We Are in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Surprise! As I wrote earlier, Leo and Lucile have a two-week spring break, but their parents have J-O-B-S, so we volunteered to take the children. We didn't say where. We aren't getting any younger, and the grandchildren are growing up so fast, so in the spirit of Put Your Money in Your Memory Bank, we are taking them to Europe. (Nevermind the poor waifs have already been to Europe several times.)

BACK STORY: over a year ago, Lucy said she wanted to visit the Anne Frank Haus in Amsterdam. Dave and I had been to this museum years ago. If you have read The Diary of Anne Frank (as Lucy did, and as I did many times as a child), the story is compelling - though a heavy subject for a child. Somehow, Leo and DT jumped on our bus, so it should be a fun-packed adventure, with a bit of history to ponder.

So the four of us flew to Amsterdam from Los Angeles Saturday afternoon. Lenny and Lisa drove us to the airport with notarized paperwork giving us permission to take their children out of the country, and no one asked us for it! And they went to so much trouble too, having it notorized. There is always the possibility someone will ask for it later?

And though we have been hearing horror stories about TSA lines, I am here to say there was ZERO line in the international terminal at LAX. The unpaid agents could not have been nicer. As we walked through the terminal, we saw few passengers. It was like we were there at 2a instead of 2p. Few people were in the Air France lounge either, so we situated ourselves in a cozy seating area for four guests and our grandchildren went directly to the macaron buffet and were very happy travelers.

When they called our flight, we headed to the gate and were quickly onboard a 777-300.

The plane was either new, or had been recently refurbished, as everything was shiny and clean. We had dinner - planned by Chef Daniel Boulud - and the first course featured smoked duck breast with roasted beets… and a citrus salad (also with beets)? Were they on sale?

Lucile and I stitched for a while after dinner, but soon we turned our seats into beds and tried to get some sleep. None of us really slept much though and were quite fuzzy when we landed in Paris at 2a (LA time)… where we had to change to a smaller plane and zip up to Amsterdam. One hour flight, and caught a taxi to our hotel. We have two connecting rooms - the kids have twin beds and we have a king bed. Best thing: two bathrooms. All settled, we bundled-up and took a walk around the main square in Amsterdam, Dam Square. Here sits the Royal Palace (though the King no longer lives here and the building is only used for state functions).

Seriously fading fast, we left the square and headed into a busy shopping area (but not the Red Light District!) and found so many interesting things! Lisa and Leo know so many more labels than Dave or I, and I finally saw my first LaBuBu doll. (Why? Just why? If you thought Cabbage Patch Kids were hideous…) It was Sunday night, and we stumbled upon a pizza restaurant and called it a night. No plans tomorrow until 1p.

So here we are - even though the weather is cold. Their Spring Break is over the next two weeks, so we will bundle up and carry umbrellas and have a fabulous time. (It is 109° at our house today!)

And this day’s journal ends with an update from home. My large (10x7.5 inch) winter needlepoint project was completed before we left. Finished it Thursday night. Whew. Stitched in silk, it will be a pillow for our house.

Until my next update, I remain, your jet-lagged correspondent.

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