Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Amster-damn-it

A 'fun filled' Trip to Amsterdam!

Amsterdam Airport.  
But first, the nightmare trip: a delay in Tampa, then a delay in Philly & a missed flight, re-book to British Airways for a 90 minute delay at Heathrow, then 2+hrs through Immigration in Amsterdam.
Philly. The RE-Booking Line for delayed missed flights, 90min!
My Tampa flight was supposed to arrive at 5:47pm and depart at 7:12pm.  Instead, we arrived at 6:52pm.  Upon arrival in Philly we had a "medical emergency" in the aisle 3 rows ahead of me.  Everyone in front of that got to deplane while we had to sit and watch a couple of EMS guys talk to a lady who was 'sick to her stomach.'  She refused all medical treatment and Ambulance, but DID ask the EMS guys to help her get her luggage down. (really!)  I ran through the Philly airport like OJ back in those stupid commercials before he killed his wife.  The plane was gone and so was my happy face.  That's OK, after about an hour and a half standing in this line they rebooked me on a flight from Philly to London Heathrow at 11pm and then on to Amsterdam.  (the London flight was also delayed an hour but without incident.  *#Heathrow is a zoo!)
The Line to ENTER Customs/Immigration
(it went on forever and then out of frame right, 80min. before entry.)
Still in the Amster-damn line
The line once you actually reach the Immigration area.
(out of the shot is a monitor reading "5 minutes to front." It took 35m)
Finally 8pm on the train to my hotel.

Note: I don't want to sound 'bitter.'  I'm used to delays and travel.  But I did get about a years worth of bad luck in one single trip.  Instead of arriving in Amsterdam at 8:40AM as ticketed, I arrived at 8PM.  Same day, same city, just 12hrs delayed.  Tired.  No, very tired!







My hotel, a short 8min walk from the train.
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Wednesday, a new day!









The 'guard cat' in a coffee shop.