VELDHOVEN, SITE OF WBF CHAMPIONSHIPS
After arising at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, we arrived at Veldhoven, Holland about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday via Brussels (nine hours in advance of Pacific Time). They were short-staffed at the Brussels airport and it took us an hour to go through customs (as they were unprepared and disorganized to handle four different planes arriving at approximately the same time.) But hold it – we weren’t at the hotel yet. An entertaining, erudite retired gentleman, Harry deBrouwer (a volunteer transport) by pre-arrangement, picked us and our baggage up and took us to the hotel center an hour and a quarter away. All in all approximately twenty hours of waking and traveling time.
Not only was Harry the BEST driver I had ever been with (present husband excluded, ha ha) – he was the fastest. We were shocked to learn the super six lane divided highways allowed something like 80 MPH with no physical police surveillance. Everything was done by technology and if you were in violation, you would receive your ticket in the mail … the wave of the future, mind you!
We arrived at the NH CONFERENCE CENTER KONINGSHOF (HOTEL/PLAYING QUARTERS) exhausted – to put it mildly. It was desolate. However, it was only early afternoon, so while Bobby rested and watched TV, I unpacked and unpacked and unpacked (for a 21 day stay). We had a lovely dinner in the hotel and had a long night’s rest before waking up for a delicious unusual breakfast buffet. Few of the contestants have arrived yet, but it is of interest that some of our Juniors were already here. Definitely a journey from which to unwind and more importantly, to get over jet lag, before play starts.
Stay tuned.
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How is the weather there? Bet you miss Las Vegas.
Hi CP:
Actually, it’s a shade cooler with an occasional bit of rain — but not nearly as bad as I expected. The people are warm, friendly and everyone we have met speaks English — a far cry from Sao Paulo. The restaurants are “different.” Last night I had a scrumptious sandwich and iced tea and the liquid was so bitter and tangy, I swear it was spiked. By the time we finished dinner, the ice had melted and it was not nearly as strong. I’ll just have to learn this is not the place to order iced tea. I might add the coffee this morning was just marvelous.
The staff of bridgers outdo themselves. One lady said that they were sending out someone tomorrow for light shopping and asked what they could bring for me. My curling iron just overheated (I suppose from the wattage of the adapter used with an American product). So, of course I ordered one with a U.S. adapter and it will work when I return to the States.
Such problems and the games have not even begun!!!!
Cheers,
Judy
Just returned from the hotel lobby and restaurant where we saw “Mr. and Mrs. Kojak”, Sally and Stevie Robinson, Henry Bethe (our captain) and Freddy Hamilton having a drink with Bobby Levin. The troops are arriving slowly but surely.
Though the official games don’t begin until Sunday, there will be various meetings on Saturday and the opening dinner that evening.
The Welcoming Cocktail Party and Closing Ceremony (especially the latter) bring back memories of Deauville in 1968 with a lovely young woman named Valerie performing a solo on the dance floor to the melody “Lara’s Theme” from “Dr. Zhivago” with the one and only ‘Omar.’ My — time flies.
Mind boggling that was forty-three years ago!
Interesting and newsy around-the-hotel reporting on the arrivals at the 40th World Bridge Team Championships in The Netherlands. Sounds like the red carpet treatment of celebrities’ curbside appearance at the Academy Awards. And, you often tease you are approaching senility. Your Sharif story doesn’t sound that way to me. Keep us posted on the goings on and we’ll be anxiously awaiting upbeat reports on USA1 (Bobby’s Team) as well as USA II (Kasle, et al).
Judy:
Sounds like an exciting trip and I happen to remember Bobby is celebrating his birthday today. 79? Right? Guess that is why he refers to his cohorts as The Old Geezers Team.
Burt:
You got that one right!
Well, it’s two days you’re there.
Have you had (or gotten over) any jet lag? I know what those flights and time changes do to me even though my job necessitates it and I fly often,
Have you gotten to see anything of Veldhoven yet? I know when the bridge begins, you will be glued to Bobby’s side. Now’s the time.
We have done nothing but eat and sleep since our arrival after the ordeal of the trip. Tonight we are venturing out of the hotel for dinner in Veldhoven with our teammates Freddy and Arnie, et al. The buses which run every fifteen minutes on the half hour pick you up in front of the the hotel and return you at your chosen scheduled time. Pretty good deal — especially if without car.
The tournament committee is not to be believed. Such warmth and hospitality should be heralded. I overheated my curling iron and almost set the hotel on fire. When one of the charming volunteer hostesses, Hanneke Grufman, overheard me, she told me she would put a new one on her list of ‘to dos’ for her next shopping expedition (plus an adapter so I can use it back in the States). I am already enjoying my new possession with a safe state of mind. There are over a hundred volunteers and are making life very comfortable for the guests.
The playing site is humongous with dozens and dozens of rooms for the various functions. We saw the auditorium for kibitzers with 750 chairs arranged so they must anticipate a huge amount of viewers.
I was told in the twelfth or thirteenth century this was a monastery for teaching nuns. You can still see the white brick walls in the dining room with small grey stone crosses. Intend to learn more of its history later on. You must admit it is an unusual setting for a WBF championship — but quite lovely.
Joanie:
In answer to your question, the only sightseeing I have done was via the view from my piillow of the beautiful steeple of the monastery where the event is being held. Perhaps later in the week I’ll go into town.