I made it through the flight up to Amsterdam. As I didn't really spend any time in Ataturk Airport (Istanbul) on the way in, I sort of saw everything on my way out yesterday. Not impressed. We raise our prices in airports for food a little bit. They raise their fast food prices about 3x. And what was really weird was that they had a Popeye's Louisian Kitchen serving up good ol' Popeye's chicken and red beans and rice. Of all the US restaurant chains that could possibly be chosen, I really don't know how Popeye's ended up there. With something like a $13 combo meal.
Marlies, Hylke, Dirk, and Catheleine all took the train in 2 hours to have dinner and drinks with me. We went out to a little neighborhood restaurant and had quite a time. They barely caught the last train back home. I wish they were all coming back to the States with me.
I caught my own train into Amsterdam Central and headed to the Pig. Thirteen years ago I was in this very place. Nothing had changed. At about 12am I walked into the lobby where there was basically a rave going on, 20 people smoking and 30 people drinking.
In my bed, there was some stoned Italian who didn't change rooms, so the guy at the desk flipped on the lights and yelled at him (waking up the 3 sleeping Germans who also yelled at the Italian). He changed up my sheets, I tossed my bag and jacket, and went down to hit the bar until about 3am.
My train back to Schiphol came early, and by early it was still like 10:04am. But too early from the night of Strongbow and Guiness from earlier. So now, I sit here waiting to board my 747. Time to go.
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