We are off on a big adventure! The first leg of our journey took us to Amsterdam for a day. The flight left at 1:10pm our time, lasted 10 hours, and arrived 8:00am Amsterdam time.
Other than the usual discomfort of a long flight and the impossibility of getting real sleep, it was smooth going. After going through passport control we were able to deposit our carry-ons at luggage storage and catch a direct train from Schiphol to the city.
The train was enviable. Nice seats, smooth track, and fast. Our overall plan for Amsterdam was to walk a lot and stay awake. Success! Our stops included Tony’s Chocolonely Superstore, crossing some canal bridges, fries with truffle mayo, freshly made Stroopwafels, Rijksmuseum, a meal of Rijsttafel, the Lego Store, and finding a belt (so far the only thing that wasn’t packed). I started feeling a bit loopy some time before the museum. Time changes are hard.
The walking helped with the cool windy weather. It’s incredible how many of the central-area streets are primarily for pedestrians or cyclists. The most noticeable difference is the quiet. It’s helped by how many electric vehicles there are, including some incredibly tiny two-seaters.
We were back at the airport by five, with some time to relax before our next overnight flight. I wish I’d brought a tiny towel as the airport has showers. Security screening at Schiphol was enviable, with shoes that could stay on, water bottles that didn’t need to be emptied, iPads that could stay packed, and body scanning that doesn’t feel like one has committed a crime. Thanks Schiphol!
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