Chalk it up to being the travel day....

I was so excited for my trip, that my plan to sleep on the plane so I could be functional today proved difficult. I arrived in  Amsterdam this morning having only been able to sleep about 90 minutes and with an oddly strange pulled muscle in my lower back. Sitting in one spot is kind of difficult. I've taken some Advil and am moving on!  For those interested the in-flight movies I watched were Adjustment Bureau and Just go with it-both were better than expected).

I did arrive in Amsterdam and had the thought: Is it OK to judge a city based on it's airport? For some visitors, the airport pass through is the only time that person sees a glimpse of the city. While I've heard great things about Amsterdam, there are other cities I plan to visit first. So this may be my last time here. I know it doesn't count as a place I've visited (i didn't leave the airport), but if the airport was all you knew about a place, how might the airport and the city not match up? In 2003 I flew through Singapore and thought "the city must be great" the airport was fantastic...there was a botanical garden and the place was spotless and people very helpful.  Anyone know of a crappy airport in a corresponding disappointing city? My verdict on Amsterdam is out. I had a quick layover, the bathroom was clean and I could find a place to curl up for an hour waiting for my connection.

My flight to Edinburgh, like the previous one was uneventful.. The weather upon arrival looked better than predicted, so I decided to take the bus from the airport. I was prepared to share with all that the 1.30 pounds it cost might be the least expensive item of my whole trip! But when the nice bus driver forget that he said he would tell me the best place to get off for a very short walk, I ended up going about 2 miles past my stop (with all my luggage); the low fare and short trip turned into an additional hour. I took the hike back in stride as the weather was gorgeous....but as I  finally made my way to Pollack Halls, the conference facilities on the University of Edinburgh campus, the rain came. My plan was to rest a bit and head out for the FREE 1pm walking tour of the city, have an early dinner and try to get on schedule.  But instead the rains came and I was awoken from my nap to the sounds of sheets of rain, thunder, lightning and hail!!

I've used the time since to get acquainted with my UK phone, gather some maps and do a little schoolwork. I'll take a walk around here, and do an early dinner at the conference facility restaurant as opposed to going downtown. Let me correct that...I flew 3000 miles and ate dinner in the dining hall!  I hope my higher ed friends get a kick out of that! There are a lot of younger student groups here. But...I was able to purchase a glass a wine with dinner (very much needed). It had me thinking about the perceptions Americans have of alcohol and those abroad. I had a glass of wine as a table of 15 year old boys near me couldn't have cared less. In this setting (controlled, dining hall) do we do a disservice in the States by not providing more sanctioned, open areas for alcohol to be served.

But I digress, earlier I did flip on the TV and was shocked to see Two guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place on. Anyone remember that show? If you don't that's OK...it's been off the air since about 2001.. It was where many of us remember Ryan Reynolds...and it takes place in Boston and it references Tufts.

Tomorrow's adventure: Highland Spirit Tour, where I'll head north from Edinburgh, visit castles and end the day at a Whisky distillery. Just what I need after a day like today!