This morning I arose at 0800, just before the alarm sounded. I slept very soundly. David was still asleep and I did not wake him until I had finished my use of the bathroom, which was about 0830. We were told we would board the motor coach to take us to the ship at 3:00 pm.
We were ready to leave the room for breakfast about 0915 and ready to start our morning walk around 1015. On the way out, we noticed several people apparently waiting for something to happen outside the hotel. We did not find out until we returned that the rock group U2 was in town for a concert and were staying in our hotel (the finest hotel in town).
David suggested visiting the Dutch Resistance Museum. Along the way, we passed the National Holocaust Memorial. This is a theater where the Nazi processed the Dutch Jews for exportation during WW2. The memorial was not open yet so we decided to go on down the street to the museum and maybe come back later.
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| National Holocaust Memorial |
We had to wait a short while for the museum to open as well. Like the memorial, it did not open until 11:00 am. The Amsterdam Zoo is right across the street from the museum.
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| Zoo |
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| Dutch Resistance Museum |
The museum was fascinating, covering the many aspects of the German occupation. While we could have stayed longer, we finally left at about 1:00 pm. We decided to not try to fit in a visit to the Holocaust Memorial this trip and took off toward the Wind Mill/brewery on the way back to the hotel.
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| The wind mill and brewery |
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| David took a break and thought he was being shot at. It was a bicycle blowing a tire. |
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| Tropenmuseum |
We arrived back at the hotel around 2:30 pm. The groupies were much more numerous awaiting the U2 group. We never saw them, but we did find the hotel bar.
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| Waiting for our cocktails |
Boarded the bus and we were off to the ship. On the way to the ship, Jennifer, one of the cruise directors told us some interesting things about Amsterdam. One was something we had already learned, that the bicycles ruled the city and they will mow you down. I was not aware, but the bike lanes are painted red. Jennifer claimed that was due to the blood of tourists run over. She also noted that, in a city of about 800,000, there are over 1 million bikes. She said we would notice that the bikes are not expensive and, in general, pretty shabby. The reason is that everyone in Amsterdam has had their bike stolen and everyone has, in turn, stolen someone else's bike. Therefore, no one wants an expensive bike just to be stolen. She also claimed that each year, between 12,000 and 15,000 bikes are dredged out the canals. Not sure she told us what they do with all the bikes they recover.
Jennifer also told us that the weather we are experiencing is very unusual. Normally, it rains a lot. Today, and for the next couple of days, it is supposed to be sunny and dry with temperatures in the upper 60's.
The check-in and ship orientation was fast and painless, primarily since it was held in the lounge and the bar was open. We are in cabin 316 which is starboard toward the stern. A long walk to the bar up front, but there is a small restaurant (Arthur's) at the very stern on our deck, very convenient, about 10 paces from our door. The hot tub on the top deck is right above our cabin and we hear foot steps up there.
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| Our cabin |
The cabin is small compared to the ocean cruises we have been on, but it is comfortable. No veranda but we have two french balconies with sliding doors which we can open.
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| Lounge Bar |
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| View from top deck |
For dinner tonight, we tried Arthur's. They do not offer the same full menu as the main dining room, but it is not bad. I had a burger and David had swordfish.
We got to bed around 11:00 pm.
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