Looking Back - Day Two

Home...Looking Back

I finished the former entry at home, time passes so quickly that it got away from me.  But I have to share the trip details, so I will keep writing...And perhaps you will keep reading...

So, after an afternoon and night in London, it was time to head to Amsterdam.  It was actually easier and cheaper to fly there than it would have been to take the Eurostar, so I was booked on a British airways flight.  It was the first time I've left from the new BA terminal at heathrow.  Beautiful terminal.  There were several choices for lunch, I didn't choose the restaurant that belongs to a famous Scottish chef, but the one I choose did have delicious fish and chips, so good choice to enjoy that before leaving england.  I would not be returning, my flight home was from Brussels, using miles to upgrade results in creative planning.  

Before having lunch I saw a very unusual sight, a young man had his hair and body died to look like a leopard!  Truly!  Hair bleached and body a light tan color and black spots all over...from his face and hair, down his arms.  It was so peculiar, I just had to talk to him.  I decided it wouldn't be polite to ask about the unusual look, so I discussed the restaurant menu with him instead, he seemed like a nice young man/leopard.  Ahh, travel and the experiences it brings into our worlds!

After enjoying my fish and chips I headed to the plane.  I ended up sitting to a fascinating man.  Unfortunately the flight is short, just over an hour I believe it was.  Well, the Dutch man and I started talking and he was delightful, and I have to admit it, very nice eye candy too.  He was returning to holland from Venezuela where he had been for two months with his girlfriend.  What a story he had.  I told him that Colorado was following holland since we had legalized marijuana.  What a conversation that was.  He told me there were so many problems with that and I shared that I was not at all for that even though I do consider myself a rather liberal person.  He said that for many years it wasn't politically correct to discuss the down side of the legalized pot industry but now people are coming out with the negatives and the country is having to face and deal with the problems.  Very interesting, and not so encouraging as to the direction we are headed.  

Then we got to the subject of travel and he explained that he had gone to school until he was 25 getting advanced degrees.  He said his brothers started working younger and made fun of him for being in school for so long.  He had a job making big deals for very big companies and at 37 he retired with enough money to live the rest of his life leisurely, traveling when he so desires.  Now that is a man I wish I could have talked to much longer.  I was flattered when he said he wished I'd been next to him on the flight over the ocean because I was so interesting to talk to.  Quite the conversation and I do wish we would have had longer and I'd have gotten his contact info, I think my future would be different with more advice from him, but that was not to be.  I did use a bit of his technique with my job when i got back and the two new schools were actively agreeing to pay me anything to accomplish what i offered, but the restrictions and visions and greediness of schools and the people who run them, put a stop to my success.  I didnt find out enough to be able to get past the reality of schools.  

This gentleman explained that he is a voracious reader and when he travels he ships books ahead.  He likes the hard copies, not the electronic books.  He said if he is reading an interesting book, he will very often fly to wherever it takes place to experience the setting in person!  Oh my!  Such interesting people in the world!  And travel is the way to meet many!  Later I wondered if his story was true, and I do believe it was, he looked the relaxed young retired man.

With some help, I found my way out of the airport to the correct bus stop for the bus to Lisse, Netherlands, where the famous keukenhof gardens are.  I was going to be there on the exact day I was there last year, and last year the tulips were in full bloom.  Now as the bus headed to Lisse, I was disappointed to see fields and fields that were brown and green, fields that were a palette of color the same time the year before.  A late winter prevented the tulips from blooming at that point.  There were some fields of hyacinths, huge pastel expanses of blooms, but that wasn't why I as there.  

Oh, I forgot to mention that to make this trip happen I had to lower my class of hotels along the way.  I do love luxury, but those days are gone for now and this trip was one of economy, 1,2 and 3 star hotels were the norm now.  It did take some adjusting on my part, but I did it.  And so this was my first lower hotel, and it was a far shot from the lovely one I stayed at there last year.  But the entire stay, including meals, 2 nights, and a ticket to the gardens was less than one night at the other hotel, this is the time for deals for me.  So with lower expectations I walked the block to the hotel from where the bus let me off.  Good thing my expectations were low, that is what was waiting for me.  The girl who checked me in was nice enough, but very overworked, she just couldn't seem to keep up with everything going on.  That hotel definitely needs to hire more people!  My room was only 3 doors down from the reception area.  I went in and got settled and then asked for a taxi to take me to the wonderful Dutch pancake restaurant I'd found on my last trip.  I couldn't wait to enjoy a dinner and dessert pancake again!  The taxi driver gave me his card to call his company when I was finished so I could get a taxi back.  I sat outside although it was a bit cold, and enjoyed the occasional person walking by or bike rider go past as I enjoyed a delicious bacon, cheese and veggie pancake.  Delicious!

It was quite cold by the time I finished so I moved inside to have my dessert.  My bananas foster pancake, with sliced bananas, liquor, ice cream, powdered sugar and whipped cream was divine!  I hated to finish it!  I think the belgian waffles might be replaced as the # 1 food in Europe for me!  As I was finishing the nice waitress called the taxi company and they said they would be there in 20 minutes.  Well after over 30 minutes she called again and they said a few minutes.  After another half hour another call resulted in being told they would be there in 10 minutes.  The taxi NEVER showed up!  That was a big problem because they were the only company in town and it was dark and the town empty and I was stranded.   Luckily for me, the kind owners felt badly for me and after they cleaned up, got ready for the next day, did the books, there I still sat so they offered me a ride to my hotel.  Thank goodness!  It was actually a delight to chat with them and when I got to my hotel I was livid with the company they use.  I was told there were no options there.  

I went to my room, set my alarm so I would be up for breakfast and at the gardens as they opened...and my little pink travel alarm clock I've had with me around the world was broken! The time stopped and there was nothing I could do.  And so, with a bit of sadness over losing my trustworthy little alarm clock, I called the front desk and asked for a wake up call.  Sweet dreams...and the end of day 2!