I arrived in Amsterdam on a freezing 🥶 morning, to be precise, well below zero degrees. I know I should be used to this weather after having lived half of my life in Chicago but the past few years in San Francisco has surely spoiled me.
I am glad that I shoved my heavy winter jacket and heavy wool sweater from good old Chicago days, just minutes before heading out to the airport. I have to thank my dear friend Kathleen who made sure that I packed winter clothes to keep myself warm.
The moment I stepped out of the flight, I could feel the cold draft seeping through the ramp doors. Oh boy, I realized at that very instance that this is going to be a heck colder than I had anticipated.
Usually, I like to admire the airports and see what makes it special. I Was too excited to notice anything except the Exit signs. I headed directly to the immigration check point. I was so tempted to go through the EU passport side but for now the “All Passports” will do. Luckily or was it #88 still playing mischief with me, there was hardly any wait time, and the handsome Dutch agent asked me the typical why I’m here questions, I was secretly hoping the conversation will continue but he quickly stamped my passport and welcomed me to Amsterdam. O’well, we shall meet again some other day. I headed to Gate 13 to pick up my luggage and there it was coming out off the conveyor belt. I sighed, what a perfect timing! Thank you # 88.
I grabbed the city map from the Information booth and headed towards the train ticket vending machine, only to find out that it doesn’t accept cash. I was supposed to add travel notification to my credit cards, but with so much going on, I had completely forgotten, hence they were useless. With the WiFi being so spotty and unreliable, I was not able to add the notification there and then. I schlepped my heavy two bags to the ticket counter manned by real humans, which happened to be at the other end of the terminal. Finding where a particular place is, is always the fun part of traveling. It helps you get out of comfort zone and you have to ask strangers for help. Having done this gazillion times, made me feel nostalgic, anxious and excited at the same time.
I got the one way pass for just 5.50 Euro and headed to the Platform for trains to Amsterdam Centraal . Have to say it was a bit chaotic not knowing whether the train will stop on Platform 1 or 2 side, because the screen monitors displayed both underneath the direction I was heading towards. Must be some technical issue because the train agents were announcing which side to wait. It all worked out fine. After a 15 minute wait, the train arrived and I made sure to get a seat for me and my lovely luggage. It surely was an easy train ride just few stops to the Central station. Along the way, I got to see the outskirts of the city and noticed that a lot of snow had accumulated on the train platform, streets, homes and barren trees. The sight of white snow everywhere is so picturesque until I becomes all messy, just like life, have to appreciate both the good and bad.
The automated recording announced, “Next stop – Centraal station.” Finally, it was my stop. Got off the train and, in stead rushing like herds of the cattle, which most of the other passengers were accustomed to, I scanned the platform and found the escalator to take me to out of the station rather than taking the stairs. Just imagine, me trying to drag two heavy bags, not a pretty sight. As I made my way towards the main street, of course, with some help from the local workers there, since there was no sign(s) to direct me which exit will take me to the Main Street.
As I walked outside the station, it started to snow ❄️, as if the city knew that I had finally arrived and wanted to welcome me.
I was in love all over again with this beautiful city of never ending canals, just as I was when I first visited here nearly 12 years ago.
