Friday 3rd. - (Glasgow, Amsterdam, Washington, Charlottesville)
At 3.30 we were up. A shuttle bus was waiting in the fog and snow to take us to the terminal. Not sure that what you need in such a situation is a Glasgow funny man, but that is what we got. As we staggered out and slithered towards him, his arms folded outside the closed door of the minibus ‘Are you expecting me to take you somewhere?’ Slow on the uptake, brains still asleep, we thought ‘Oh no! We’re in the wrong hotel!’ and visualised us, suitcases in tow, slithering across the motorway in the fog. ‘The airport?’ I said tentatively. ‘Oh, Ok then if that’s what you want’. Sounded disappointed, as if he’d rather have driven us to a disco or barbecue at Loch Lomond....
Amsterdam Schiphol a buzz as usual. Outside, snow and minus 8 degrees. Five hours gap between planes, then back to the gate to find that the plane was delayed for another two and a half. Filled in the time drinking coffee, eating and surfing the internet. Found a display of winter scenes by famous Dutch painters in the Rijksmuseum in the Airport, some quite funny. I found a chair located inside a large white ball. It was a little haven, a nest from which you could hear the airport racket but felt immune and safe. At last onto the plane - a new looking one, very comfortable and smart. We were fed every hour or so, all yummy stuff and watched videos on our individual screens. As happens with long haul flights, time and the rhythm of life blur and slow. Then suddenly we were there.
Arrived in Washington – 7pm their time. We had been worrying about Immigration, after all the tales we had heard. We waited in a long snaking queue, and at last met a youngish lad who actually smiled us, took our passport and fingerprints, and then there we were - in the US. Mary Carolyn was waiting, cosy in a plumcoloured fleece body warmer. It’s only minus 1 here – positively cosy! Drove the long dark highways and arrived in Charlottesville at last. Mary Carolyn’s flat is lovely but the nicest bit tonight was the bed, which we fell into and slept for the first time in 24 hours!!
At 3.30 we were up. A shuttle bus was waiting in the fog and snow to take us to the terminal. Not sure that what you need in such a situation is a Glasgow funny man, but that is what we got. As we staggered out and slithered towards him, his arms folded outside the closed door of the minibus ‘Are you expecting me to take you somewhere?’ Slow on the uptake, brains still asleep, we thought ‘Oh no! We’re in the wrong hotel!’ and visualised us, suitcases in tow, slithering across the motorway in the fog. ‘The airport?’ I said tentatively. ‘Oh, Ok then if that’s what you want’. Sounded disappointed, as if he’d rather have driven us to a disco or barbecue at Loch Lomond....
Amsterdam Schiphol a buzz as usual. Outside, snow and minus 8 degrees. Five hours gap between planes, then back to the gate to find that the plane was delayed for another two and a half. Filled in the time drinking coffee, eating and surfing the internet. Found a display of winter scenes by famous Dutch painters in the Rijksmuseum in the Airport, some quite funny. I found a chair located inside a large white ball. It was a little haven, a nest from which you could hear the airport racket but felt immune and safe. At last onto the plane - a new looking one, very comfortable and smart. We were fed every hour or so, all yummy stuff and watched videos on our individual screens. As happens with long haul flights, time and the rhythm of life blur and slow. Then suddenly we were there.
Arrived in Washington – 7pm their time. We had been worrying about Immigration, after all the tales we had heard. We waited in a long snaking queue, and at last met a youngish lad who actually smiled us, took our passport and fingerprints, and then there we were - in the US. Mary Carolyn was waiting, cosy in a plumcoloured fleece body warmer. It’s only minus 1 here – positively cosy! Drove the long dark highways and arrived in Charlottesville at last. Mary Carolyn’s flat is lovely but the nicest bit tonight was the bed, which we fell into and slept for the first time in 24 hours!!
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