When my husband K, daughter J, and I got up at 5 am, it was 53°, but felt like 49° and was overcast.
We ate up the rest of our breakfast food and washed up before leaving at 6:13. All we had to do was drop off the keys downstairs before hauling our luggage over to the train station.
We were on the train at 6:22 and reached Schiphol Airport at 6:40. The train is below the airport. So, we didn't have to go outside at all.
We went into the grocery and picked up cheese. Since I was so loaded down, I asked J to take one of them and bring it when she flies down to us in a few days.
J was checked in and K found someone to ask about our problem. They sent us to a kiosk and we still couldn't use it. So, we had to go to an agent, who told us the problem was that we were flying into Heathrow and then on to Orlando. Heathrow had extra security layers.
It turned out that my suitcase was heavy. So, I pulled out the gnome for my brother, which really wasn't heavy, and K put it in his backpack.
Once all of that was settled, we said good-bye to J at 7:40 and she headed off to her gate.
K and I had lots of time to kill. We stopped in a shop, where K bought a book, and I picked up a miniatures magazine and a paper craft magazine. I can't read them, but I can get stuff from the photos.
At 8:15, K bought a coffee and we sat a bit. About 10:30, we were ready for real food and thought we'd beat the lunch rush. Amsterdam Bread Company with its interesting porcelain cow sign was right there and we knew it from the last time we'd flown out of Amsterdam. I held seats, while K went to the cafeteria-like line to get food. I amused myself by watching the truly cool clock they have there. I really wish I could figure out how they created that illusion. I hope the video works for you.
This airport, like several we've been in in Europe, does not want people hanging out at the gate long before their flight. So, they don't post the gate number until they absolutely have to. There was a seating area, complete with outlets, near the Amsterdam Bread Company and that is where we set up shop.
At 11:30, I left K there and I roamed. I knew I had a lot of sitting today and thought walking would be a good idea. I found a shop called the Museum Store. It turned out to be related to the Rijksmuseum. here I found the Playmobil of Van Gogh and the Yellow Room that we'd seen at that outdoor shop the other day. Of course, I bought it to add to the collection. Luckily, there was room in my backpack on top of all that heavy chocolate.
I got back to K at noon to trade restroom trips. At 12:45, we were a Gate D31.
At 1:25, the plane pushed back and took off at 1:40 Central European Time. Even though it was a short flight, they still served a snack.
Through the magic of time zones, it was 1:30 in London, when we landed at Terminal 4 at Heathrow Airport. We didn't get off the plane until 1:50. Then, we encountered confusing signs about where to go. There were signs telling people with non-British passports to go one way, but transfers another. We finally decided to stick with the transfer directions. When we descended stairs at the end of the long corridor 10 minutes later, we asked the Indian clerks there, if we were in the right place to get to Terminal 3. We were and were told to have a seat. They also asked if our toiletries were in clear plastic and offered bags, but we didn't need them.
At 2:05, the bus showed up with a Sikh driver. In a few short minutes, we'd seen more diversity than we'd seen on the continent in days. Anyway, the bus was very crowded and we had to stand. The driver got off to take some sort of break, while the guy from inside got us on board. He got on, too. He wanted folks to climb up to the seats in the back, but I didn't have it in me to make that climb. Soon, we were headed out.
This guy drove awfully fast and rather wild, with passengers sluing around a bit. At 2:10, we stopped at Terminal 2. I was feeling rather panicky about making it to the next plane on time. Someone exiting left the first seat open, so I took that. I was glad I did, because the ride continued to be rather wild.
When we got off at Terminal 3, we had to go through passport control, which, of course, had a line. We had to make sure we'd finished the water we'd had from the other plane. The rhinestones on the back of my jeans triggered a sensor, which has never happened before. Even though they could clearly see them on the screen, they did an extra scan and pat down. You'd have thought the metal in my knee would have been a problem, but it didn't show up on the scan.
Signs directed us to a Delta/ Virgin Airlines counter to be checked in. In spite of the line, there were only a couple of agents and one even left. Another worked on her computer, leaving just 2. When we got up there, the agent took way too long to decide we were okay and to issue new boarding passes, the need for which was not explained.
It was now 2:45 and boarding was to have begun. She assured us we'd make it. So, we hurried off.
A signboard said it was a 20 minute walk to Gate 20. We flew down the corridor. However, a sign noted the last restroom before the planes. So, we stopped.
The corridor was weird. It had us going down the left side - like their cars- and had us separated from the other side by glass.
We reached the glass door to cross the other side to get to Gate 20 at about 3. The door was locked and a sign on the wall said the gate was closed. We saw no one near the gate and then a woman went through on the other side. Finally, after a few frightened minutes, they let us into the area and through to the gate.
The woman behind the desk said we were the first to check in! There had been a delay while they brought the plane over from where it had been since it arrived this morning. The crew was already waiting. Soon, other passengers arrived. We realized that in whatever area they were waiting, the delay had kept the gate number from being posted. Why weren't we told at the desk that it was delayed?
At 3:06, our plane arrived. We now waited for Group 8 to be called. I was mentally writing the complaints I had about Heathrow for the review I knew Delta would send.
At 3:45, we were seated in 57 B and C on VA5135 to Orlando. The plane did not push back from the gate until 4:45. I started watching Ticket to Paradise. We took off at 5:10.
The plane was huge and by no means full. They announced that we could change our seats once we took off. Here's the thing- the guy next to us didn't budge. You'd think he would have taken advantage of the chance to have a row to himself. We would have moved, but it is a lot of work to move two people. So, we stayed put.
At 5:25 London time, we were served dinner. We got Chicken and Portuguese Rice. It was pretty good.
When my movie ended at 6:58, I chose The Banshees of Inisherin, which I'd wanted to see and didn't get the chance at home. It wasn't a fun movie, but it was Ireland in all its dark glory.
My next choice at 8:50 was decidedly lighter- Hotel Transylvania: Transformed. I was surprised to find out that Adam Sandler wasn't in that one.
Another film I hadn't been able to see at home was A Man Called Otto. I started that one at 10:20 and twenty minutes later, they brought around a frozen Apple Fruit Lolly. It was tasty. The movie was really good.
At 11:55, it was tea time. That was quite a surprise. It made for a very nice late night snack and I loved the clotted cream.
At 8:25 pm EDT, we landed at OIA. That was followed by so much taxiing! We didn't reach the gate until 8:37.
We got off the plane at about 8:45 and headed down the ramp to customs and immigration. Global Entry made all of that a breeze. At 8:55, we were waiting for our luggage. Unfortunately, you can't use a cell phone in that area. So, we couldn't tell our ride where we were in the process.
Bags in hand at 9:05, we finally left and headed for the main terminal. At 9:20, we were on the curb waiting for our ride. He collected us at 9:35 and we were home at 10:10, truly exhausted, but not ready to crash, for some reason.
My phone said I'd done 12,247 steps for 4.1 miles today. It was all that walking in Schipol.
What an incredible trip this was!!
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