room with a view…Amsterdam
It was a bit rainy and blustery when we arrived in Amsterdam Friday evening, and our connecting flight from London was both late and bumpy due to weather. Thankfully it was also a short flight.
…wandered around in search of some dinner, and stumbled onto a great little pub just a few blocks away. It seemed to be quite a favorite with the locals.
This appetizer called bitterballen was SO tasty. They’re like croquettes, some with veal and some had shrimp filling.
Yesterday we took it easy and spent several hours just walking around and getting our bearings. We’ve learned (the hard way) that it’s best the first day or so in a new city and time zone to not schedule anything, and give our bodies and brains a chance to adjust. Walking in daylight is also the best jet-lag “cure” I’ve found yet.
#OOTD Day 1. It was very brisk and breezy, was glad to have both the boots and a jacket!
I’ve been taking lots of photos and will have more of Amsterdam to share in the next day or so, once I’ve had a chance to review and upload. I’m also posting snapshots to Instagram and Facebook periodically during the days, so if you follow/like you’ll get first peek.
In the meantime, I wanted to address a couple of questions/requests from last week’s packing post.
those white bags contain the shoes
Here’s my suitcase all packed. Still some “wiggle room.” I use soft-sided packing cubes, both to help organize and compress clothing. I’ve experimented with different sizes and shapes, have found a mix of small-to-medium sizes seem to work best for me.
As I mentioned in the post, I didn’t count underwear, outerwear, accessories or shoes as part of my 15 items. (But they ARE all in that suitcase.) For camisoles I wear the Eileen Fisher silk jersey ones (here and here). If I need more warmth, I’ve also brought my Adea long-sleeved scoop neck layering tee. I pack lightweight pajamas (“Cool Nights” from Soma) but do not pack a robe or slippers, loungewear or any exercise gear.
I also utilize a “Personal Item” (Lipault 19″ Weekender) that’s the maximum allowable size, and no, this didn’t raise an eyebrow on any of the three flights we’ve taken so far. It fits nicely under the seat. In here go my toiletries, laptop, chargers and adapters, purse, TSA liquids bag and medications, a scarf and my cardigan for the plane.
It has a flap that slides over the handle of my wheeled suitcase. Have been very happy with this suitcase so far, very maneuverable and not too heavy to lift when needed.
I want to digress for a moment regarding the whole carry-on-or-check bags conundrum, and stress that there is no right or wrong answer. It’s about what works best for you and your preferences and needs. I’ve read some travel websites/forums where people get a bit preachy and sanctimonious about carry-on-only travel, and I hope I haven’t come across that way. I do find that packing lighter and smarter has improved the quality of our trips, especially as it allows being able to manage luggage without assistance when necessary. But there are situations or requirements where it just may make more sense to check bags, and in either case (no pun intended), I’d encourage looking at ways to avoid hauling around any more than you have to, and hope some of my tips and strategies are helpful toward that end.
How do you adjust to time zone changes?
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