Tonight finds me in the Netherlands in a small town not far from Amsterdam. I have never flown here before. My journey has always been by boat so this was my first time at Schiphol Airport. Does anyone else remember, decades ago, how Schiphol Airport bags were cool? I have no idea why. I believe they were yellow. Maybe the airport itself was cool and some of that cool rubbed off on the bags.
I quite liked the airport, although it was a very long walk from the plane to baggage reclaim. I haven’t ever been on a plane with so many people wearing orange. And I am not talking about the Easyjet crew. Olympic rings adorned bags and t shirts. Some passengers had Dutch flags on their cheeks. I had my Olympic weather badge.
I have become so used to the Games being included in every conversation over the last ten days that I couldn’t help asking the woman at the railway ticket office if she was enjoying them. She shrugged, then smiled and handed me another badge in the shape of a train. It says
Londen Centraal, but I can’t see the Olympic connection.
I was surprised to see that you are allowed to smoke on railway platforms here, and impressed by the punctuality of the trains.
I seem to have done a lot of walking since I arrived, but happily this is a town of dogs, and I had only been out of the station five minutes before I was cuddling a labrador.
Now if I could just find which channel is showing the diving I’ll be happy.
Isobel (and Cat)'s Blog 
Found it! So I can see Daley is currently in third place. I just wish I could understand the commentary as his name is being mentioned an awful lot!
Never been there but would love to, especially as it’s a dog friendly place.
Lots of dog cuddling opportunities came my way and were taken today.
Glad you’ve found the diving. My capabilities as a sports commentator are not proven 😀
Schipol is my favourite airport as I frequently have flown KLM from the airport a mile away from home as an alternative to the pain of transfers at Heathrow or Gatwick.
Not that I am wishing your holiday away but, when you come home, find the ladies toilets upstairs with the display of china lavatory ornaments. These toilets are also quite near the leather loungers that look out over the runway where I have had more than 40 winks – and woken myself up by snoring!!!
Have a fabulous time 😀
Thanks for the tip!
I’ve looked but not found. Just manged to log on and check your tip, so shall retry!
If you haven’t flown already, from memory, walk down the corridor with the Rembrandt museum, then it’s up the stairs and double back on yourself. It’s at a corner intersection. Potentially they could have revamped it and it now has some other amusing elements.
Alas i didn’t find it. Now waiting for train home
So that’s where you went! Our visits to Holland have been to Amsterdam but we have taken trips out so do keep in touch!
I have visited Amsterdam before and The Hague, and ventured to the back of beyond, but this is more central. I realised the hotel had wifi just before I came. It seems a bit cranky, but I shall drop in most days I suspect.
the diving was amazing to watch! Have fun in the Netherlands.
Once the available BBC channel finished with the boxing I enjoyed it a lot more!
Aha! I avoided the boxing, but we were lucky as the diving was on the HD BBC channel. Very close competition. And Tom Daley is still only 18!
They were all amazing. Felt v sorry for that poor German with the painful shoulder.
indeed
How long are you there for ? I lived in The Netherlands for three years then went back for nine months when the kids were little. I loved it there.
Only a week. I haven’t been here for years.
Here is some from-the-horse’s-mouth commentary and photos you may enjoy while you’re there: http://wp.me/Ftlw
Happy trails! L
Thanks for that I shall see if he has written about where I am.
Watching the closing ceremony as I read this. Enjoy the Netherlands 🙂
Thanks. That is what I am doing too! But it is an hour alter here, so I do not know that I’ll stay awake until the end. Cycling tomorrow.
Switching between Dutch channel which has better reception but constant commentary!