A'DAM ONE MORE TIME!

It was Shake and Shimmy one last time as our able crew nudged the Vision of the Seas into its alternate birth at Waterland Terminal B.V. in Westpoort, 12km West of A'dam..

We4 had drawn Zone 3 for debarkation but had decided that we would take our time to give the crew plenty of time to get the bags sorted.  We watched from our balconies as they off loaded the LUGgage carts and delivered them to the “Terminal” Waaaayyyyy over there.  Since we only had one pull along it didn’t seem too far. Little did we know…

We met the remnants of T10 [Minus a few} for a last Breakfast in the Dining room then relaxed a bit before trying the debarkation procedure.  Barb graciously let us use her cabin for Stuff Storage while we waited and then we made our way down the gangway for the last time, bidding farewell to our floating hotel of the last 2 weeks.

It really was a bit of a hike to the"Terminal" {nothing more than an open air warehouse} to collect our LUGgage, but the sorting dudes did a marvelous job and we had our Stuff in no time, easily finding our way out to call for an UBER.

Instead of sharing an UBER to D&L’s hotel to stow our Stuff before heading to the Van Gogh Museum as previously planned, we decided that with all the LUGgage D&L and B&N had that it would be tight, even with an UBER Van.  So, Chucky elected to call for a ride to the Airport Sheraton and take a train back to meet up with everyone at the Museum.  This would actually be easier and cheaper than going to D&L's hotel, dumping bags, navigating buses, trams etc to and from Van Gogh, then back to their hotel, collect LUGgage and UBERing to the airport.

After a near hiccup getting the UBER driver into the port, Chucky and DL were on their way to the airport while the rest were left waiting for their ride, which we found out later was a real Debacle.  Seems that after 3 or 4 calls, and plenty of hiccups, including Norm being knocked over by a taxi, their van arrived an hour+ late and must have taken the Looonnnggg way around which cost them triple what was quoted.  Lenny vowed a complaint to UBER for recompense. 

Chucky knew the room at the Schiphol Airport Sheraton, wouldn’t be ready yet, {it was only 10AM} so they checked in anyway and stored the Stuff in the LUGgage room and headed into the airport to grab a train back to A’dam.  But First…

Knowing that early 8 AM tomorrow would be a challenge getting to our departure gate, and not being able to check in online, our intrepid travelers went on a journey of discovery to find the best way to get to the gate, and check in at a kiosk along the way.  Well that was the plan.  

For some reason, Chucky’s new passport keeps causing hiccups with check-ins {and with the US Global Entry system as well} and it caused the kiosk to decline the check in directing them to an agent.  Finding a lovely KLM Agent Lady directing traffic, {KLM handles Schiphol traffic for SkyPartner Delta} they explained the problem and were directed to a long Queue to check in. 

   “Uh… perhaps I should have 

  mentioned,  we fly Tomorrow.”

    “Oh, well I can do that here.” 

      Says nice Agent Lady.

Who attempts to check them in only to have Chucky’s passport cause the system to Hiccup. After several tries, and lots of typing & scanning & scanning & typing, nice KLM Agent Lady finally succeeds in awarding them boarding passes for tomorrow... 

And all was well in their world… for now.  

{But Wait... will tomorrow have more drama?}

Ok then… time to get tickets for the train and maybe 24 hour GVB passes for trams and busses.  No GVB available at the ticket counter but 2 R/T train tickets got them seats on the next train to Amsterdam Centrall and they were off.

 

A 25 minute ride and a long walk from the farthest track in the station took them to the GVB desk in the Tourist office across the Staionplein.  Securing 2 day passes they headed to Tram 3 or 12 for the 20 minute ride to Van Baerlestraat, the Van Gogh stop. 

Arriving with plenty of time on their hands and spotting the Small Talk Coffee Corner {on the corner of Van Baerlestraat} they popped in for a delightful lunch of what amounted to open face Ham & Cheese Croissants and some Fizzy Iced tea. 

Apparently the Dutch LOVE Fizzy Iced Tea.

Still having an hour plus before TE10 {minus a handful} showed up, the Wacky American Tourist and Ever-Lovely Dragon Lady decided to wander around exploring the area before texting Lenny for the ETA of TE10 {minus a bunch} to the Van Gogh Stop.

We’ll leave it here and pick up on the Last Day in A’dam when TE10 {minus... whatevah} arrive.

Seriously... they LOVE Fizzy Lipton Iced Tea here!

Ciao 4 Now

Uncle Chuck & The Wandering around A’dam,

Dragon Lady