amsterdam - city of lost innocence
It's almost a week ago that I ventured to Amsterdam for the day, but nevertheless, always a story to tell and never too late, I guess.
I wouldn't usually just fly across to Europe for the day, but I wasn't going to turn my nose up at a free trip anywhere, especially if it is 'work related' and therefore get paid to travel.
The VLM aircraft that I boarded from City Airport at 7 am on 25 August wasn't much larger than the 6-seater beechcraft my father used to fly us around South Africa in, but they served a decent breakfast which kept me happy and quiet.
On arrival in Amsterdam we were treated to an adequate lunch in a 5 star hotel which is part of the NH Hotel group, the 3rd largest hotel chain in the world. Okay, it was a promo trip and they did a fairly good job at marketing so I figured they deserve a bit of blog space! The starter and dessert were fab, but it would have taken a chainsaw to get through the beef they served, much to the marketing hosts horror.
In true shopaholic style, I made friends with the lady who is the National Sales Rep of the travel agency and we went off on our own mission to ensure we saw every pair of shoes in Amsterdam. I have a suspicion that we were successful.
Naturally, the group would not allow us back onto the plane until we had been through the Red Light district. Whereas the others found it most amusing, I became quite low spirited as my heart broke for these beautiful girls who stand in doorways and beguile onlookers and prospectives alike. Sometimes, I think I'd rather be naive about these things.
In keeping with tradition, we almost missed our flight which would have been twice in the same week for me. We had to be escorted through a special passport control area and once again my accessories set off the metal detector. If I felt like I had been violated before, imagine my horror when the security woman lifted my top in the middle of the airport. I was mortified, but in too much of a hurry to stop and absorb what had happened.
I arrived back in London with enough time to go home and finish packing my bags, ready for my move into my new apartment the following day.
Unless I become a pothead or enthusiastic beer-drinker anytime soon, I don't see much likelihood of me returning to Amsterdam. I'd give it 2 stars.
I wouldn't usually just fly across to Europe for the day, but I wasn't going to turn my nose up at a free trip anywhere, especially if it is 'work related' and therefore get paid to travel.
The VLM aircraft that I boarded from City Airport at 7 am on 25 August wasn't much larger than the 6-seater beechcraft my father used to fly us around South Africa in, but they served a decent breakfast which kept me happy and quiet.
On arrival in Amsterdam we were treated to an adequate lunch in a 5 star hotel which is part of the NH Hotel group, the 3rd largest hotel chain in the world. Okay, it was a promo trip and they did a fairly good job at marketing so I figured they deserve a bit of blog space! The starter and dessert were fab, but it would have taken a chainsaw to get through the beef they served, much to the marketing hosts horror.
In true shopaholic style, I made friends with the lady who is the National Sales Rep of the travel agency and we went off on our own mission to ensure we saw every pair of shoes in Amsterdam. I have a suspicion that we were successful.
Naturally, the group would not allow us back onto the plane until we had been through the Red Light district. Whereas the others found it most amusing, I became quite low spirited as my heart broke for these beautiful girls who stand in doorways and beguile onlookers and prospectives alike. Sometimes, I think I'd rather be naive about these things.
In keeping with tradition, we almost missed our flight which would have been twice in the same week for me. We had to be escorted through a special passport control area and once again my accessories set off the metal detector. If I felt like I had been violated before, imagine my horror when the security woman lifted my top in the middle of the airport. I was mortified, but in too much of a hurry to stop and absorb what had happened.
I arrived back in London with enough time to go home and finish packing my bags, ready for my move into my new apartment the following day.
Unless I become a pothead or enthusiastic beer-drinker anytime soon, I don't see much likelihood of me returning to Amsterdam. I'd give it 2 stars.
posted by foxy_roxtar at 5:40 PM
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