Chapter 1.02.10

Snow and ice delayed our departure from Amsterdam.

We taxied to the “shower” area to clean the wings.

You can see the shower operator as he’s nearly finished.

It is 9:45 a.m. but still very dark as the wing is de-iced.

We leave Amsterdam for the 90 minute flight to Berlin.

We waited at the baggage carousel, but our bags didn’t make the quick connection in the snow. After a stop at the claim office, I depart for Horst-Kohl 16 by Taxi.

Host Andrea Hiesinger welcomed me with a tour of her home. This is my room.

Happy New Year in Amsterdam and Berlin.

January 2, 2010 – Saturday

Location: Airport in Amsterdam, Holland, in Berlin, Germany, and my Wohnung at Horst-Kohl 16, Berlin

Activities: Landed on time in Amsterdam with just 50 minutes to deplane and catch KLM flight to Berlin Tegel. . Directions from a friendly bank teller helped. An airline employee sent me through the fast lane at the passport check and I made the trip from Gate D7 to Gate D76 just as they were calling my name. After a 25-minute delay while the runways were cleared of snow, the plane taxied to the spray station just before takeoff to wash ice off the wings and we were on our way for the hour-plus flight to Berlin. Our bags did not make the quick connection. Here a sample of German hospitality and helpfulness: A native who had been in Dallas for the holidays and who was also waiting for bags, helped me get a cart for my heavy carry on and coats, then continued with conversation about places to see in Berlin.

Learned: It’s easier to travel light and these folks are a lot like my friends and family.

Professor Kai Diers was waiting at my gate and accompanied me to baggage claim, then to a cab headed for my new home. My landlady greeted me and gave me a quick orientation, Bags came about 10 p.m.

Reflections: The snow-covered city viewed on the taxi ride was a fairyland, the snow was not too difficult to manage and the country already feels like home.