I no longer fear hell, I've been through Schiphol airport. In my working life, I've passed through Schiphol hundreds of times, but this experience has put me off - perhaps not for ever, but at least until they sort out the mile long queues for security.
Going there was no real problem, and having been diverted from on arrivals to another, we got through quite quickly. Although we were advised that we would need proof of vaccination etc.. (and most passengers were armed with all the paperwork) nobody wanted anything. Just stamped our passports and waved us through. Nor was there any check of any sort in the UK.
In the country itself, no face masks or anything else, so it would seem that visiting the Netherlands is straightforward with no checks.
Other than that, we had a great time. Weather was good - low 20's most days. We had a top notch canal-side apartment about 10 mins walk from Utrecht centre. I would recommend Utrecht over Amsterdam - more relaxed and easy to get around. Loads of good places to eat and drink, a large modern shopping centre and loads of small specialist shops.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Just as bad leaving from Hook of Holland back to Harwich a couple of weeks ago on day 90.
You have overstayed said jobsworth douane person. No I have not said I. Look back the last 180days it’s only 90. He insisted he was right. I told him to stick it. His colleague spoke to him in Dutch & he went a bit quiet & said ok I will let you off this time.
No you damn will not says I. You will concede you are wrong. Move he said you are holding things up. I went & parked in the lines & stomped back with the proof on Schengen calculator on my phone. I stuck it in his face & said now tell me I have overstayed.
By this time his colleagues were all laughing. Ok he finally said. You have not overstayed. That was all I wanted to hear him say.
After reading about supposedly near apocolypitic conditions at our local airport I was dreading a flight a month ago.
We were told numerous times to arrive 3 hours before, We were there 2.5 hours before, it was dead! Check in opened two hours before the flight, so the extra half hour in bed was welcomed.
Through security in about 5 minutes. Arrived in Dublin at 10.30am and we joined what appeared to be a never ending queue for US Customs and security checks. In reality we were through and having a pint of Guinness within 45 minutes.
Faultless flight and we were in the taxi from Newark to downtown NYC in 20 minutes. It was like leaving a bus station, No passport checks in US, straight for the bags and away.
Return the same, Newark security took minutes, Dublin was busy with lots of flights to almost every UK main airport with an hour, but local airport dead when we arrived at 8.30am. Bags picked up and home by 9.30am.
Our european head office is in Amsterdam, i'm actually going in November, after reading this i picked a return flight in the afternoon so i can get their really early, I went a few months back and it was bad but not much different to Manchester.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Back from the Netherlands.
via mobile 19/9/2022 at 7:10pm
