PART 4, AMS-MAN BA EMBRAER JET

Ok, time to pick it up. Thanks for showing an interest, I needed that.

With jetlag, one usually arises early in the morning, and no exception here in Amsterdam.

I stayed at this Sheraton long ago and remembered their incredible breakfast buffet.
Hence, I made my way down there to the nice, comfy restaurant. The room is spacious, unlike many Euro resto's, no offence :=))), the staff are friendly, and English is not a problem, one reason I love Holland and more so Amsterdam.
Needless to say the buffet was excellent, with some of the packaged cheeses and things "ACCIDENTALLY" falling into my pocket, OOPS! :=))) Hey, for 20 something Euros, close to $20 something $$$, I don't have a problem. I sat next to a flight crew, I think it was Garuda, embarrassed that I can't remember. More F/A's just kept coming in and they all squeezed in at the one table.... I could have asked them thousands of questions, i.e. may I have your wings please?, but I was polite.

I had a good view of some of the planes at the last concourse at Schiphol on the int'l side, where some of the funky intercontinental goodies come. EVA 744 is nothing rare for me, but cool to see. ELAL 757, love the old colors... I wanted to sneak over there and watch the boarding, a fun process to watch... The most secure flight on the earth, more fun to be a lurker than a pax and then can walk away :=))), though I got into trouble in Frankfurt photographing the plane(757). The Germans and the Israelis didn't like that and I was followed/watched for quite a while, I still remember that, UGH!!!

There were the usuals, tons of KLM, NW, and what have you. Anyway, I had to hit the lounge upstairs where I swiped some San Pelligrino and they had some Westin chocolates....nice lounge, top floor of the hotel, decent view, but my room is just as comfy, plus, it was time to go explore Schiphol. San Pellegrinos included .

The hotel is connected via a long pedestrian bridge to the train/shopping area at the arrivals level. So convenient, every airport in the world should have something like this... I went outside to get some fresh air and that was enough, dank U. Freezing and that wind thing going nuts, was enough.

I did a quick check on the shops, not very long, met my friend from Paris there last summer and we lived in the aviation shop. I honestly, I know crazy!, completely avoided the aviation/model shop. Too much temptation. I was on a budget and I had probably spent 200-300 $$$$$$ last summer.....plus, no room in the baggage to carry all that STUFF. Had it been at the end of the trip, who knows... then you can just spend :=)))

Ok, toured the departures area, West and South..... Packed to the gills with people and very busy. For some reason, and Frankfurt is similar, everyone is walking fast and on their cell phone, almost pushing you out of the way. I noticed London was a little more relaxed and more so Paris, which is nice. The crowding and rushing was driving me crazy, to be honest..... I am so sick off all those cell phones....... Do these people have a freaking life off the thing??? I love mine, but get real :=))).

I did a check of all check-in counters, not to much to nick, but I tried... I think a few timetables.... There are more pickings at the West area. Croatia inflight magazine. Yes, Darwin, I have one for you :=))) (dang they are heavy!). The creme de la creme was the Ghana Airways magazine. I asked the woman if she could hand me it, she did, I was very happy. Anything from Africa puts a smle on my face, as Philippe knows well :=))), merci! Not too much else, to my surprise......

Anyway, now came the guts and glory. With my carry on and my flight ticket on BA to Manchester, not due for several hours that evening, I went to the Schengen area security control ( no borders/passport control) , showed my ticket(vs. boarding pass), they didn't say a word, and let me in. OK! :=) Some airports I think would make a big deal if it is about 10am and your flight leaves at 1800, or supposed to anyway, :=))).
A cute oriental girl wanted to check my pocket at security control, to be honest, no problem there :=))). What a change from getting frisked by guys at London, Miami, and Vienna, and a pleasant one at that, smile.

With that, I was able to get a substantial part of the airport out of the way and see a new concourse. Granted, the concourses at Schiphol are very generic, but I want to see all atleast once. I hit both concourses, very, very LONG!, all the way to the end. My reward was a leftover Montreal Gazette(in English) newspaper which I duly removed. I love Montreal, love to get news from there. It was mine!!!

I had access to 2 lounges, Globeground and some new company, they seem to be all over Europe now... the first one didn't check a boarding pass, nice, and was reasonably spacious.... I borrowed their Financial Times(love that paper) and several chocolates and biscuits, many of which went to my friend in Paris. I could tell people were watching me take a few trips over, nothing big....No inflight magazines to borrow, so that sucked! Had a couple of hot chocolates, not bad, and the staff was friendly... Some guy was yacking in some Eastern European language on his cell phone, was driving me crazy to find out what it was-hey, I love languages, I gotta know... I am gonna go with Polish, if no points, fine...

