Tom and I left Chicago for Amsterdam on Singapore Airlines Flight 35, 7:40 pm, on Tuesday, May 21. Unlike our London trip, we didn't depend upon the "kindness" of taxis—Omega Shuttle to the airport, front door service.
I had heard from my Service League buddies that Singapore Air provides quite a good trip, and they were right—great service, reasonably comfortable seats.
As I have learned from experience, I much prefer staying in an apartment rather than in a hotel. I don't like hotels (who wants to worry about a maid waking you up?). I like to sleep late and be comfortably sloppy. Thank heavens for the Internet. Through it, I have learned the value of what the British call "self-catering" accommodations.
In Amsterdam, I was fortunate to stay with very accommodating hosts (Kitty and Fred) at Hotel Lieve Nachten. They rent comfortable, livable apartments. We arranged to rent their "Apartment Mokum," a one-bedroom apartment in the Jordaan district on the northwest side of Amsterdam. It was convenient (walking distance anywhere you wanted to go), with big windows, kitchen, and shower; the Jordaan district is a treasure of restaurants, bars, shops, and markets. I just hope we didn't leave our apartment in too big a mess!
Left, living room
of Apartment Mokum
Lindengracht Street (at twilight), around the corner from our apartment
Hotel Lieve Nachten,
Goudbloemstraat 107