We awoke Friday morning to blue skies and a forecast of 27 degrees. We wandered through the old town with its “dancing houses”, canals and 800,000 bicycles. Bikes rule here so you need to keep alert!
The weather had all the locals out in all manner of vessels cruising the canals with shirts off. After lunch we visited the Resistance Museum that told the story of Amsterdam people during the war. Well presented and very interesting. Saturday morning we headed to the Amsterdam museum where we learnt that all of Amsterdam is built on piles to support the buildings in the soft sand (14000 under the Royal Palace). The houses dance (tilt) when the piles start to sink. The history to Amsterdam from its beginnings, through the Golden Age when the Dutch were a trading power to present times are depicted through informative exhibits and massive paintings.
Saturday afternoon we boarded our home for the next week, the Avalon Tranquility II. We are going to cruise up the Rhine to Basel in Switzerland. The ship is brand new and we are looking forward to a week of fantastic views, gourmet dining and making new friends. Our friend Jane who is also cruising had a bad start to the trip when her flight from Birmingham was cancelled! Jane and her friend Michelle eventually made it to the ship at 2000.
Sunday morning we were off on a canal cruise to get a new perspective of Amsterdam, then a trip to the Maritime Museum in the afternoon. At 1700, we dropped our lines for an overnight passage that would take us into Germany. No watches to stand and so little motion that you need to look out the panorama windows to see we are moving!
