Got up 0630 in DC and did 3-hour Enterra management meeting til 10. Then jump in cab, fly USAir to Indy and begin a trip to Europe through Detroit to Amsterdam, arriving in the Netherlands about 0700 Wednesday morning.

Get my luggage and grab train to Den Haag Central. The Hague is the government center of the Netherlands. Room isn't ready, so I catch breakfast and then my host from the Foreign Ministry rushes in to remind me of meet at 0930.

So I slip into head and get suited up and do about 30 minutes with the Dutch Minister for Foreign Aid. Interesting, very smart fellow. A bit strange: he's so tall I feel small, and the same holds for his female admin assistant!

Then on to institute where, after light lunch, I address about 50 members of Dutch future strategic planning commission called Verkennningen (Reconnaissance). Minister of Defense attends. We get to talk over lunch. I go about 70 and then 20 Q&A.

Then I am hosted by veteran diplomat. We tour the Hague, and I get a history lesson. Then to the great art museum right there, loaded up with Rembrandts. Then to the nation's top international affairs institute, where I talk with senior staff for about an hour. Cool palace that once served at German military occupational HQ during occupation.

Then to beach to walk a bit and then a very nice, very Dutch dinner (beer, herring gin, fresh and raw herring, lobster soup and some fish. My host just spent five years in Moscow, so lots to talk about.

Crash at hotel about 8pm but make a point not to sleep until midnight so that I get a regular eight.

Back at it again today. Struggling a bit with sinus infection I caught with drugs just before leaving U.S., but performing well as required. Just awful foggy in the morning.

So far, a fascinating trip. And the interactions have been great.