HEY A’DAM, WE’RE BAAAACK

As previously reported, arrival via the magic talents of the DELTA bus drivers, was an hour early. 

After the appropriate pit stops and the Loooonnnnggg trek from the farthest gate of Schipol Airport [somewhere on the outskirts of Brussels], all the way to the curb outside for transport to A'Dam, getting an UBER was the main priority... if we could only connect to the airport WiFi.

After several minutes trying to connect while LUGging the LUGgage, during which time Chucky managed to call the airport WiFi administrators a plethora of select names, and/or render obscure curses on their houses, HE finally got a WiFi connection. AND at the end of the 15 minute trek to the curb outside Exit B, the affable Shariff of Uber was there in 10 minutes and had them at the Lloyd Hotel and Cultural Embassy in under 20 minutes.

Now of course it’s 6AM A’dam time and check-in is supposedly not ‘til 3PM, but the charming Robin senses DL’s distress and tells us even though Sunday’s are late check out days and housekeeping is scheduled much later than normal because of this, he will get us the first available room.  He then graciously invites us to rest in the lounge area of the café and avail ourselves of the coffee

and continental breakfast until he has a check out.

So we settle in for the long haul as the Delightful Flora rushes over to say that while she may not be open yet, if there is ANYTHING we need just ask and in the meantime help ourselves to the coffee etc. 

She then proceeds to make DL a special Ginger and Mint Tea to help ease her distress while we wait.

These folks are THE BEST, as we continue to say about most of the lovely people of A’dam.

At 9AM, Robin offers the first check out – a double twin room, but housekeeping isn’t in yet so we elect to wait for the King we booked and around 11AM, not only does he have a King but an up-grade.  Did I mention these folks are Tops?

The room is delightful, a bit dated, but considering this is an Historic building, quite quaint and we were impressed with how they made it a comfortable spot to spend a couple of days.

After settling in, we text the Templeshifs to advise that DL probably wouldn’t make it to dinner as Chucky promptly medicated her as much as possible and tucked her into bed to try and knock the bug out as soon as possible.

D&L text back with some suggestions from TE10 for an authentic Dutch Dinner, but as Chucky is fading fast, they decide to keep with the original arrangement and meet, just the three of them at 5 & 33 in the Art’otel.

Chucky was able to buy 2-48 hour Tram Tickets at the front desk for tonight and tomorrow and hustled to the #26 tram station just down the street behind the hotel.  He gets there just as the tram arrives and in 10 minutes [3] stops, he is at Amsterdam Centraal, Stationsplein, with just a 4 minute walk to the Art’otel and up the stairs to wait for the Templeshifs.  Of course they were downstairs at another entrance looking for him.  A text exchange later and it was long distance hugs and air kisses [he didn't want to accidentally contaminate them with DL's malady], and they settled in for a nice dinner and visit. 

Dinner was Wonderful, a bit of a slow start, but once Mikela took over from the trainee that took our drink order it moved along quit well. 

After negotiating some menu adjustments [just what you would expect with a couple of caterers ordering from an eclectic menu] where, Chucky wanted the Gnochi with the Cheese sauce that came with the Ravioli and the Templeshifs  wanted the mild olive oil and Pomodoro sauce for their Ravoii that the Gnochi was prepared in… and after some serious haggling with the kitchen by Mikela, dinner was served and consumed with great gusto.

It was a wonderful first meal with some wonderful friends, but Chucky had to cut it short. 

He had to trek over to the BIRD Thais Restaurant,  located close to the red-light district that was supposed to have GREAT chicken soup for the highly congested, sniffling, wheezing, hacking Dragon Lady, recommended by the Wonderful folks at the Lloyd Hotel cafe.

D&L walked over with him, since it was closer than it looked on the map. The Take-out annex, across from the main restaurant was packed, with people on benches both inside and out, slurping all sorts of great smelling soup and curries and... and... 

Yeah, it had to be good with this much of a slurping and grinning crowd. Of course there was a busy "Coffee Shop" next door which may have contributed to the crowd, but they all sang the praises of the soup, some of them even appeared to be sober.

With HER soup in hand HE walked D&L back to their Bus stop and headed to Tram #26 just as it was pulling into Centraal Station.

10 minutes later he was rousting her from a fitful slumber to slurp some GREAT Chicken soup, medicate her again and tucked her in for the night as he knocked out the first NOWAT from A’Dam re-counting one of the Departure Chaos installments.

With no Scotch in sight, he took a quick shower and fell into bed for a fitful sleep of his own that lasted only 3 hours.

Tomorrow's agenda will include the Anne Frank house tour and depending on how the “draggin’” Dragon Chic wakes up they will either hop a couple of trams to meet up with TE10 [minus 2 who have done this tour before], or text the Templeshifs to sell their tickets at the entrance Queue to someone that didn’t book in advance.

Fingers crossed, chanting a Tibetan Good Fortune Mantra… Oooooommmmmmm.

More later, HE needs to crash.

Ciao 4 Now

Uncle Chuck & The totally Zonked,

Dragon Lady