Equitana 2015 | FindPenguins

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Trip start
March 12, 2015
Equitana 2015 Traveler
Ready to catch my flight … but!
March 14, 2015 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 50 °F
Planned flight was from BWI to PHL then to AMS. Bad news at BWI…. Socked in due to dense fog. Debated getting a rental and drive to PHL since I was carrying-on only, but wasn’t sure if whether they’d let me board on the 2nd leg and the woman at the gate desk didn’t instill confidence that I could.

Finally boarded, and it looks like my layover would be minutes not the hours I planned. Fingers were crossed (toes too).Read more
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Philadelphia layover - plans fell apart
March 14, 2015 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 50 °F
Arrived a PHL, my plane to AMS was still boarding. Literally ran from one gate pier to the other and arrived …. Just in time for the gate to close!!!!

Damn plane and staff SHOULD and COULD have held the plane for 5-10 minutes as there were several people from BWI trying to make that damn flight. And adding insult to injury. The plane didn’t immediately start pull away from the gate to taxi.

US Air got me rescheduled on a 23:59 flight to LHR with a 6 hour layover before the flight to AMS. I wasn’t getting to Amsterdam in time for any sightseeing!Read more
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Arrival Schiphol
March 15, 2015 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F
Arrived at Schiphol hours late, around 4pm … almost dark. Found the ticket machine and the bus stop without too much fuss. Onward to Amsterdam…..
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Amsterdam Centraal
March 15, 2015 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F
First time at this train station, it’s quite large! Bigger than Munich’s or Berlin’s.

The bus from the airport was an easy and quick ride, about 20 minutes. Saw a bit of the Amsterdam suburbs as the sun set. It was solidly dark by the time I got off the bus and looked for my tram to the hotel area.Read more
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Finally at the hotel
March 15, 2015 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F
Finally, I arrived at Hotel Piet Hein about 8pm, about 10 hours past originally scheduled arrival. It was a bit tricky finding the hotel in the dark because I got off 1 tram stop too soon,which put me on the other side of where I thought I was and basically made my directions flipped. Left turns became rights, 4 blocks became 10, but once I found the small park, orientation became easier. Not many pedestrians out, but I popped into a different hotel, which unfortunately didn’t know the PH.

Room is very well equipped for a solo, and actually has more free floor space than some much more expensive hotels I’ve stayed at. Comfortable bed, good shower, nice garden views.Read more
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Back to the train station
March 16, 2015 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 37 °F
After a good night’s sleep 💤 and delicious breakfast and a leg stretch around the block, it was time to head back to Amsterdam Centraal and catch the train to Essen.

Had I known I would only be in Amsterdam long enough to sleep, I’d have picked a hotel closer to the airport or train station. Not one positioned to explore Vondel Park and the museums.Read more
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Refreshed from travel
March 16, 2015 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 41 °F
The photo of the hotel’s garden and neighboring backyards reveal a peaceful morning and a good location. The HP put on an excellent breakfast! Unfortunately my stay was shorter than planned.
The main purpose of this trip beckons!!Read more
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Equitana 2015 Traveler
Equitana food area
March 16, 2015 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F
Wide angle view of the various food stands. It’s almost like they moved a part of an Octoberfest inside.
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More horses!
March 17, 2015 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
Great day wandering, looking at horse goods, talking to vendors, and of course watching various horse demonstrations.

Plus a potential saddle for my girl.??
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Equitana 2015 Traveler
Still more horses
March 17, 2015 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
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Display of various breeds and discipline
March 17, 2015 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
In the large arena. Variety of riding disciplines and horse breeds from throughout the world. Good fun.

Also nice to sit and rest after 8 hours walking on concrete!
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Equitana 2015 Traveler
The big show
March 18, 2015 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F
Equitana puts on a GREAT extravaganza show. I think I like the one from 2001 better, but this one is still spectacular.
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Equitana 2015 Traveler
Final day at Equitana - Western Night
March 20, 2015 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F
As an American who started riding Western before switching to dressage etc, it was pretty cool watching Western Night in Germany 😄

The irony reminded me about the time I was looking for a riding stable during my stay in Bavaria and came across a man practicing reining …who learned it in Maryland. He offered to train me in reining, but my heart was set on dressage. After all…Germany was the top in dressage then.
I declined, eventually found a couple barns to ride at, leased a very nice Andalusian horse which led to making new German riding friends, a training with a top notch Reitlehrer who helped me find a fabulous horse to bring home with me. Oh yeah and spent one summer of weekends riding with Herr Egon von Neindorff . Irreplaceable experiences and memories!
Sometimes I semi-regret not taking up that offer to learn reining, though. It’s interesting to contemplate the path not taken now and then… then get on with my chosen life.Read more
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Hotel Victorie
March 21, 2015 in the Netherlands ⋅ 🌧 46 °F
I thought I had a good hotel, the lobby was nice, the lounge was very inviting with a fire going. That is also where they an allowed me to leave my luggage until check-in so I could sightsee.

After I checked in and saw my room - OMG!!!!! Worst hotel room ever - they switched my room from the newly renovated one I paid for, told me up the bathroom wasn’t working. Put me in one with broken shit.
Check out photo 3, which shows the room I booked. The hotel listing was for specific rooms, not room categories like the big chains. They advertise they are a boutique hotel, not a slum hotel.

As it turned out, I was feeling worse from whatever I started getting during the western show the night before.

IDK if I would have put up a bigger stink about the broken furniture, blinds, drapes and shower (!!) if I wasn’t beginning to feel very sick, dizzy & weak.

Ended up sick as a dog that night and the next day, didn’t go out except for food.

Last day, I saw someone exiting the room I paid for. I protested at the desk, protested with Booking.com. Shafted by both. Files a complaint with credit card and they got me a partial refund. The pictures helped my case. Lesson learned - screen shot all your hotel reservation details. And once Booking has your money, don’t count on their help.Read more
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Equitana 2015 Traveler
Back to Amsterdam
March 21, 2015 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F
Street scenes
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Equitana 2015 Traveler
Surprisingly delicious dinner in room
March 22, 2015 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 43 °F
I felt better and ventured forth for dinner. As a single person I couldn’t find a rijtafel that would seat a single. I found an Italian restaurant near the hotel and walked over. No tables, they were packed inside & out. I placed an order to take back to my room.

I placed the footprint on the restaurant (Maria)

The food was excellent!Read more
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Keukenhof Gardens
March 23, 2015 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F
Feeling a bit recovered, I decided to stick with my planned visit to the magical Keukenhof Gardens.

Tram from Victorieplein to Amsterdam Centraal, then train to Schiphol, and finally a bus to Keukenhof. There was a package ticket that included the train bus and entrance ticket. Same transport in reverse to get back to the hotel.

Not nearly as spectacular as my 2 previous visits a decade earlier due to being March . Only a few outside flowers blooming, but a good luck at the park’s structure. Several displays inside buildings I don’t think I even noticed when all the bulbs were in bloom.

Nice day, but a bit taxing as I underestimated the effect of my illness. I was glad to return to the hotel and sleep 🛌 💤 💤Read more
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Trip end
March 24, 2015