FIRST DAY’S INSIDE SCOOP
Starting with a buffet breakfast at the hotel, if you got there early — there was no problem. By the time we arrived at 9 a.m. (with all the troops now assembled for start of play), it was a madhouse with everyone scurrying to finish and go about their business. The breakfast was quite satisfying and plentiful and included in your room accommodation which is always a good feeling. They had all kinds of bread and pastries, meats, cheeses, eggs, Nova Scotia salmon which we call Lox (an expensive treat back in the States), fruits, juices and beverages – fit for a king and queen. Everyone seemed quite pleased.
After the first bridge session, a ‘new’ room opened up and Bobby, Dan Morse and Henry Bethe (USA 1 Senior captain) and I thought we would experiment and treat ourselves to a lunch in the newly opened ‘other’ room which was making its debut. The food was delicious — cod, potatoes and spinach and a shared bottle of water – your other choice being ‘sparkling’ H2O (ugh)!. It should have been outstanding as I almost keeled over as Bobby’s and my bill was 54 Euros (without the bottled water which Henry picked up) and without tip. (There is quite a bit of conjecture whether other little scribblings include a tip) but I tipped in addition. It was indeed a meal to be remembered. Back to the regular coffee shop or lovely white brick walls of the main restaurant tomorrow I suspect. We had been varying between the two since we arrived last Wednesday and it was delicious (and half the price). You can go out of the building via a bus that stops in front of the hotel, but best after the sessions with no time restrictions to return.
The yellow-shirted volunteers are a sheer joy. I have attended several world championships and never saw so many helpful attendants just waiting to be of assistance. Nothing is too much trouble for them!
The hotel itself is a conference center, intended for two or three day conclaves as the rooms are small (wee) intended for short stays with inadequate drawer space to house three weeks clothing (for two people – bearing in mind the contestants needed extra white shirts, khaki pants, jacket, dress shoes (as well as sneaks), etc. The building has dozens and dozens of huge rooms necessary for a world championship and consists of a series of corridors (with directions by color to help you find your destination). Every time I leave the room without Bobby, I pray I won’t lose my way (and I have a pretty good sense of direction). As far as special individual WBF rooms (all with beautifully printed identifiable signs), nothing was left to the imagination. Really the only complaint is it is so spread out, I ordered a scooter (which at first I was denied as they thought I was referring to a motorcycle – just a language barrier). It will arrive tomorrow and I am exhaustedly counting the seconds.
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Judy:
Thanks for the update. Most people report on the game itself but your blogs are always so refreshing as you talk about real life incidents and don’t pull any punches. I personally can relate to your walking problem and hope your scooter arrives on schedule.
Keep us posted on the goings-on in Veldhoven!
I agree with Carol’s comments. I feel like I am there, almost, because of your commentary. Thanks for the update. Wishing Bobby and the team good luck and great playing as the tournament progresses. Sounds like the location is lovely except for the size of the room. 21 days in a small room would not be terrific, but you will handle it well, no doubt. How much is 54 Euros?
I look forward to your next post.
If you pull up google.com and type in “54 euros in dollars” it will tell you that at current exchange rates, 54 Euros is just under $75.
Dear Jane:
Yes, it is nice to be here but have had a real stumbling block on the way (mainly living out of suitcases which I detest). However, when Dan and Bobby came to our room to go over their card, he commented it was like a palace compared to his quarters. Hard to believe.
In answer to your question, that comes to about seventy-five bucks for lunch for two and since there is such gobblygook scribbled beneath the charges, we are not sure if the tip was included, so I added two Euros just to play safe. No one else seems to tip, but I felt very awkward. WHATEVER, it was not el cheapo.
Thanks for caring. Will continue to report on it.
Judy
David:
Thanks for the reassurance. We had been told it was about 1.30 so we too figured out little luncheon treat cost us $75.00 and that was without the bottle of REGULAR WATER which Henry put on his bill for ten bucks. Sad when bottled water goes to about $2.50 a glass (for four people). In this global turmoil, hotels (like other businesses) must find a way to combat this terrible wide-world recession which apparently has spread to all corners of the world. Incidentally this was a new upscale dining facility and the hotel is seizing the opportunity to draw the spendthrifts as there are few places to eat on the premises and so many mouths to feed.
The only people here are from the worldwide bridge community with hundreds of kibitzers and with all games breaking the same time, makes for bedlam and inadequate eating facilities. You are at their mercy as few people have cars so you need the taxi service or the bus into town.
I was about to send out some laundry, but did an about face as I brought Shout and Woolite with me for just such an emergency (not my former style but was I ever right). You can practically buy a new shirt for the same price of hotel laundering.
Life marches on.