Travels With Sidd - Amsterdam I

Well the idea was that I would start blogging about the trip when I arrived here in Amsterdam and that if I got lazy Sidd would encourage me.

Let's just say that by the time that we arrived in Amsterdam the old body clock was way out of whack and the overriding compulsion was sleep and nourishment. It had been a bit of a long - though no unpleasant - haul. A good flight from Ottawa to Frankfurt - I'm not crazy about the pod concept in business class but the food was excellent and the flight attendants extremely good. We left Ottawa about 90 minutes late which raised some concerns about catching our train to Amsterdam; but damn it you have to love German efficiency: we landed at 1035 and made the 1143 ICE with 5 minutes to spare.

The apartment we're staying at wasn't that far from the train station but we took a cab anyway and frankly I think Sidd is glad we did.  He was feeling the time change and when he was confronted with the staircase - one of two - that led to our accommodation he - and we - needed all our strength.

I assured him that once he got to the top he'd enjoy the view and that after this he'd be carried up and down.  And I didn't mention the second set - that were even steeper.  Like I said before Sidd's a trooper!



June 9 - 1667: The Raid on the Medway by the Dutch fleet begins. It lasts for five days and results in a decisive victory by the Dutch over the English in the Second Anglo-Dutch War.