North West Airlines flight #764 from Portland Oregon to Schipol Airport Amsterdam. This flight is operated by Delta Airlines on a 767-300ER. Scheduled to leave at 12:00pm -we left right on time.

I know not everyone is a plane nut like myself so I am adding this as a reference. This is my favorite page on all in flight magazines, the one where it shows the different planes in their fleet. I am on a 767, fourth from the top. Alaska Airlines is switching to an all 737 fleet just like Southwest and other carriers trying to stay in the black. The 737 is fourth from the bottom. This is pure airplane porn for me.

Timing is everything. As I rounded the corner in the Delta terminal they were calling business class to board the plane. I didn’t even stop stride as I walked right up to the gate agent and got waved aboard. Once through the doorway, a team of TSA agents was there doing secondary screening. They hand searched my bag and tested my iced coffee for what I assume was explosives. I passed the tests and proceeded to board the aircraft and find my seat 3G.

This was command central for my nine and a half hour flight. I had the window seat, I like to see what I can when I fly. The pillow turned out to be way comfortable and the duvet provided was just right. The seats had electronic controls that raised the pads under your legs and extended it so your whole body was supported. The recline was plenty far back to actually sleep.

I usually measure the distance between my knees and the seat in front of me by using my fingers to show how many inches away they are. This picture is worth a thousand words.

The seat in front of me was so far away it was a true stretch to reach anything. Poor Jason!

The menus were at our seats and my dinner order was taken, all within about 15 of us leveling out at the beginning of the flight. I had the steak and it was delicious.

The forward cabin had two full time attendants plus the Lead Attendant so we had three people serving pretty much at all times. I could really get used to this.

The first course. It all was very good except I don’t eat shrimp so I passed on that.

The dessert course. An ice cream sunday was also offered but I decided to go this route. There is no picture of the steak because I got so carried away eating it!

After clearing the dinner service I decided to check out the amenity kit that Delta offers. Earplugs, eye shades, socks, slippers, toothbrush and paste, mouthwash, tissues, lip balm, lotion and a pen. About half the people put on the red socks asap. I preferred the slippers.

We flew North from Portland over Washington and then boogied east over Canada. This is the view out the window over extreme northern Canada. We continued over Greenland and Iceland till we reached the edge of Western Europe. We left Portland at noon and arrived in Amsterdam at 7am the next day and it never once got dark outside. Someone please explain this to me. The sun sets in the West and I was flying East. We were flying on an extreme Northerly route but certainly not over the pole or anything like that. It was light the entire time.

With the shades drawn down it did make it nice and dark and most everyone reclined for the rest of the flight. This shot kind of creeps me out. One question for the High Priest in the white robe…why does my applesauce taste funny?

The seat had a video entertainment monitor that popped out and had all sorts of movies, games and TV shows. Plenty of stuff to keep anyone entertained. I liked the nuts and bolts and only wished it had the communications between the plane and ATC.

I dozed off a few times (for a few hours) and woke up to our little plane being much closer to my destination.

Breakfast was served, a mushroom and cheese omelet that was merely OK. Nothing special.

Descending down from 33,000 feet at sunrise and it was gorgeous outside with that soft morning light coloring the clouds.

We broke through the ceiling and landed at the Airport without incident. We were right on time then took the long route taxing to the gate. My camera was dead by this time so I could not get any shots of the neat stuff I saw. Turkish Airlines, Air China and a fleet of official Russian Federation planes highlighted the spotting.

I got my bag (it was the very first one off-is this a sign?) and went through passport control where a young Dutch man welcomed me and stamped my passport. I hit the main plaza and called the number for my ride to take me to my rented apartment.

Part 2-The Amsterdam Apartment