Welcome to Amsterdam!

Yesterday (or was it today?) I boarded the plane from Houston to Amsterdam at 3:40 for the second time this week and am proud to say that we were successful! We landed in Amsterdam around 8:40 this morning (flight was nine hours total). I've been rather intrigued, since I've now flown from and to Houston some three times, to watch the different routes our aircraft had taken. I never paid much attention before but on our first journey (the one that eventually ended in New Jersey) I happened to look up at the GPS running on the cabin monitors to find that we were directly between Jackson and Meridian. On our return journey that same night we flew further West, right over Vicksburg. I think it's odd how I could be so close to my family and yet 33,000 feet away at the same time. Then this morning we flew much further west between Longview and Shreveport and then crossing over Canada (almost over Greenland at times!)

After we landed we went claimed our baggage (not a problem there) and then through customs (again rather simple). We took two steps out of the airport and who's gorgeous face greeted us but Mr. Patrick Dempsey. Say what you want about the Dutch, they have admirable taste.

At the airport we loaded into a bus and drove three hours south to Maastricht. This was my favorite part of the trip, partly because I had a seat to myself (!) and partly because I just stare out the window. If you took away the architecture and windmills of Holland I could have been driving west on I20. The road varied between four and eight lanes with eighteen wheelers and the occasional RV (though not the big Class A's you find in America). There weren't many trucks or SUV's this Mom, Dad, and I discovered during our France trip. However, the cars weren't as teeny as they were in France. In fact I saw brands I actually knew. Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Volkswagen (yes Dad, I have to go all the way to Holland to notice a Volkswagen). I even saw a Land Rover and a Santa Fe. There were over passes, rest stops with gas stations. In all the drive down was neat and rather surprising.

So after a long day's journey, I'm settled in my dorm with my things unpacks. I have some milk in my fridge (at least that's what I think it is) and a day and a half before my first escapade across the European Continent. It's been a good day. Goedenacht!

Oh and since my picture of my travel companion Maas wouldn't load I thought I'd try and introduce him again. Here he is (in the middle) with my friends Amy and Amanda, excited about the bus ride to Maastricht!