Schiphol

Here I mix it up with my fellow travelers. It's like Day of the Dead or something. The Amsterdam Airport services 45 million passengers/ year, 4th busiest in l'Europe.

I am here for lunch (Madeleine: "Just lunch? Wo-o-o") with AlpInvest who manage €50 billion of other people's money with a lot of it invested in private equity (a group of slick-haired men huddle in the reception tweedling on their Blackberrys).  Over scallops and skate wing we discuss various points of interest : France, Italy, management fees, returns and etc. Usual stuff.