Planes, Trains and Automobiles

We have arrived!  After a very long trip (but not the longest) via planes, trains and automobiles, we are in Amsterdam. I woke up on September 7 on my family's farm and ranch in Nebraska, boarded a plane that night in Denver and finally went to bed on September 8th in Amsterdam. Traveler's Tip: It is not wise to run 23 miles the day before a transatlantic flight.
I'm not going to lie, we are off to an auspicious beginning. Our flight from Denver was delayed so we missed our connecting flight at Heathrow.  Tip for fellow travelers; 1 hour is not adequate for a layover time at Heathrow when flying in and out of Terminal 5. Heathrow was sensory overload on steroids. Normally, I really enjoy airports for the people watching opportunities that they afford. However, I was thrilled when we were able to get seats on the next flight. Thankfully, our luggage made it too! Upon our arrival to Amsterdam, we promptly got on the wrong train. It was headed in the right direction but the wrong route. A very nice Dutch man overheard our conversation and was very helpful and pointed us in the right direction. We arrived at our hostel at 9:30 pm and were so exhausted that we went straight to bed. This morning, as we were rummaging through our packs, I realized that perhaps we need to get more efficient and prepared and lay out our stuff the night before as to be more considerate to our roommates. After all, the House Rules do state, "Don't be an ass to your roommates." The house rules also include; "No Hard Drugs. No tobacco smoking but smoking weed and hash is allowed, just not at breakfast."

Thoughts...
While we were waiting at the train station to catch the right train, we were approached by a lady selling the "Anne Frank Newspaper" It was her only copy and looked like it might have been pulled from a trashcan. Years of drugs and smoking were etched upon her face. Her ataxia was marked as she walked up and down the train platform in black track pants and rubber boots. I wondered what events had led her to that train station. Had she once been part of the infamous Red Light District? What was her childhood like? Was she a wife, a mother? What had led her to peddling newspapers to people who said, "I'm sorry, I don't understand." Oh, but we do understand, the human tragedy crying out for redemption crosses language barriers. Sadly, sometimes our actions do not.

And now for something a bit more cheery
We have decided to keep track of smiles and conversations started as a result of the yellow ukulele. Melissa first chatted with a lady in the line for security at DIA. The flight attendant appreciated its small size and the happiness that it inspires. It cheered the really crabby BAA lady. BAA is the equivalent to TSA- my guess is British Airways Authority. It started a whole conversation with a man from San Jose who had arrived for an International Broadcasting Convention while we were waiting at baggage claim. It really is a great instrument and it hasn't even been played yet.