After a day spent scouring around the Dutch countryside with windmills, cows, and open green pastures the modern, stainless steel and glass structure of the downtown hotel lobby felt foreign and cold. On a shiny mahogany desk, I signed the check-in form and politely refused the help of a bellboy to carry my overnight suitcase and bags of cheese. A few minutes later I regretted my decision as I struggled to get into the elevator, which turned out to be a clear glass trap running along the front of the building on steel cables. I'm afraid of heights and I managed to shut my eyes before panic hit me, hoping no one would stop this crazy ascension to the eleventh floor. "Merda," I breathed, "Now every time I leave I have to do this again." The elevator stopped suddenly and I stepped into a gray
