After spending eleven hours flying in the sky, I touched down today in Amsterdam — the first stop on my much-anticipated trip through the Netherlands and Denmark.  My daughter and grandkids arrive in two days.

Jet-lagged but excited, I made my way to my hotel, eager for a shower, a stretch, and maybe a quick nap before exploring a little of the city.

Then I opened the door to my hotel room.

Now, I’ve traveled through Europe enough over the years to know that “space” is a relative concept. Apartments, homes, offices — they all tend to be smaller than what we’re used to in the U.S., especially coming from the wide-open spaces of the West Coast. Still, even with that in mind, I have to admit I was a little shocked.

The room — generously — is maybe 15 feet by 12 feet. More accurately, it’s closer to 13 by 12, thanks to a slanted wall. Besides the bed, there’s a small desk tucked into a corner… and that’s it.

But the real star of the show?  The bathroom.

I believe it may be the smallest bathroom I’ve ever encountered — and I’ve encountered a few over the years. When I sit on the toilet, my knees not only touch the wall in front of me — they are raised slightly off the floor because there’s simply no room to plant my feet flat.

If I close the bathroom door and stand in front of the sink, there’s no turning around. To pivot, I have to open the door, step out into the room, and reset myself like a character in a tiny house reality show.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking:

“Neil, this is what happens when you book a budget hotel. If you were willing to spend a little more, you could have a room where you don’t have to execute a three-point turn just to wash your hands!”

And point taken.

For the record, I’m not staying in a four- or five-star hotel, but I’m also not staying in a fleabag motel.
It’s clean, it’s functional, and let’s be honest — it’s giving me a story to tell, and that’s worth something, too.

And truly — I’m not complaining.

It’s cozy. It’s efficient. It’s a fitting welcome to a city where life happens not in grand spaces, but in the beautiful, thoughtful use of small ones.

It’s a reminder that traveling is about adjusting our expectations, being flexible (sometimes literally), and finding humor and grace in the little differences.

If the first few hours are any indication, this trip is already shaping up to be full of small surprises, big laughs, and wonderful discoveries.

Stay tuned — there’s much more to come.