Sunday, 18 June 2023

At Home in Tucson

This will be the final blog from my recent European adventure. At this point, I do not yet have any plans for another trip--but you may be sure that I will think of something during the coming months. Happy summer to all--and thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts with me,

Sunday-Tuesday, 11-13 June 2023

Frankfurt to Amsterdam

On Sunday, my 7am taxi is waiting to take me from the dock in Frankfurt to the airport for my 10:15 flight to Amsterdam. There is no problem about getting there on time, since my driver achieves the dubious record of 180km--that's 112 miles--per hour on the Autobahn (no set speed limits). Thankfully there isn't much traffic.

You are already aware, from a previous blog, that my large suitcase was put on a flight to Paris instead of the short flight to Amsterdam (that's what you get for checking in early!). I didn't get it back until late on Monday, and I had to return to the airport to pick it up myself. KLM would not give me any information about when the bag would be delivered to my hotel, and my flight home was scheduled for early Tuesday, so I couldn't take a chance on not having it with me.

Miraculously, the hard-sided suitcase was not damaged at all and when I opened it, everything inside was as tightly packed as when I had last closed it. I will admit that it was pretty full so things didn't have much room to move around.

So my time in Amsterdam was pretty much consumed by anxiety about the luggage, shopping for some clothes to wear in Amsterdam and on the trip home, and unnecessary and expensive taxi rides to and from the airport. But I did have time for a few photos which I will share with you as my farewell.

The Hampton by Hilton at Schipol Airport Was Significantly
Better than Many Flagship Airport Hiltons I Have Stayed at During
the Past Several Years

Shops Found Only in Amsterdam

And, of course, the ubiquitous bicycle parking lots: