Airports and Amsterdam

Ahhh, my restless heart is once again free to roam the world. I have explored Amsterdam today, in between my marathon flights. I flew to NYC first- Interesting new development to report in airport security; I didn't have to remove my shoes or take anything out of my bag. They say this is an attempt to get people through faster. And it was-until we got to the bottleneck of one guy holding an ipad. Each person had to walk up and touch the screen. After you touched it it would show you a gigantic arrow to the left (or occasionally the right if you had a walker or a stroller) and then you had to go that way to get in line. Apparently the human post holding up the ipad wasn't allowed to touch it for you, so he had to explain it to each person. Now I am in the international line, so the older-and-non-English-speaking population was really struggling. As was the human post. Very entertaining to watch though. Though it may save that poor man carpal tunnel syndrome in the future from endlessly sweeping his arm to the left, the mental toll might not be worth it. Not sure this is the best use of tax dollars and state of the art technology........just my humble opinion.

Anyway, my first taste of Amsterdam was quite lovely, and I hope to sample more in the future. I packed soley for weather on the equator, which I bitterly regretted when I saw the outside temp was about 40 degrees. I put on everything I had with me, which included compression socks with sandals, leggings, a long skirt and a raincoat. Shexy, I know :) thankfully the Dutch are a little more free and loose with their fashion, so I wasn't too much of a spectacle.

Amsterdam is quite a beautiful city. So pretty in fact, that I took several pictures of a mall before I realized the palace was one more block down :). Whoops.

This is the view from right outside Anne Frank's front door. That was a sobering, but amazing place to be. It's hard to believe such things were ever allowed to happen. Also amazing what the human spirit can endure, and still remain hopeful. I'd like to think I would have had an attic full of Jews if I'd been alive then.

The flower markets are actually on floating barges that come right up to the sidewalk :)

And this lady is my hero. I can only hope to be rocking sassy red heels and handbags, while on a bike, when my hair is white. Something to aspire to.......

Jessie

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