Pre-Tour Day 1: Arriving EarlyFirst Impressions: The people were very friendly, and nearly everyone spoke very good English. Very friendly airport attendants helped steer us in the right direction when we got off the plane, and with the help of Rick Steves' excellent direction sheet, we were able to easily navigate from Shiphol Airport in Amersterdam via train to Haarlem. The attendant at our Haarlem hotel also spoke excellent English and was very welcoming. In fact, he had just returned from a trip to the United States, and while he was getting us settled in, we had a very interesting conversation comparing the two countries and listening to his perspectives.
Great Advice: Rick's literature repeatedly suggested that travelers arrived a day or two before a tour was officially scheduled to begin. We decided to arrive in the Netherlands two days early and stay in the same hotel that we'd be in when we met our group. This turned out to be a perfect plan. Not only did it allow us to get acclimated to the time change and shake off our jet lag, but it brought us to Haarlem just in time for a surprise visit from the new king and queen of the Netherlands. They were in the midst of a multi-city tour introducing themselves to the citizens of the Netherlands, and they came to Haarlem the same day we arrived at our hotel (which was a block away from where they were to appear). Highlight of the Day: It was a unique and rewarding experience to witness the locals' great patriotism and love for their new king and queen. The way they worshiped the new queen in particular had a "Princess Dianna" feel to it. For a couple hours, we felt like we were citizens from the Netherlands, and we joined the local crowd along the busy streets. Of course not everyone arriving early on their trip to Europe will get to see the king and queen, but it is still a great idea, and we were excited to have had this unique experience on our first day. Helpful Links: Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam Harlem (official website) Amsterdam (official website) |
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