Interregnum STOPS 2 and 3 | "Connection" in Amsterdam

Amsterdam pit-stop

Eventually they allowed me into the city, so I didn't have to spend 8 hours in the airport. I tried to call the closest friends there, but got unlucky:

• Roberta was actually in Italy and is coming back next week
• Floris responded late, as he was working and actually was going on vacation the day after
• And my best friend did not respond, as he really does not want to see me anymore. Even my gesture of dropping by and saying Hello, was interpreted as an act of ego of myself. Unfortunately it's not like this: I've young but also old enough to understand that keeping grudge towards other people won't make you a better person. I just wanted to Say Hi and probably Apologize in person and to meet his kid. Becoming a mom/dad is one of the beauties of this life, and unfortunately I was not there to support him and cheer for him. But again, relying on my motto, #takelifeasitcomes: I fucked up, but I cannot kill myself, neither I can go back to change my past, no matter how much it can hurt.

But I did not despair, as I still wrote to him the Galápagos postcard and sent him from Amsterdam, since I need to send me from other stops.

Also, Life happens and it happened as well in Amsterdam. I met Dani, a friend of Sicilian origins, but completely Milanese from his accent, who I had the pleasure to meet at NHH as Exchange students first and in my company later, as co-workers, in Dublin, for a short period of time. Our lives are same same but different: we love traveling, probably we are both singles, and we live in two far away parts on the worlds (Singapore and California).

It was the highlight of this Amsterdam unplanned/unexpected stop: he was able to find some times between his work meeting when we could enjoy a coffee together. We do not talk to each other often, probably more virtually through social media, while traveling, but connecting with Dani made my day. It was like yesterday, like we have talked every day since ever. Probably these are the best friendships, the ones you can find and leave apart for a bit - as both lives go on - but you know there will always be there.

We talked about Life transformation, our plans, my sabbatical, our common friends and coworkers. And we enjouned a pretty decent espresso that I had been missing quite a while in Ecuador.

I really believe each of us should have a Dani in their lives who pops up every now and then :)

I then took a walk, to enjoy Amsterdam canals and prepare my documents for Israel.

Once back in the airport my security checks went smooth, despite me having 2 passports (one with Ecuador stamp, one with Israeli visa) and despite the earlier experience with KLM in Guayaquil. Both the police officer and the flight attendant looked at me with a big smile when they read my last name: "Casablanca, as someone ever told you you have an amazing last name?!" Well, yes, probably I should have used it more on the dating apps...

I still had some 45 minutes to spend in ASPIRE lounge - which was about to close - to eat a bite.

And there we go: Israel here I am coming!