Went to the other lounge-Globeground. Small hole in the wall, clean, but too small, as British Midland came in and took over half of their lounge... I should have just left. She wanted a boarding pass and didn't want to show her my ticket, so we played a game. Won't go through all the details but it was exhaustive doing a 360 around this woman. I spent maybe 5 minutes there, too small, nothing good. My reward was some sparkling water and she let me take the BM inflight magazine, sorry Darwin, only one..... was surprised that she so readily let me have it...

With that, I checked out the shops, the fresh smell of cheese and all, very nice!
Didn't want to bother with passport control til I left. If you do, they scan your passport and it stays on your record for who knows how long. Brussels looked at me more closely for doing the in and out thing of their airport, hence, I shall be more careful as I go to Europe several times a year.... if it had been the old days of just Holland, I wouldn't care......Now, officers in Athens and Copenhagen are looking at your ins and outs in
Amsterdam. OH Schengen!!!

Anyway, bought some chocolates and yes, she wanted to see a boarding pass. UGH! Schengen, no more Duty Free, what is going on? It is technically a domestic part of the airport. To the positive, she accepted my ticket( if I were to hang out there til 6pm I really would have no life :=))) ), no questions. I was amazed. FYI, no tax on the items bought, the store eats it, so it does pay to shop airside. I can see getting through security but after that you should be checking in at the transit counter. No, AMS is cool. I know other airports would have made a fuss. Why I love Schiphol so much! With that, one last persousal and downstairs through customs...
Was a little concerned, as no checked luggage and hence, no coveted green tag, so, I just went through... When I had come through last summer, there were no officers. Now, they had 2/3 officers and someone's bags were being thoroughly checked in the customs booth, poor soul. They must be watching out for the white baggage tags, glad to no longer have one. Once you land in Europe, save Switzerland, there is no customs..... but you may have to show a boarding pass from your flight. What the dear woman at Globeground wanted to see from my, hmmmmmm, arrival flight from Paris........:=))))))))))

I know that I will get into trouble when I say that I had passed on going into Amsterdam. Atleast Brian will chastize me, fair. I had a very comfy room, was a little tired, and wanted to pack all the new goodies that I had picked up on the trip, SO FAR. Bad, I know... I am still unpacking.

This is one of the nicest hotel rooms, didn't want to leave it, and it ain't cheap either.
I figure I can do the take the train to Amsterdam next time, and there will def. be a next time. Everyone speaks English, so never a language problem, very, very nice!!! and the women are cute...Yes, I am engaged, but I think I am still allowed to look!?, right dear?

I did a swim in the pool. Nice pool, had it to myself most of the time. It had that fresh water that you get in Switzerland and Germany, hence, my stay was longer. I love anything with water....More relaxing and enjoyed the 4pm checkout gratis a Sheraton Gold status. Again, the staff couldn't have been friendlier. A quick check out and threw my bags onto a baggage cart and off to BA.

I may have said before, Oneworld has its own check-in area at Schiphol, which I love. It is large, spacious, and nicer than the hometown KLM and NW areas. As a Oneworld Sapphire I was able to check-in at the BA Club Europe check-in and she was friendly, it was quick, and I was happy :+))). I want to see similiar Oneworld check-in zones at all airports! Would be wonderful. By the way, stick * Alliance, :-P~~~ .

Ok, some more looking. Checked out the upstairs, restos and all, full from breakfast and snacks from the lounges, but wanted to see all areas of the airport. Another present from 9/11, the beloved observation deck was closed, BOOOOOOOOOO. Ok, too cold, but still, I would have endured, even with my leather jacket packed away.
I remember it from days past, good views and lot's of room to move around.
Dang 9-11........

I went to the far end of the West terminal, swiped some Martinair baggage tags, rare for me!, and did the passport control thing. I politely waited in line, queued, handed my passport to the officer, who was cool, gave me my exit stamp, even though I would be back in dear old Schengen tomorrow. An EgyptAir pilot waltzes right up thinking he can flash his passport, nah ah. So the MS crew blocked my way waving their passports. Can you say rude? They made the rude European people look good, I say ugh... I have been to Egypt so know what it is like... they are kinda, ah, impatient!!! :=))) Wait your turn, then you can go. I liked how the officer controled them. They were humbled(read pissed).

Security was a breeze compared to earlier... though no women wanted to check my pockets ((((((((((( . . There was a dang cute Dutch girl, security officer standing to the side........UGH......:=)))

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Michael
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold
Marriot Silver