The cloud continues

48 hours ago, we were stranded in Amsterdam. The first day, I was pumping adrenaline and fear had the dominant voice. Then we began to relax into our Monday departure. Why not enjoy Amsterdam? We had never spent time here. Instead of lamenting the choices we did not make... be present... many folks have laughed at us "What is bad about being stranded in Europe?" So we got a hotel in center city and bought some basics (did I mention our luggage is not available to us). We toured a huge flower garden, rode the canals, had beer while looking at great architecture and interesting bike riders. Tomorrow we will rent bikes to get into the country. I can get by, even do some of my work here over the next week. And yet as the volcano continues to spew and the winds continue to blow, it really could be a week or more that we are trapped unless we take action. We have fantasized about buying a scooter and riding down to Spain where planes are flying. Tom has looked at riding a freighter (not high on my list). What is so special about getting home? As Dorothy so clearly said with each tap -- there is no place like home.