Travel - A Journey of Challenges

I love travel, as you know.  I love new experiences, learning about new cultures and foods and peoples.  But that isn't all that travel is, those experiences are earned, by dealing with challenges along the way.  

For example, right now I'm sitting on the 'high speed' train from Amsterdam to Brussels.  A high speed train that is at a dead stop...apparently there are technical difficulties.  Ahh, the not so sweet surprises of travel!  Will I now make the train connecting to bruges?  Not a chance, but luckily that is a ticket that can be changed for later.  The high speed train is a reserved seat, one that can't be changed unless a much more expensive flexible ticket is purchased.  

The train moved again and now we have a delay in Antwerp for a technical problem.  Travel trials and tribulations continue.  An announcement was just made, they are all in 3 languages, Dutch, or Flemish, French and english last of all.  Interesting to be in places where english isn't #1 language.  The announcement...the free wifi on the train isn't working...so much for that perk of 1st class.   I knew I'd have my hands full with my 2 rolling suitcases and travel bag so I opted to pay the additional 10 euros for 1st class.  Many less people, reserved seats, and food and beverages for free.  So with a can of Perrier, I had a caramel cake and a small cheese sandwich.  Cheese, a delightful part of a visit to holland.  I am familiar with the colorful wheels of flavored cheeses, but today, thanks to the very kind taxi driver I had from last year, I had a cheese tour of a store representing the only cheese still made by hand.  Kees, pronounced Case, was the wonderful man who drove me from Lisse last year to de Hague.  I got in touch with him and payed quite a bit to have him take me to the Amsterdam central station for my onward journey, knowing I could trust him.

There is a magic being in Europe, it seems people aren't as stressed with the delays and 'not so sweet' surprises.  I'm not in a great hurry anyway, I know the frietes and waffles will be waiting for me when I do finally arrive.I also appreciate the kindness of strangers.  I need more help here, with suitcases and directions and I do like the interaction with different people.  

More soon...in Bruges finally!