Waiting

Departure day and return to reality. Breakfast as usual on the beach. It was quite cool and threatening rain so we elected to sit inside at our usual beach bar.

After a leisurely morning we are waiting for a taxi outside the hotel. When one arrived he informed us most of the city centre was closed for a veterans parade and it would be difficult to get to the station. We elected to take the taxi straight to the airport.

Schipol airport is not working at its usual level of efficiency, We saw there was a long queue under shelters outside one of the departure entrances. At out KLM entrance we were at least able to get inside the terminal building before joining a queue. From arrival at the airport to getting though security took us a full two hours.

We still had time to spare so we went to a bar. While we were there, early afternoon, they told us they would be closing shortly. We were surprised they would close an airport bar at 3 pm. They explained there were no staff for more than one shift, and suggested another bar which they assured us would be open.

Our flight was on time, but for the second time this trip our luggage failed to arrive on the same flight. As we are returning home this is not a huge issue. The unpacking and laundry can wait until it turns up. Looking at the queue at the lost baggage counter it looks like most people (maybe all) on the flight with checked in baggage were in the same situation.