Ray and Jeantine

 
24 July 2008 in Amsterdam
Ray and Jeantine outside her Apartment on our first day in Amsterdam
Wednesday 23 July 2008 Heading to Amsterdam
Out of the Ramada Hotel with their efficient system of being picked up by the Bus that called at various Hotels. We seemed to cut back on ourselves to pick up someone from the New Territories and on over those magnificent bridges. At the terminal we found changing a NZ$10.00 to HK$ along with our remaining change we could afford a cookie and coffee each from Millies. Whilst at the tables we tried the wi fi but although we could log on to the wireless neither the laptop or the iTouch could get Gmail or Google. After another trip on the efficient terminal train service we boarded Lufthansa on a Boeing 747-400 series, the same model as our Air NZ flight but this time no individual LCD screens on the back of the seats. Plus we were stuck in a three seat row with Barb against the window, me in the middle and this Polish guy in the aisle seat – because he had long legs. (We asked for the same but) Some interesting conversations with our fellow passenger who came from Katowice but who often traveled to Germany where most of his family lived. He was project manager for this electrical component company and had been in Shandong to see his Chinese boss.

Overall more of a drag of a flight, the arm rests were harder and there were only the shared video monitors in the ceiling. The German flight crew were interesting in their approach, I guess just more German, not too authoritarian, still a touch of friendliness. I guess they had to be firm when people were sitting on the emergency door boxed protrudence up by the toilets.

When we were coming into Frankfurt I asked our fellow (Polish) passenger if he knew what the river was. “River?”, I don't understand.” I can't remember what word triggered it for him but, no he didn't know what the river was. A Wikipedia search later told us that Frankfurt is situated on the river Main. And that Frankfurt is the financial and transportation centre of Germany and one of the two largest financial centres in continental Europe, the other being Paris. The airport was certainly modern and efficient, with the level travelators being useful for speeding up ones walk from area to another. They were spaced out along the walkways and people could choose to rest their bags whilst on them or just keep walking at a faster pace that those on the adjoining walkway area. Going through customs we had to wait while one x-ray machine was repaired and when it came time for Barb to go through, she was asked to step aside and this Customs woman went through her handbag but couldn't find anything. Barb thinks the x-ray must have picked up the small nail clippers she discovered in Hong Kong, hidden in the folds of the bag. But again with so much in there amongst all the folds, this Customs women didn't find them. After a reasonable wait we were boarding a Airbus 320 and on our way to Amsterdam. There was no room in the lockers above our seats, so we hung onto our bags and waited for the Hostess to sort it out. She was surprised at the lack of room but found space. As suspected some of the passengers on before us, and further down the plane, had put up their carry on at the earliest opportunity and then didn't have to carry it all the way out on arrival. The small snack was quite pleasant, a bread roll with cheese, some sweet and a small drink.

On arrival in Amsterdam we were surprised to not have to go through Customs and after getting our bags there was the smiling face of Jeantine. She had caught the train out to the airport so we had to wait until the lift was available to take us and all our luggage down to the train platform. We hopped on this train and then after awhile Jeantine was starting to have doubts that we had caught the correct train so she was relieved to be pulling into Amsterdam Station as hoped. So we then trundled our bags along to the Trams and hauled them up into the back where there was space for bags and push chairs. The Trams are very modern* and it wasn't long before we were at Jeantine's door and contemplating the lugging up her winding stairs.
(*2001 - December, the first one of 155 new Combino-trams arrives.)