Great airport PDX but after taxiing the takeoff was aborted (scary!) and we had to return to the gate because of a low oil pressure indicator in a generator. Turned out to be nothing but delayed us by nearly an hour.
Upshot: Greg and Margi running to catch our connecting flight from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Amsterdam. Last ones on the plane.
Tiny seats could have been worse but they were quite comfortable and we had an abundant choice of movies so we made the best of it.
Our first sight as we crossed over the channel to Amsterdam was of the tulip fields. Not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy!
No problems with baggage or getting tix for the train to the city center but then the melodrama unfolded:
Margi and I were sitting on opposite sides of the train with our bags taking up another two seats across from us. The train was 1/2 full when we made a stop and two young men came onboard. They approached some other passengers and then us and asked something in what I assume was Dutch.
In a flash, one of them grabbed my smallest backpack (the one with all my electronics in it) and made a dash for the door.
Though I hadn't really slept since the previous night, I jumped up, grabbed my bag and tripped him in the process. He let go, mostly I suspect because he was no doubt surprised by how heavy the bag was but also because he was off balance. I secured the bag as he and his companion fled out the back door.
Everyone in the car was up and asking if we were OK. The man in front asked if we had just arrived from the US and when I said we had, he apologized for it being such a poor introduction to their country.
Just as the adrenaline was wearing off, we arrived at the station and, along with a few other concerned passengers, reported the incident to the engineer who said he would relay the warning to the police complete with the scoundrels' physical descriptions.
Margi was still shakey by the time we arrived at our room but a three hour nap settled us both down.
A walk through town and dinner at a fine Indonesion restaurant was just what the doctor ordered.
Walking back to the hotel, we stopped for some water and sundries. Wow. Smoke shops EVERYWHERE. Very matter of fact and out in the open. Even the convenience stores sell hemp tea and hash lollipops.
An evening walk through the streets was a great way to walk off a massive but scrumptions meal.
No jet lag to speak of but a 9 hour time difference is sure to catch up somehow. Now, I'm doubly on the lookout!
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