Transit: Down the Rabbit Hole

Somewhere along the way, flying became routine for me - no more or less unique an event than going to the gas station. It's been so long since I got on a plane for anything other than work, it didn't really hit me that I was leaving for my vacation. Fortunately - bless international flights - the free alcohol knocked some sense into me and I managed to land in Amsterdam in a mostly replenished vacation mode. I made it!!

Amsterdam has a very cool airport - all shiny and new with shopping and food around every corner. The Dutch must be a truly enlightened people, for they have come up with several inventions which have eluded us in the States: decent airport food at decent prices, a 0.5 liter of Heinekin for US$4 and airport lounge chairs that are actually comfortable (what a concept!). And by comfortable, I mean that I found a lounge with comfy designer chairs straight out of an IKEA catalog. Except that you don't have to assemble them yourself and they're actually made out of quality materials. Very dangerous to a man who just came off a red-eye and was trying desperately to stay awake for his next flight!

I almost regretted that this was just a connection, but no fear! I would return in a week, to conquer the city in MacArthur-esque fashion. For now, this brief stop would have to serve as foreshadowing, as any good tale must have.