landing: part 1 (amsterdam)

ahhh funny dutch men and their funny pants. if i were really computer-savvy, i would take a picture of their straight-legged with knee pockets and do some quick tapping on the keyboard and load the picture. alas, i am not that savvy.

anyway, arrived safe and sound. am at schipol airport in amsterdam. i was thinking of buying some internet time to use for the next few hours during my layover, but its 12 eur for 90 min - thats at least $18!! plus then i have to pay an additional 3% for using a credit card overseas. i think i will begin frugal living while right now.

apparently liquids are not allowed in the EU anymore. after being forced to give up my unused expensive bottle of water and a stolen mini-bottle of wine from the plane, i remembered reading an article about how that was the case. only my two nips made it through customs. and now i wait. 3 hours left.

......

ok, much more comfortable. i found one of the recliner sections right near my gate, so i am sitting here relaxing. i hope i dont fall asleep. i'll have to figure out a way to keep typing for the next 2 hours.

i'm starting to feel that 'just took a red eye' sticky feeling when your body realizes that it went to bed and therefore should have a shower.

some dutch klm woman is yelling at a customer. except, i'm sure it's not considered yelling here - she doesn't seem to be overly upset, but has raised her voice and pointed a lot. ahhh, life in europe. the customer is rarely right.

......

ok, this frugal living thing is already starting to bug me. it's not even been an hour! i'm really hungry but don't want to eat just yet.

one thing i don't like about europe is the fact that the writing on book bindings is not consistent. it doesn't always face a certain way. e.g. in the US, EVERY book's title is written essentially from top to bottom of the book so that when the book is standing upright, you would turn your head to the right to read the title. this way, when you lay the book down on its back, the title on the side is upright and the front of the cover is on the top. i have found no consistencies here - they print the names either way. i'll have to go into a bookshop and see how they organize it all.

alas, i am really tired and these chairs are made so that you sit just right to take a nap. i shall set my alarm for one hour.... oh crap. i hope i dont disturb anyone else with an alarm. what is the etiquette for sitting in reclining chairs at an airport in the middle of the day? and whatever that etiquette is - does it apply to me? i can sleep anywhere so i NEED an alarm or else i might not wake up....