This has been my busiest trip to Europe ever in terms of travel. I arrived in Amsterdam a week ago, sick as a dog. Fortunately, the worst of it hit me on Sunday and I was OK to go on Monday, even though my nose acted as live faucet. The frequent travel did little to help.

Sunday morning started with a long train ride to Hannover from Schiphol Airport. After the Domotex it was time for Cologne, riding in style on Deutsche Bahn’s (DB) ICE train. The two days in Cologne were very busy and I didn’t have a chance to explore the city the way I normally do.

From there it was onward to London, via Brussels, which turned out to be a long ride. This was only my second time in the UK, but hopefully not my last. I stayed with my old friend Niclas for three nights, saving big money on hotels but, more importantly, enjoyed the company of a quality guy. Also, using Commercial Street as a base from which to explore London is never a bad thing!

Friday started with a breakfast appointment not far from Niclas’s apartment, followed by a ride on Stansted Express and a noon flight to Glasgow. After a good customer visit in Scotland, the customer lent me his car to drive around the area before taking me back to the airport. I was hesitant at first as I have never driven a car with the stick shift on the left. It turned out that the left-side driving was more of a challenge, even though I’ve done it once before (with an automatic). But it all ended well. Now I can say that I’ve been to Scotland, although six hours doesn’t do it justice. I hope to return.

After a late dinner, a movie and conversation into the wee hours with Niclas last night, it was time for a solid brunch at noon today. I took a cab from his place to London Bridge, where I met up with an old college friend, her husband and six-month old son.

By my calculations, it’s been seventeen years since I last saw Diane. They showed me around Borough Market for a couple of hours. We shared good conversations, English cider, raw oysters and mussels. All-in-all, a great way to finish the UK experience!

Now I’m off to Amsterdam, another night’s stay at citizenM hotel and then home to Portland, via Seattle. I’m

I remember going through a similar procedure with US customs in Montreal many years ago but I don’t know if those procedures have changed since 2011.

This certainly makes train travel more of a hassle than it is on the continent and I’m not sure I would chose this method again to reach the UK. Of course, I don’t have to drive to and from airports, so there is something to be said for it.

I woke up at 2 am this morning. After some work, reading and a movie, I caught some more sleep between 6 o’clock and 7:30. A sturdy breakfast, and I was ready for a day of Domotex at the gigantic Hannover Messe.

I’m on a delayed train from Hannover to Cologne as I write this (no internet connection from my computer now; this will be a delayed posting). There was some sort of disturbance on the regular line, so DB decided to re-route the train. At least DB’s 1st class is just that: 1st Class. A very comfortable ride.

A word of caution if you’re a foreigner traveling new lines in Germany: Make sure you get on the right train and look out for “split” trains. The one I boarded in Hannover happened to be a split version, meaning it will splinter off in two directions somewhere along the way. When in doubt, just get on and play stupid. The attendants are helpful and it’s better to be on the way than left stranded on a platform and having to wait for the next train.

I have been up since two and want the restaurant downstairs to open for breakfast! After that I’ll be ready to take on the day and look forward to starting the business portion of this trip.

I booked a one-night stay at citizenM’s Schiphol location for this trip and was initially a bit skeptical of the ultra-modern and minimalistic look. After staying here for a night, those worries are gone and I’m happy I already have a room booked for my return trip next Saturday.

If you’re traveling via Amsterdam and have a layover, I highly recommend this hotel. It’s a short walk to the right of the arrival hall. The staff is friendly and upbeat, the check-in and check-out process is very fast and smooth. I have nothing negative to say about this place and foresee myself coming back here many times in the future.

I developed a full-blown cold on the way over and my hearing is much reduced and I feel like a wreck. After an early check-in and four hours in bed, I walked over to the airport and took a train into the city. Amsterdam is always fun to walk around and the exercise served me well.

After a good meal I’m back at the hotel and will try to get some sleep. Onwards to Hannover tomorrow by train.

External Link: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjxCUuwp

Here’s a link to the set in Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fxtn/sets/72157628598354357/