The Journey-Part 2

Amsterdam was an absolute nightmare. I originally only had about an hour to change flights (with different airlines!) but the plane, of course, was late and this became literally less than 20 minutes. About 20 minutes before landing I told a flight attendant that I had a flight in 25 minutes time and would it be possible to have a way to get off the plane as fast as possible. I persisted, shamelessly, until she reluctantly brought me to the very front of the plane. I SPRINTED in my nice loafers to a gate that happened to be at the other side of the airport. About halfway through this 10-15 minute run, I noticed on the panels that the 12 40 to Jordan's gates were now closing, making me very afraid and intensifying my already considerable amounts of sweat. As I finally made it to the gate, I realised with dread that there was a SECURITY CHECK to go through encompassing three different flights. Darn. I went straight to the lady at the front and explained my situation ( I still didn't have a ticket) and showed her my receipt and luggage thing and she said "yes, they're waiting for you." I thus assumed this meant I could go straight through but no, I had to go to the back of the line.
When I finally got through, the people at the Royal Jordanian desk told me that it was too late. I refused this and fortunately they let me on (I was wearing glasses and looking sweaty and upset) but told me that my big rucksack wouldn't make it. Nightmare. Incredibly, just
before takeoff a chap came onto the plane and told me at my bag had just made it, which was incredibly lucky. It was clearly very obvious to him which one on the plane was Rory McLeod!
The flight was great, about 4 and a half hours with good leg space, a TV and good food. The only glimpse I got of Jordan was oddly reminding of Tatooine in Star Wars, a crazy-coloured desert with an irregular array of rocks and cool little towns.
Inside the airport, it took me about 1 minute to get through the guards and to my gate. Amsterdam is therefore completely and utterly useless. The food looked fantastic and I was starving but had nowhere to convert my money into Jordanian dollars. As I got through the gate, when the guard asked me how I was I felt it appropriate to reply "very well thank you, how are you?" - he stared at me with a mixture of surprise and annoyance and did not answer.