Now in Amsterdam

I decided to take a small excursion into Amsterdam for the weekend before going back to the States. Returning from Amsterdam instead of London was much cheaper. This would be my first visit to Amsterdam so I didn't mind. I purchased a cheap ticket on British Airways to Amsterdam. Taxes and service fees were more than the actual ticket. This is the first time I have flown on BA, but it will not be the last. Service is top notch on BA. They do everything to make sure travelers are comfortable. Seats were wider and offer more leg room than coach seats on American carriers. The flight is little more than an hour from Gatwick, but a light lunch was included nonetheless. American carriers don't always offer beverage service on short hops. The lunch consisted of a sandwich, chocolate mouse, and beverage of choice. Wine, beer, or liquor were available at no additional charge. I opted for a Stella with my lunch. For airline food it wasn't too bad. The beer was top shelf so I was satisfied. Shortly after finishing lunch we arrived in Amsterdam. I highly recommend British Airways to anyone traveling to or within Europe. If American carriers focused more on customer service than so many might not be losing money.

I have been in dozens of airports in the U.S. and a few abroad. Security at most of the airports I have been through seem fairly innocuous. I was taken back by the strong show of force in the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Uniformed Guards carrying submachine guns roam the airport reassuring travelers that the Dutch are serious about airport security. The smell of cigarette smoke is another airport unfamiliar presence. People can be seen smoking at designated tables within the airport. While most of Europe smokes there is a move to limit smoking in public. This doesn't seem to be a top priority in Schiphol Airport.

There are multiple transportation options from the airport to my hotel. I am a fan of shuttle buses. They usually take longer than a taxi to get to your hotel, but they are often less than half the price. If you are not in a hurry they give you a chance to see the city. The Connexion Shuttle Bus at Schiphol is only 12 Euros (about $14.50) to downtown hotels in Amsterdam. That was almost one third the price of a taxi. I decide the shuttle bus would be my best choice.

It's comforting to see cars driving on the right hand side of the road. The highway system in The Netherlands seems doable. I have never driven overseas, but if I had here I don't think it would be too nerve racking.

The shuttle bus takes a little more than 30 minutes to get me to my hotel. My hotel is four star, but I am disappointed to find out that it is about $11.00 US a day for high speed internet access. With so much going on at work and home I have no other option.

I am now settled in and about to go out for the evening. My hotel across from one of the canals and is centrally located to shopping, restaurants, museums, and other attractions so it shouldn't be difficult for me to find something to do this evening. The current time is six hours ahead of Atlanta. It is only 8:00 PM here, but for me it feels later. My lack of sleep on this trip is starting to catch up with me. The cold weather should give me the jolt needed to keep going for a few more hours this evening.