Schiphol

September 18, 2009 | Filed Under Main | Leave a Comment

The flight home was on my dime, so we were flying economy. I got to Kuwait Airport about 3 hours early to be sure to get a parking spot (which were plentiful it turns out). However, it took me at least an hour to get through the lines at security. The airport was packed with travelers and their well-wishers. Everyone leaving on a trip had at least five people seeing them off and the airport security had to continuously move them back so you could tell those traveling from their entourage. In other words – the line was long (and not filled with Kuwaitis). The one thing you learn here about third world nations is that they are often crowded together, so there is no sense of personal space. It was literally skin to skin in the line, with many of them covering their mouths or wearing masks for fear of the dreaded “swine flu”.

My first destination was Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. We arrived approximately 5:30am. I had choosen a seat on the plane near the window, hoping to snooze against the cabin wall. But there was a power box under the seat in front of me so I couldn’t really find a comfortable position. And since I wasn’t in business class, I didn’t have access to the KLM lounge. However, Schiphol has a couple of areas on the second floor where there are groups of lounge chairs for stretching out and napping. I had a five hour layover and my favorite bar/restaurant was still closed. I found my place in a bank of chairs facing the runway and went to sleep.

When I woke up – little over an hour later – it was light out. I was in the back row and I took my time reaching full awareness. I stared ahead – taking in the light, the movement, the horizon. I caught a glimpse of movement ahead of me – in the front row. These chairs (a bad term – they were more like isometric beds) were grouped in twos with a small Lucite table in between. I watched a hand with a small makeup brush reach over toward the chair next to her and brush something on the other person’s face – very delicately. Then the brush withdrew and a pencil appeared. After moving the other person’s hand away from their face, the pencil was applied. Turns out I was watching a women apply makeup to her mother, who was lying next to her. After the pencil came lipstick. It was an amazing and touching act to watch. A very private act. There are a lot of people and a great many stories around you in an airport such as Schiphol. It is a hub of many destinations and quiet moments such as that are always happening if you watch.

When I decided to finally move, I went over to my restaurant. An hour or so earlier it was closed. Now it had many patrons. And at 8:30 in the morning, I ordered ham and eggs and a pint of beer. That, my friend, is the breakfast of champions! Starting my second beer, a man even groggier than myself sat down and proceeded to try and figure out where he was and what he wanted. He turned to me – as if to apologize – and said he had had too much to drink the night before and was a bit out of it. No problem – most of us are in an airport that early in the morning. After a while he asked me where I was from. I told him the US but that I had been working in Kuwait. He smiled and said he was Canadian and was working in Libya. For an oil company. The majority of westerners doing this gig are working in oil or for the military. He had just come off his contract, which is the reason for over indulging the night before. From what he was saying, Libya is just as dull as Kuwait. Kindred spirits can always be found in a proper pub. Remember that.

With an hour to go, I walked through the shops, but I have seen it all before. In fact, every airport sells the same crap and for the same prices (trust me – there are no bargains in Duty Free). For the casual flyer, these are really nice places and have a lot of fun things. On your fifth time through… not so much. But I liked Schiphol. It’s much…warmer than Frankfurt and not nearly as pre-packaged as London. If you have to layover for a few hours, it’s one of the better airports. As I got to my gate, all I could think about was getting a better seat than the first leg of the trip. Miraculously, my wish came true! Somehow – I got bumped up to business. It was just like when people get their seats upgraded at Springsteen concerts. A mystery. And let it stay that way.

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