2005 Nov - Netherlands & Belguim

November 2005 - Amsterdam & ... Brugges

I decided my next trip would be to Istanbul but could not find an airfare I was willing to pay. As I continued to monitor the airfare - I discovered a new low cost Turkish airline that flew throughout Europe. Maybe I could fly to Europe then on to Istanbul? After a bit of research this seemed to be a violable, cheaper solution. I bought airfare to Amsterdam (with a two day layover) and independently airfare from Amsterdam to Istanbul. The trip went went to plan, until I returned to the Amsterdam airport for my flight to Istanbul - the flight is not listed on the board; nor can I find a desk for the airline. I went to the airport information desk and found several other fliers with the very same problem. Finally after calling the airline in Turkey it was determined that the flight will indeed fly but now very late that night. I went back to Amsterdam and did some checking on the internet - seems the airline was having financial problems and their flight schedule became very sporadic.

After a bit of internal debate I decide not to continue on to Turkey - my fear being that I would get there - the airline would fail and I would have no way back to Amsterdam and hence home.

So now what do I do for the next several days? I recalled Rick Steves speaking highly of Brugges - it is relatively close - is that feasible? Checked rail and hotel sites and it is doable.

I decided Brugges it is.

I did enjoy Belgium and I am still looking forward to visiting Istanbul some day.

FYI - the airlines survived and I would have been fine if I had gone to Istanbul. And they did not refund my airfare

Amsterdam

Hotel Brower - which is my first choice in Amsterdam. Building dates from 1652, rooms are small and basic, but clean. Located on one of the main canals and the rates are reasonable. The catch - there are only 8 rooms and they are usually booked months in advance.