Quite the adventure

Well, we got to the airport way early and got checked in, Then as the plane was about to board we were told they had a new plane and, wait for it, it was too small. " would anyone volunteer to move their flight or go tomorrow?" . Not having a tight schedule we volunteered and found ourselves running and I mean running to catch a plane to Paris. Sorry Frankfurt, maybe next time. Best of all, the new flight arrived at the same time as the original one and we got flight vouchers. On the negative our luggage was misplaced. Which actually worked out since it meant we didn't have to lug it on public transport. And they delivered it for free. So when we made it to Paris we meandered around De Gaulle until we finally found the AirFrance desk where we were stymied until a very nice frenchman (they exist) took pity on us and moved us to the front of the line. Not having any clue what time it was we made our way to the plane, which was a KLM fight so I have no idea why we were at AirFrance but whatever, making it just in time for final boarding. We took off and were 25 min. early on a 50 min. flight. So far so good. We get off and go through the lost baggage shuffle and blame shift. Then I reach the magic KLM desk and when I give them my name, without typing anything, they tell me our bags are in Paris. Apparently, they were expecting me. I love the Dutch. So we hop a train, to the tram and get off where we think we are close to our hotel and look for food. The first thing we see is a sign for "Eten en drinken" sounds good. I got a lovely sliced beef on a roll with gravy and a Heineken (which evidently is just terrible beer. It's not good here either.) and The Mrs. had a croquette.

We checked our location and realized it was a bit of a hike to the hotel but decided it was worth it, especially since we had not figured out how to pay for the tram and hopped on and off with out paying, sorry. We made it to the street our hotel is on, past the museums and House of Bols, we'll get to that later, and walked to where we thought our hotel should be but was not, The Rijks was there. So as we walked back we realized that they do not number in block system here the numbers just start when they start. So, our hotel was two building in from where we had started, oh well. The hotel is clean, thats about all I've got, oh, and the shower kicks ass. Upon our arrival we find our way to our room and take a nap. I really needed a nap. At about four we decided to venture out, and knowing the House of Bols was a block away, was just too tempting. For those who do not know, Bols is a distillery, known mostly in The States for their insipid flavored liqueurs in the weird blue bottles. The rest of the world knows them as one of the foremost Genever distillers. So, basically, it is a liquor museum, with gift shop! Luckily it was ladies night, so the Mrs. got in half price. We made our way through the history, which dates back to the mid-1500's and smelled and tasted our way to the computer that helps you pick a cocktail based on your tastes and spits out a recipe for you to give the bartender and then take home. The bartenders whip up a drink and you can chill in the eurotrash decorated bar. Its cool enough and we guess the bartenders are from the bartending school, that Bols runs upstairs, doing some kind of penance or final exam. If you don't kill any tourists you pass. It made for great people watching. For dinner we made our way to De Wildschut for more "eten and drinken". We started with some Bitterballen, baby croquettes, and some homemade crisps. To drink the Mrs. had the house red and I got a 1/2 liter of Jupiler, an Inbev beer, that was fine. Then I got a Palm, which I can only say gives Belgian beer a bad name. It made Stella seem like liquid gold, won't make that mistake again. But my meal of chicken sate with chips was very good and the Pumpkin Lentil soup the Mrs. had looked tasty as well. I liked the laid back atmosphere and the fact that the waiter made change at the table and had a sweet "whiteboy afro". So we made our way back to the hotel for a night of fitful sleep not realizing it was 10pm. It was still light out for crying out loud. Tomorrow we look at art, lots of art.