DAYS 3 & 4 - 28TH-29TH March Amsterdam-Germany

DAYS 3 & 4 - 28TH-29TH MARCH

Day 3 -

We are checking out today at 12pm, so had time to watch the very busy waterway from our window- coal barges,tugs and passenger ships go up and down all day. We slept pretty well overnight, just waking a few times when our body clocks said "Its the middle of the day!" while we yelled back "No its not anymore!" But have adjusted well - as everyone says, its going back home that gives you the jetlag.

It started to rain again, so after probably the best hotel breakfast Ive had, we caught a taxi down the road to the river cruise terminal. The paperwork had said you put your cases on at 12pm but couldnt board until 3pm, but since we are the 1st cruise of the year, they let us on straight away which was great. We are on the top deck in 1 of the cabins they call the owners suite which has the bed facing the wall of floor to ceiling door/windows- very nicely decked out.

Walked just down the road back into the city as we wanted to wander around. People and bikes everywhere (they say you have to watch for all the bikes rather than the cars here and people are right- crazy!) All the roads have the car lanes and then a cycle lane, then the footpath, so pedestrian have to be really careful as it gets a bit manic lol.
Went through chinatown then accidentally come across the red light district. We are browsing in what were shop windows when all of a sudden you are staring right at the hookers- looking back at you from where they show their 'wares' in the windows! Some were women and some- I dont know! Were later told if you try to take photos of the sex workers in their windows, that your camera will end up in the canal!

Passed a bakery full of chocolates!

Back to the ship and had a safety meeting and met the staff. Great cruise director who took us through the in's and outs of river cruising, then we had dinner- nice that you have free seating so you meet new people. The are only 129 people on board, which makes it a lot more personal than the environment of the large cruise ships where Graeme particularly, doesnt like the conveyor effect.We ended up sitting next to a group of kiwis and also some swapee's like us.... an Australian woman who lives in NZ! There are about 8 kiwis on board, a couple of Italians and UK folk and the rest of course are Australians.You get to enjoy free local beer and wines with dinner every night, which is rather awesome (very nice German wheat beer it was too!) Eyes hanging out of heads, ready for bed tonight!


Day 4-

Got up today after everyone putting their clocks forward one hour last night, a quick breakfast then we were off the ship and onto glass topped boats to take us through the canals of central Amsterdam. It was really interesting seeing it all from another angle and we had a great local guide who explained there are 750,000 people in this city but 1,000,000 bicycles! She said that while "We are kind people, when we get n our bikes, the beast in us comes out!" Cycling here isnt for leisure but the main form of transport and they ride in any weather!

It was interesting when she also told us that Holland is what they are commonly called, but actually this covers just North and South Holland and that to name it correctly to include all of the country is the Netherlands or Nederlands as they pronounce it.

We passed Anne Franks house today - a regular 2 hour queueing time we were told, to get in. Its the house with the dark green doors behind the tree in the photo

After the canal cruise we went to the local flower market which sells zillions of bulbs and has been there 400 years! We enjoyed a lovely hot chocolate and coffee in the warmth of a cafe as the rain had set in lightly and it was cooollddd! Met back with the guide and onto a coach where we were driven to Utrecht- "Oo-wrecked", to re-board our ship which had gone on ahead.

Had a lovely hot lunch (more like a dinner!) then everyone retired to their rooms to have a nana nap and watch them put the ship through its first loch (of 68 we go through I think.) Quite a tight squeeze and certainly a great engineering feat with the way it is all done now.

We also see why its best to be on the top deck for your cabin as if you are further down (there are 3 flights) you are either just above the water line or above it but cant see over the canal banks, so we are are happy to have a great view over the water and countryside. Was able to skype Danni from the moving ship as they have complimentary wifi on board- she is just going to bed as we finish lunch! Another lovely meal tonight for dinner then everyone is to bed as we are all just a day or two here from such a different time zone, that eyes are falling shut after warmth, food and the odd drink or two!

Had to crack up tonight at the dinner when the Captain came and officially welcomed us all. He is German and used to being on german passenger ships- he hasnt had to use English for 20 years. So he makes a halting speech which he did quite well - except when he said that "As we will all pass away together on this cruise...." Silence then everyone cracks up.....does the captain know something we dont?! Poor guy didnt know what to do!

Tomorrow there will be a 'christening ceremony' as our ship has just been purchased and will be officially re-named in a ceremony that the Australian execs will attend - smashing of the champagne on the hull and speeches that we are all invited to, after our visit to Cologne. We pass into Germany over night and are now on the Rhine river.