OT - My Excellent European Adventure Day One

We started out at LAX on May 12th, where we caught a 747 to Amsterdam, riding in the upper deck of the plane (Business Class baby! I used all my miles!). 10 hours later and we were in Amsterdam, staying at the airport Hilton. Kathy and I freshened up, then headed down to the airport to catch a train to the main city (yes, the train station is just below the airports baggage area). 16 Euro for a round trip ticket and a 20 minute ride.

In Amsterdam I had pre-booked a hop-on hop-off tour with both bus and boat, the trick though was finding the office to pick up our tickets. After about 20 minutes of walking around, we finally asked directions, finding first the bus, then the shop. Went inside, got our tickets, back out to the bus... and we had the wrong tickets.

Back to the shop, exchange the tickets, back out to wait for the next bus... and 30 pre-teen schoolboys appear, waiting for the same bus. A quick discussion between Kathy and I, and we decided to take the boat tour.

This one was easy to find, on the canal right in front of the train station. A leisurely trip around the city, with one stop for lunch at a local pancake house, and we were both ready to call it a day. So, off the boat, and back onto the train.

Caught the first train heading back to the airport (the station is called Schiphol) and, as I leaned my head against the glass, I fell asleep.

I woke sometime later, looking out the window at a green expanse interspersed with cute dutch farmhouses and groups of cows. Realizing that Kathy dozed on my shoulder, I wondered if we had slept through our stop. As I moved, Kathy woke, her first words: "did we sleep through our stop?"

The answer to our question came in the form of the young female conductor. "Where are you going?" "Schiphol" "Schiphol?" "Yes, Schiphol" "That was the last stop, can I see your tickets?" "Yes" "You are on the wrong train, and the next stop is Rotterdam" "It did not stop in Schiphol?" "Yes, but this is a high speed train, you do not have a high speed ticket" "Oh.." "Yes, there is a 10 euro fine each" "Really? I bought these from the counter in Schiphol, they did not explain that there were different trains" "Yes, if they did explain that they would be talking all day, please pay. And you will need to purchase a return ticket when you get to Rotterdam when you get to the station"

So, 20 euro for the fine, about 30 euro for the tickets back to Schiphol, and we are out 50 euro on a 15 euro ticket..., oh, and an hour and a half of train travel above the 15 minute ride to the city.

Exhausted, we eat at Burger King in the airport, then catch the shuttle back to the hotel to prepare for tomorrows adventure...

... To Be Continued