Our first surprise of the arrival into Amsterdam was entering a lock, kind of a mini Panama Canal event, then a gorgeous sail in through some beautiful homes and green green farmlands. Also some heavy industrial areas that are not so pretty..
We fronted immigration on the ship, which allowed us to walk straight off not long after customs cleared us. Too easy!
How wonderful to be met by our Oosterdam cruise friends Cor and Bob, there was a loud hip hip HOORAY ... Just about a year since we last sailed together.
Bob and Cor had our day planned beautifully right down to the last minute, tickets for the tram, and the Canal tour already purchased. Our ship docked virtually right in town, and we got the tram just one stop to where we wandered over to the cruise departure point .. Our tour was on Lovers Cruises, a one hour trip around the canals.
Our captain hit a few walls, all part of the fun! The sights of old Amsterdam kept us all enthralled for the entire hour.
Next off a coffee (for some) stop at Cafe Karpershock, built in 1660, a great spot to sit and watch the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam.Warren had a beer called Palm Beer and I had a wine. That Palm beer was almost the death of him! It's been a LONG time between good beers for my poor hubby!
The weather for the most part was good, but occasionally a very cold wind.
The Central station is a very impressive building, dominating the central area. I have LOTS of photos of our day, and I believe I looked like the typical tourist!!
Off we went the 5 of us, to visit the flower market, a concession to seeing the tulip farms!! The markets were a hive of activity, and the bunches of flowers were so beautiful and very good value! I tasted a Dutch cheese, Amsterdam Cheese, it was the best I have had. Loads and loads of souvenir shops all selling the usual fridge magnets t shirts etc.
It seems EVERYONE rides a bike, and EVERY second person tries to run you down! It was a day where if I had to put a coin in the swear jar, I would be in serious debt!!
Our friends main mission was to be sure to get Warren a VB beer, and they were true to their word... We were in the door of Cocos Aussie Bar not 20 seconds and the first VB was downed!
We had lunch here, and a few more VBs were consumed and a take away for good measure.
The walk around town was "interesting" for us Aussies, what you can buy ... Cannabis, condoms, cannabis plants, and a girl in a window! My eyes nearly fell out of my head when I realised what I was looking at was a real person in very little clothing. The sex trade is all legal, the women pay taxes, have medical checks every two weeks and seem not to care the least about a bit of cellulite !!!
What an education! Right in front of one of these windows Bob decided I needed to zip up my wind cheater, so he proceeded to do so, quite a contrast I thought!! Gosh we laughed a lot today. Such a fun day out.
Just when I thought I could not be any more educated, we visited the first Gay bar in Amsterdam, it opened 75 years ago, and the original furnishings are in the museum. The current furnishing and fittings were amazing. The bar person was a real treat. After a very short time with just us 5 there, a crowd arrived, kind of like rent a crowd, and the atmosphere was crazy! There must have been at least 30 and believe me the bar was not very big at all!
Next up a tram ride to get us closer to the ship and another pub visit this time at Cafe de H❤️rtjes. This time a beer called LaChouffe, apparently a blonde beer. Ok Annette, I don't think the quest to find a Dutch beer to suit his discerning pallet is going to eventuate!
We walked by a building Bob and Cor had told us about, I was very excited to see it. A 17th century residential home with a hidden church in the loft.it was built in 1663 at a time when it was forbidden to celebrate Mass in public.
The Salvation Army also have a multi story building ... If we missed our ship it was where we would spend the night apparently! These buildings defy belief, they all appear to be on such a lean...and the age of them is very foreign to us. We think 200 years is old!
A visit next to the National Monument. Also a photo stop at the Grand Palace. Very grand indeed. No longer a residence.
All too soon, and after a wonderful fun filled day, our final stop was at a pub that has 720 beers, and you guessed it... NO BLOODY VB!! hahahhahah!
Cor and Bob returned us safely to the ship on time, what wonderful tour guides.
I would so love to come back to the Netherlands one day for a better look at the countryside, but I am forever grateful we got to see as much as we did given the time we had.
Such a bonus having the ship docking right in town.
We watched sail away and had a casual dinner in the Market Cafe. Later on some late night drinks at OSheehans Irish bar.
Tomorrow a sea day before Copenhagen, where a lot of the passengers will disembark and we will commence leg 2 of our cruise, the Baltic Capitals. A fairly busy schedule ahead.
Wonderful story.
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