Random bits from the trip home:

1. Took a taxi from the hotel to the airport -- arranged via the front desk, so it was pretty cheap (35 euros, vs about 20+ euros if I'd taken a cab to the rail station and taken the train to the airport). That got me there in plenty of time to check in, go through passport control, spend a couple of hours shopping (a few things for the relative 'rents, something for Margie, a bottle of genever for me, a couple of things for Kitten). Schiphol also has, as a side note, the nicest chapel/"meditation room" I have ever seen at a major airport. Had a homesick lunch at McDonalds (though I passed on the locally-added "McKroket"). 
2. Biggest problem with buying souvenirs: I really don't care for the Dutch (tourist) aesthetic. I don't like Delft. I don't think wooden shoes are cute. I didn't see any t-shirts or coffee mugs I was really interested in (and so didn't buy for anyone), I did come up with a few things, eventually, but nothing that most folks would think of as "standard" Dutch swag.
3. Schiphol has the security lines at the gates, not up front; got pulled out and grilled with the standard "did you control your bags all day" but to the point of intensity and seriousness that I began to wonder if there was actually something wrong with my checked bag. The magnetometer line didn't call for shoe removal (and I lived to tell the tale), but anyone who rang the bell got patted down, not wanded.
4. Ever notice you can tell about the guy in front of you on the plane by how they flounce down (or not) in their seat. Hypothesis proven -- dude slammed himself down in his seat so that it rocked back a couple of inches. Plane was not 10 seconds off the tarmac when he slammed it all the way back. And because the cheap-ass video screens on the United 767 isn't on a pivot, it meant the angle on the screen made it practically unusable. Nice. Dude also flounced around a few other times, one time so vigorously that he nearly knocked over my coffee on the tray table. Rrg. Finally raised the seat when the stewardess told him to for landing. So no video, no iPod (not working), no seat power for the PC. Oh, well, gave me a chance to nap and to read.
5. Arrived (early) in Chicago. Went through Passport Control with a bit of a line, but no worries -- I had 2+ hours to get to my gate (though, amusingly, the wall display hadn't been "spring forwarded" for Daylight Savings Time). Enjoyed watching someone with a contraband-sniffing beagle wander through the line ... Then waited forevah for the baggage to come out in the customs-controlled area (I'd been in line for at least 20 minutes -- plus walking there from the plane -- so why the hell did it take that long?). Question: why no cameras or cell phone use in the customs area? It's not exactly a "secure" thing, and I'm not sure what's bought by preventing folks sitting on the phone
6. After getting my bags, I had to recheck the big back through for my flight to Denver -- which they have a "convenient" area to do, albeit one that is full of people clogging the aisles, stammering out questions, yelling answers, and general hurdy-gurdy. The key thing that needed doing here (before I checked my big suitcase) was transferring the bottle of genever I'd picked up in Duty Free from my carry-on (which was allowed from Schiphol) into my check-in (since otherwise they'd throw it away and/or take it in back and drink it themselves in Chicago).
7. From there, it was a simple train jaunt over to the ever-popular Terminal 1 at O'Hare to get over to my gate -- complete with a call to Margie, a noting of WiFi options (if I'd had the time and no Blackberry), quaffing of a Starbucks, and so forth.
8. Flight back to Denver was short and sweet (if utterly and completely full). DIA was simple, the drive home was quick, and I was glad to be back in the arms of wife and daughter in short order. And sharing the various swag I'd brought home for them, and hearing about various disasters/triumphs.

And ... back to the salt mines, tomorrow. But tonight, sleeping in my own bed (with Margie). Doesn't get much better than that.

Filed under :: Food & Drink :: Homeland Security :: Travel