Our latest adventure takes us to Portugal. I’m starting at the very beginning, because it is just too much fun to pass up!

Amsterdam airport – translucent tree image screen wall

I love traveling, and with few exceptions I would just about go anywhere. Because Portugal is somewhere off the beaten path as a tourist destination, there is a bit of what feels like undiscovered charm. Of course that’s not really true, but we found it delightful in it’s unassuming authenticity. But first, we had to get there…

Destination Lisbon! The outbound travel was thankfully uneventful. A stop over in Amsterdam revealed some fun and interesting design features. I always have an eye to design, and noticed how different the ambience is in Amsterdam’s airport. Don’t think of an airport as having any ambience? That’s part of my point. We didn’t have a very long layover, so we only say a small portion of the airport. But what I did see is revealing and refreshing.

A two-tone bamboo floor, massage chair alcoves with video and music, plastic recycling demo, and interior trees create an eco and soothing environment.

The most interesting, and surprisingly soothing feature was the make-believe forest environment. Sustainable materials, a feeling of nature, and lounge areas made for relaxing and even sleeping, create an unexpected sense of calm. Amsterdam’s airport, at least the part we saw, was not the sterile and stressful traveling experience I have come to know.

Nap anyone!

Trees, green walls, green and natural toned finishes, and even chirping birds work and play together to lend an experience of nature, albeit man-made, yet none the less soothing. Soft lighting, music, massage chairs, a bean bag lounging/sleeping area, “log” soft benches, and the sounds of nature all contribute to the calming effect.

The rooftop garden was quite a fun surprise. Although it was chilly, a few folks were just enjoying  a little of the outdoors before confinement.

Notice P is sporting the early stages of a beard for his vacation.

How about those cool chairs. Their backs are a wire frame with ivy growing on three sides. I didn’t dig for soil, so I’m not sure of the growing method. How fun is that!

And last but not least… what airport in the world would have tulips, daffodils, and the like as a retail feature product. I’m in love! Check out the size of the amaryllis bulbs… I’ve never see one that large! Amsterdam and the Netherlands may be next may be our next destination. The tulip fields are calling!

In my next post I’ll actually arrive in Lisbon!

Related posts:

Down the Road in Portugal