A really long day.

Greetings from Amsterdam! I'm sitting in the hotel Barbizon business center, wasting away some time before I can check in. My journey started about 21 hours ago - left a rainy (surprise) Portland and hopped on a plane to Atlanta. Spent some time in the delta lounge, partaking in a few rum and cokes and free wifi for a couple hours. Then hopped another plane to Amsterdam. Where it was raining.

First time riding up in the front for a transatlantic flight. I must say... coach is really going to suck when we come back to EU for a vacay. I had some champs while the coach peeps were loading in and spent about 10 minutes exploring every possible position I could make the seat get into. I watched all of season 1 of Entourage and Big Love. Vin-- we need HBO. Speaking of Vin... I felt like I was right at home because the dude sitting next to me was sawing some major logs. I wanted to pelt my little ear plugs at him. Eight and a half hours of snoring. Rough.

Anyhoo- got into Amsterdam, went through customs, got my bag, bought a train ticket and rode into Central Amsterdam. (As I type the church bells are ringing away and it looks like the sun is starting to peep out!) One thing. The skies in Rembrandt's paintings are for real. That was the first thing I noticed as I was walking over the canal to the hotel. The light and the clouds together was really amazing.

I can't check into until 3.30pm (thank you travel department. that was real swell.) so I'm going to see if I can check my bags in and go for a walk/get some lunch or coffee.

Feeling back up to blogging - we'll see how long it lasts!