COPENHAGEN TO AMSTERDAM

Another short flight today, from Copenhagen to Amsterdam on KLM. By the way, for those planning on a European trip, keep in mind that they don't all use Euros. The exceptions are Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and Denmark, where it is about 7 Danish Kroner to the U.S. dollar. Also keep in mind that Norway is not a member of the EU and it is nearly 11 Norwegian Kroner to the U.S. dollar. Sweden and Iceland use the Krona.

The airline lounge was okay, with hard liquor, wines and beers available in the morning. Neither our Munich nor Copenhagen hotel executive clubs, for example, offered any kind of spirits beyond wine and beer. We were the only one there for a long while.

As we approached Amsterdam, saw tulip fields.

One of the advantages of living in Scandinavia is the lack of severe natural disasters. Sure, a few hurricanes have managed to survive all the up to this far north causing some damage. Take tsunamis, for example. Only a 2% chance of a potentially-damaging tsunamis is predicted in Denmark in the next 50 years. Similarly, there is less than a 2% chance of earthquake damage in 50 years.

Compare this with Hawaii, where there is a 9% chance of a MEGA tsunami to hit in the next 50 years. What is a mega tsunami? Read this. Amazingly enough, in Honolulu there is a 2% chance of a potentially-damaging earthquake in the next 50 years, the same as Denmark.

Similarly, there is no threat from a volcanic eruption in Denmark. Europe does have Mount Etna and those volcanoes of Iceland, but the danger in Scandinavia from lava is miniscule. The same can be said for Oahu and Kauai But not the Big Island of Hawai, plus this threat remains for Maui. When it comes to eruptions, then, it depends on your location in Hawaii. Mauna Loa is the world's largest active volcano.

Thus, comparing Copenhagen with Honolulu, if you love cold weather, pick the former. If you instead want to live in Paradise, select Hawaii, especially when there isn't a major volcanic eruption, for the volcanic emission can carry all the way to Honolulu.

What about relative cost of living of Copenhagen vs Honolulu?

Consumer prices are 14.3% lower in Copenhagen.
Rent prices are 24.7% lower in Copenhagen.
Restaurant prices are 1.4% higher in Copenhagen.
Coke/Pepsi 0.33 liter bottle = $2.76 in Honolulu and $3.97 in Copenhagen.
One liter of gasoline costs $1.29 in Honolulu and $2.07 in Copenhagen.
Toyota Corolla costs 25,000 in Honolulu and $44,000 in Copenhagen.
Electricity is more expensive in Honolulu, and a typical mobile phone monthly plan costs $53.62 in Honolulu and $16.62 in Copenhagen.
Movie theater cost is higher in Copenhaen, but jeans cost haf as much in Honolulu.
The monthly average salary is about the same.

We were picked up at Schiphol Airport by a Tauck representative and taken to the Marriott Amsterdam, which doesn't look that ancient, but is supposed to be the first Marriott hotel in Europe, opening in 1975. Read about the story of Marriott. Our room view.

There are now 799 Marriott hotels in Europe, but the world portfolio has grown to 3400 properties in 68 countries. However, this article says 174 Marriott hotels across 24 countries in Europe, so one is wrong. However, this report goes on to say that we are now in the newly-renovated Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, celebrating 49 years on the continent. There is now the Midtown Grill, a New York style steakhouse, with a Cigar Club. It is the largest 5-star hotel in Amsterdam with 395 rooms.

Went for a walk, led by my Blue Bar Pigeon.

There was too much activity, with people, bicycles, motorbikes, cars and public transport modes. It is said that there are more bikes (881,000) than people (811,000) in this Amsterdam. We swiftly returned to the sanctity of the hotel. Our M Club evening cocktails and meal.

Well, in a couple of hours we board the Tauck Espirit for their tulip cruise to Brussels. More later as the tour unfolds. Here is a Tauck European river trip I took in October of 2015 from Budapest to Amsterdam, should you wish to view a somewhat similar.

Steps from Denmark to Amsterdam.

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