Travel Day! SEA - FRA - AMS

I love the new Seattle terminal upgrades; they really went all out. Great food, lots of space, plenty of bathrooms and places to plug in, plus free high speed internet; a great "stuck at the airport" perk. Let’s see, passport - check, e-ticket printout- check, something to read-check. This year I am flying Lufthansa out of S gate 11 at 2:25pm. I kiss my lovely wife and beautiful daughter good bye; and I am off on another adventure across our blue ball called earth.

On my way to the gate I plug in my earphones and click-buzz-click to the rhythm of the music... ARGGG... my headphones decided to die just as I got to the gate... I won’t have my music for the flight... not good... I hope this is not an omen for the rest of the 14 hour trip.
As I begin to board I have a little good luck thing I do each time I get on a plane... pat the plane as I pass through the door... nothing noticeable but just a "ok big boy, get me there safely" kind of pat. I guess it’s kind of ironic that a professional traveler has a slight fear of flying but I do. I think it is the famous "lack of control" issue; I mean if the plane were going down I would feel better in the cockpit pulling the heck out of the wheel knowing it would not do a bit of good, but for those last moments I would feel like I tried. I think that’s better than sitting in 39E waiting for impact; but that’s just me.

So I have not flown Lufthansa in a while and as soon as I get on I remember how much I like that airline. It’s the little touches; the ones you notice as soon as you sit down. Each seat has a video system with movies, music and games; things are tidy... very German.

As I walk down the isle looking for 39E... lets see... not there, nope not that one... ahh yes here we go; a lady in shorts and sandals is adjusting her pillow. Ok this is going to be my seat mate for the next ten hours. I always believed that you should say hello to someone you are going to sit next to for ten hours; it seems only natural; but the woman did not even glance in my direction the entire flight.. I thought that was a little weird; but to each his or her own.

One great thing I like about Lufthansa is the little extras you get... even in coach; a welcome cocktail arrives; yes drinks are free, beer, wine and top shelf liquor; not that back of the barn brew you see on American carriers for 5 bucks. Then here comes the first round of hot towels... ahhh that’s nice... a real treat that you don’t see anymore unless your seat cost as much as a Ford Focus.

We head for 35000 feet and I begin to Perouse the movie and music selection... "Would you like a headset sir" in English and German. "Yes" thank you; do you take US dollars or Euro for the headset? "Its complementary sir”... wow... that’s great... and it’s a REAL headset not the little weak tech devices you pay 2 bucks for on every other airline on the planet... I like Lufthansa.

Over the course of the next 10 hours I see several movies, have a few cocktails, good dinner-bbq chicken, rice and corn... not bad. I can’t sleep on planes, too much ambient noise I guess.

We land in Frankfort (FRA) about 10 minutes late. Great landing... smooth.

FRA TIP: If you land at terminal B and you have a connecting flight in terminal A, get them to take you by one of those little beeping cars; it’s a LONG walk. I think it took me close to 30 min with no stops...

When I go outside of the USA, there are subtle things that occur that tell me im not home anymore... like the airports get smaller and more crowded; I bet the concourse shrunk in size at least three times compared to Seattle’s terminal that feels like you are navigating a football field. But the other thing I notice which I enjoy is the sounds of so many different languages talking at once. You know how if you are in a US airport you hear everyone on their cell phones, talking to their children, ordering some yucky food... and you catch an audio glimpse as you pass by. Well when you get out of the states, to say Europe, you hear the languages of the world all at once... its kind of cool... ohh is that Russian? --- That’s definitely German-- wow what's that... sounds like some African dialect. As you head for your next gate you can hear the world talking, kind of neat.

So after what seemed like 1000 miles I got to gate A42; the last gate in the terminal. Already boarding I just continue right up to hand over my boarding pass. Go on Lufthansa! for a 45 minute flight; really just up and down they give you a bag lunch of a candy bar, apple and apple juice before you get on the flight and when you are on it here comes hot towels, fresh OJ and snacks. I'm officially impressed.

A smooth touchdown in Amsterdam. Amsterdam is one of those places you feel at home in. I really enjoy arriving here; I wish my family were with me; it’s bittersweet.

Baggage claim... wait... wait... ahhh there it is... my bag made it... great; not off to get a taxi. The taxi line outside Schiphol is a line of shiny new Mercedes. I get in line and up drives a new E-Class, nice for a taxi. My driver is from the east with his son in the front seat. No words are exchanged. I'm in my jetlag daze and the son is asleep; so I just zone out for the 20 min drive to the city center.

Travel TIP: take a taxi or a private transfer after a long flight. The extra cost wont even matter compared to dealing with public transportation with jetlag and luggage. One thing most people don’t realize when they plan their trip... when you arrive, after a long flight; your luggage feels like it weights a ton, you are tired, very tired, your stomach is a little weird and all you want to do is get to your hotel and relax. So what the heck are you thinking... get the private transfer or the Mercedes taxi... not the find the train to the city-get your ticket-wait-wait-board-sit-wait-stop-sit-wait-arrive-find taxi line-wait-get-taxi-arrive hotel... get my drift!

So I get to my hotel... a little 8 room place run by a mom and daughter combo that does a great job (no you cant have the name, its my special spot, so there) My room is not ready yet, so I go and do what every traveler to Amsterdam shoud do first... rent a bycycle. Amsterdam is a city on two wheels and that is the ONLY way to do it here. Now im back in my room, typing this. The belltower just rang three-o-clock and im needing some food... im outa here.