A great trip to Amsterdam--and snow!
I had a great trip to AMS this weekend! We had 11 Flight Attendants working on the 777 both ways--it was nice to be staffed well!I worked the Business Aisle on the way over--we were full, with 49 passengers in Business. I worked the aisle with Mike, who, with the biggest smile on his face, is easily the happiest guy on the planet. He would start singing a tune to himself, and the next thing you know, we were all humming away the same tune. It was infectious, and we all got bitten! A few minutes later, he'd change his tune, and so would the rest of us! It was a tune-a-palooza in Business--and great to work with everyone who was in a good mood, for a change!
We arrived in Amsterdam around 7:30 in the morning--it was wet and drizzly, and not the kind of weather anyone felt like exploring the city in. We checked into our hotel, and a couple hours later, I was asleep. (Or dead. I can't remember!)
Later that afternoon, Karen and I walked down to the Food Plaza--we both love European grocery stores, and I enjoyed lookng at all the different food things. I bought a little package of salami-wrapped cheese bits and some fresh pineapple to have a bite to eat the next morning.
Some of us, including the pilots, met around 6 pm. for Happy Hour and to decide on dinner. The pilots wanted to go to a rib restaurant, but at 30 Euros a plate (around $38), and a 25 minute walk, we had to pass. I just can't imagine ribs being worth that much money! The rest of us ate at the hotel restaurant--we split an appetizer and I had some delicious tomato soup. The appetizers had cheese souffle balls-that were so delicious, and definitely not good for you!
We walked out the back of our hotel and there was an alley of sorts--a pedestrian walkway, with no car traffic. It was very cool and a little reminiscent of the Latin Quarter in Paris, with shops and restaurants, coffee shops and a sex shops. (Well, it IS Amsterdam!)
Out the door, this very nice man chatted us up--then asked me to take his picture, and he asked for money, of course. (He didn't get any, but he was still very nice.)
The 'erotic shop' right outside the hotel, and across from a McDonald's. Yeah, that wouldn't happen here in the States!
We ended up in a coffee shop--well, it was more like a hookah bar. We met the owner and had a drink. Of course, someone was smoking pot, but it was really no big deal there. But knowing we could be drug tested at anytime with our jobs, we didn't stay long-just in case!
The flight back was fun, too. Business and Coach were half full, and First was full, so I worked in First with two other Flight Attendants. We had a really nice service that was perfectly paced and all our passengers seemed happy.
When leaving the Schipol Airport, I purchased some flower bulbs to plant in my garden. I had to make sure the bulbs were certified for the US. If not, the expensive bulbs could be confiscated, and I could be fined. I listed them first on my "Crew Declaration Form" and the Immigration guy (the one who reads your passport) is supposed to see it and send me to the Agriculture line--but, he didn't even look. The Customs guy saw it, and reviewed the seal, which he deemed appropriate and did not make me go to the long, long, long Agriculture line! (Whew!)
While standing in the Customs line (after Passport guy) the Beagle dog walks by you and sniffs your stuff. He is looking for fruit and plants and things that you can't bring back into the US. Liz, one of the Flight Attendants I flew with, was "pulled over by the Beagle". She previously had a banana in her tote bag, that she ate while in the hotel, and the residual banana odor was still on her bag, so, she was searched. Just a warning to the wise! Avoid being "pulled over by the Beagle"!
I flew with a great crew-we had such a synergy-which just seems to be what makes the work a breeze. Everyone got along with each other, and there seemed to be genuine fondness among the Flight Attendants--it was unusual, and a joy to work with them! I hope the flower bulbs I brought back serve as a reminder of the fun people I have flown with!
And, that was my last trip, for a while. I have taken a three month Leave of Absence from my company. They are giving the LOAs out like crazy, in an effort to avoid furloughing Flight Attendants. I am looking at other options, as the Reserve system at my Company is insane and some days, brutal. (It won't change much for me over the next 10 years, which is how long I plan on flying) and I don't think I could hang with this Reserve system for that long. (At other airlines, Flight Attendants are on Reserve forever, I know! But, I have "been to the other side" of Flight Attendant life, and want to explore going back to that. More, later!)) I could still decide to stay there, and this time off will give me the opportunity to look back and decide what I want to do, while looking at my other options.
In other news...
Last night it snowed like crazy* here--we got about 4 inches here in Alexandria.
(I know that 4 inches of snow isn't that much, but, it is the most we've gotten this winter, and I can call it crazy if I want!)
I "threw" my girls outside on the deck to see what they thought of the snow. They were fine with it, until the wind blew. They wanted none of that and were quickly inside--Delaney to the fireplace and Emmie up on Norm's desk, where the lamp keeps her nice and warm!
I'm making soup and a salad for dinner tonight. It's a good day to be all nice and warm in our house--a very good day, indeed!
