Haarlem

I have made it here. I am quite pleased to be here, obviously. The trip was good and pleasant. I had my flights changed since my orginal flight from CR to minneapolis was delayed and I then got a direct flight from minneapolis to amsterdam. That's good, for I didn't have to change in Newark. I was fervently hoping for a first-class upgrade but it didn't happen because the second flight was packed full of travellers.

Well, I am not as tired as I thought I would be. I have everything in my bag (food, clothes, etc.)so I am content. My hotel for tonight is right across the street and I can get in very soon (12PM) to nap.

A fun thing happened in Mineeapolis airport. I had a long lay-over, and I was sitting there having a coffee and looked up. I recognized a face I had seen on TV. I saw the face of an actor who is on one of my favorite HBO series "Big Love". He was ordering a coffee, and I asked him if I was right. Are you this actor (the big, wide, "flat-topped hair dewed, side-kick of Bill Paxton on the series)? He was very nice and said in the affirmative that he was. I asked him if he got this from alot of people as he journeyed along and he said "no, not often at all". He seemed genuinely pleased that I recognized him and he shook my hand and introduced me to his daughter... Ï fianlly asked him if he could let me in on any of the secrets in the 2nd season starting next month... He politely declined with a smile.

I am having a hard time on this strange keyboard. There is no english spell-check too. I hope you can understand my pecking...

Please comment on this blog.

I will attempt to call, email or whatever to each on you when I can. I am going out tonight to get a phonecard to call and I hope they work. I will find times to call; It appears I will try to call at 4PM Central Time to catch everyone.

It is good to be here. The weather is cold however and somewhat rainy. Yet the city is tranquil and filled with morning bicycists darting to and fro. What will I do for the next couple hours? I don't feel like going to Amsterdam so maybe I will go for a long walk if it stops raining. How the bed and shower will feel good in the near future.

I should make a coffee in the travel pot, curl up on the bed and relax then tonight I will have renewed focus and verve.

I need to make reservations for tomorrow night. Hotel Carillon where I am staying tonight is booked tomorrow therefore reservations must be made somehere else for tomorrow. They want €60 ($81) for tomorrow here I told her that I cannot afford it and she wouldn't budge. Oh well... I can find other spots for much less.