. Keep your pants on. I'll have pictures up soon.
OK! Pictures:
Amsterdam From Above
Street Bikes
Amsterdam Street
Dinner at some restaurant
2 comments:
It seems like the weather never cooperates. I am glad you made it down safely I hope you flight to Egypt makes it ok. I look forward to see the pics.
Junior is getting back to his happy self again. The antibiotics really helped him out and he is starting to keep his fluids down.
prayed for your safety on that plane...
...funny. A neighborhood detour was an Amsterdam sight seeing idea i was going to include in that text, and then i ran out of space. What a Pearl!--Way to go!
so what in the world is taking you SO LONG?!?!?!?! Get some pictures up already! I can't read without PICTURES! ;) (i'm secretly hoping for a shot of those tennies traipsing across a canal) oops. secrets out.
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