Mac strode purposefully into Departures Gate 4, holding a very small suitcase in his right-handed paw. A seasoned traveller; He didn’t have nerves and he never felt fear, he killed time looking round at the information boards, and wondering why at five in the morning there were men drinking beer!
Boarding the plane he gave the cabin girls a cheeky wink. One by one they fought to give him a drink. They’d heard the Tales of Travellin Mac, but had yet to meet him in the flesh: "quite a celebrity" said one of the girls. The other smiled, "Yes, and he’s quite a dish".
Eighteen thousand feet above the English Channel the pilot came on the radio to talk to the rabble. Mac listened carefully though to hear how long there was to travel. "Touching down in half an hour" announced the pilot loudly and clear.
Great thought Travellin, he sounded happy. But I hope he wasn’t one of the men drinking beer!
The plane pulled in to Terminal Two, the Seatbelt lights all disengaged and already the rabble’s bags were no longer stowed. Mac’s height advantage allowed him to make a quick exit under the seats, he thanked the pilot for the flight and shook his hand, "was that ice-tea in his drink?" thought Travellin. "It sure looked like he was drinking Whiskey neat!"
The airport was crowded and loud and busy, young people and old all pushing and shoving. Not a place for a raccoon so fragile and small, he looked around frightened for the sign saying "Baggage Claim Hall". In all the grumpy people a smiling face stood tall, a young brunette girl spotted Mac checking his map by a wall.
"Hello" said the girl, "and welcommen zu Amsterdam. Let me show you to your bags and the passport desks". Travellin Mac was grateful for the only friendly face he had met, said thank you to the girl and cheekily asked "Maybe we meet up sometime, get some fresh Crepes"
He got in the queue with the other passengers, had his papers and passport and was all ready to go. The passport inspector called Mac to the desk, gave the Raccoon a fixed stare, then nodded and looked to the rest. Mac was in. He ran all the way to the taxi rank, he didn’t have any money yet so said "Driver, to the nearest branch, of the European Raccoonville Bank".
The driver pulled up and Mac got his money, paying the driver then back to his running. All over the town he wanted to explore, but first find a cheap hotel. With a bed or at least a floor!
He unpacked his bags in room 202 of the Tulip Inn. The windows jammed open and the pillows were wafer thin. "Not the nicest of rooms" He thought to himself. It had a roof and four walls and a front door that locks. He’d have been happy stopping in a cardboard box! Time to get out now and look around, get a bite to eat somewhere and spend the odd pound…
Out and about it was quite a fine day, the sun he was out to keep the rain clouds at bay. When Mac travels he sees the Sun as his best pal, with his friend on his back he crossed bridges and walked by canals. He saw strange looking people with strange faces and hairdo’s. He waved at all the men on boats and the ladies in the windows. Everywhere he went he breathed in the strange smoke from all the bars, he tried to avoid the cyclists and the tourists with cameras!
Eventually he got tired and wanted a drink, still too early for lager, "A coffee I think"
He sat at the table by the window looking out on the water, a lovely setting to write his postcard while he gets attention from the waiter. He orders one strong coffee and a piece of apple pie, then writes his postcard saying how he wishes his friends were here. And how he misses the recipients; Louisa and Clive!
Drunk on caffeine and full of pie, Travellin Mac thinks it’s culture time! On the back of his map are the must-see sights, he thumbs down the list until he sees something he likes. The Rijksmeseum has some Rembrandt’s, some Picasso’s and their peers, but Mac just wants to see that guy that cut off his ears.
So although the map said that the Rijksmeseum was good, being a Raccoon he just wanted the gore and the blood. So the Van Gogh museum he decided upon. To see the sunflowers and his self-portraits and that one with his mum!
Inside everyone huddled round the paintings of his flowers. It seemed some people could stand there gazing for hours. But not Travellin Mac, he had seen more than enough, so he checked out the gift shop then went outside to find a nice quiet pub!
He sat down outside and enjoyed the day’s last sunshine hour, he ordered a small beer and sipped slowly under his umbrella. By the time he had finished it was ten after six, and evening was drawing near and it was time for little Mac to refresh.
He decided to go back to his room. First though to the barman he said, "cheers mate". The barman said "thanks, you’ll be in later, right?"
"You know what, sir, I think I might"
When he got to his room he tried out the shower, it was very cold water with not too much power. It got better though because the people in the next room must’ve turned off the taps, then he got a sudden hot splash from the shower at last!
All washed and perfumed and ready to go, he put on his best tie got his camera and phone. Down to reception told the porter he may be late, "that’s no problem, this is Amsterdam after all, mate!"
Outside he looked for a nice pub straight away, he was in the Red-Light District though but thought "this one will do anyway!"
Inside were crowds of drunk-already English tourists and loosely dressed ladies of foreign dissent. He didn’t feel comfortable and wished he hadn’t been let in, this place was far too crowded for him. He drank his beer quickly and tried to get in a taxi that would take him to a place with less din!
The taxi pulled up right outside the Dam Square; there were street entertainers, bright lights and bars everywhere! He took out his wallet and shouted; "It’s party time!" Then in the first bar he ordered a large red wine! Crowds started gathering around Mac, a Raccoon drinking wine in a bar on his Todd. But then in Amsterdam nothing ever really seems very odd!
He’d never been to a city where new friends were so easy to make. He even went in one bar where the barmen were giving out free cake. But he’d had some pizza earlier so he just had half a slice. It had a very strange texture but the flavour was nice, his new friends all laughing, nibbling away just like mice!
He left the bar early for a promise he had made, to the barman near the museum where he had earlier stayed. He hailed another taxi, he was too drunk now to walk, got out of the cab right outside the bar called ‘Van Gogh Park’.
He stood outside the bar, hoped they’d remember him from that before, but when he jumped the first step and opened the door, the barman had told all the people inside of the raccoon who travels far and wide. He walked in and heard; "Good old Mac’s back" the crowd cried.
He drank beer and whiskey and vodka and gin, he wondered how everybody knew him, but word gets around and stories go far. And you can’t get a taller story than a small travelling star. Like Travellin Mac with his suitcase in hand, always there when you travel, a raccoon is your friend.
The bar sang him songs and he danced and he played, he loved this city and the people and even the hotel where he stayed! He’d come back next year to this town was his plan. Oh how he loved Old Amsterdam.
THE END
A true story by A J Paperboy
