I have to thank my daughter-in-law, Dawn for giving me a package of “No Jet Lag”. I was a little apprehensive at first but I did some research and didn’t find anything to worry about. I took a small tablet at the beginning of the flight from Vancouver to Reykjavík and one during the flight when I wasn’t sleeping. The 1 hour layover at 3 pm our time seemed rather daunting but I felt like it was the middle of the day. I was even able to get wifi for the Federal election results.

Another tablet and 2 hours of off and on sleep, I arrived in Amsterdam feeling fine- figured out how to board a train to Den Hague with a swipe card. I was warned a number of times- make sure to swipe out or you will be charged €20 Euros for the ride- an assumption that you went to the end of the line. Of course, trying to keep my wits about me, remembering which exit to take, which canal to cross etc, I forgot to swipe out, found the place I was staying but couldn’t figure out how to work the lock.

Feeling that sweaty angst you feel when you are travelling, lugging a bag, overheated despite your mental expectation of yourself breezing down a Dutch street feeling fresh and sophisticated with your hair gently flowing in the breeze, I took a moment to work out my predicament and remembered!

I didn’t swipe the ticket! I knew what I had to do. Retrace my steps, cross the canal, avoid the trams while crossing the tracks and climb up all those steps with my carry-on, pack pack, Arctic parka (sweat machine) to find the yellow post that you use to swipe your rail card. Lesson learned. Found a brasserie that was closing so I added hunger to my anti-sophistication check list.

I trudged back yet again to the street and apartment that I had successfully located and sat on the stoop prepared for the long wait until my sister in law came back. But alas, a nice Dutch lady was getting out of her car and I asked her if there was a trick to Dutch locks, she took the keys and Shazam, the door opened and I was inside. How exhilarating. I did it and had no hint of being tired! Until I lay down to read my book and woke up 3 hours later when my room mate arrived home!