Amsterdam....taaaake two!

A little deja vu: I have again just returned from Amsterdam! I know, I know...I spent the weekend there (sans my traveling companion, M., who was away in eastern Germany on temporary duty) at the European Orthodontic Society annual meeting. I had a great time and did some shopping for fun things like pliers and wires. Okay, OKAY, so there might have been the purchase of a cute bracelet or two as well! Who's to say! The "Shopping Guide to Amsterdam" was part of the free gift at the conference! Annnywaaaaay.... I know you're probably dying to know: how in the world did I know when it was time to come home? Uh, I was recognized by one of the employees of Amsterdam's Centraal train station. No kidding. Hmmmmm. This is when you realize that you're probably not spending enough time at home! An older man, the employee gave me a quizzical look, cocked his head and said, "I've seen you before..." shaking his finger at me. I said, yes, I took this train last week, yadda yadda yadda. He smiled (gotta love Holland: the land where strangers actually smile!) and said, "So, what is it that you do? Just ride the train back and forth between Amsterdam and Frankfurt?" and laughed. I must admit, it was starting to feel that way a little bit! Alas, there couldn't be a nicer, friendlier place to go to, so Amsterdam, made a nice destination for my first time traveling alone in Europe. Not that the trip wasn't without it's embarassing moments and assorted fiascoes, and you know, despite not having any witnesses that can actually out me for being part of aforementioned red-faced moments, I can probably be coaxed to share an anecdote or two....maybe a diet Coke first, though. Stay tuned!