I love seeing all your random pics from strolling and waiting around. Seems so 'ordinary' but these are really special.
Like you I loved going to the big airport, Frankfurt in my case, and really just hang out for a while and watch people of all colors and ages, from all walks of life walk or run past and discover all the little shops.
These days I have to say that I dread going to the airport because it always seems to be a bit of a hassle getting there and being there. The people watching is still fun, the shops not so much.
Wow - those delays that you had at Schiphol sound real bad...