Saturday, April 19
We arrived in Amsterdam a little early. Getting off the plane and finding our way to baggage claim, passport control and customs was exciting. The whole process went very well, once I figured out what to do. Several passengers gathered together with Lynda and myself as we completed the entry into the country. There was a wait for the bus, after we found the Burger King. Finding the Burger King did take a while. Good thing we had time. By this time in the morning the airport was quite busy with many different people and all going difference places. It was very exciting.
It would have been good had I thought to get my jacket out of my checked luggage. We got on the bus and drove to Harleem. It was cold and very windy there. Many other people complained about that. Nothing we could do about the weather but soldier on. When we got there, we learned that there had been a fire there. The bus could not go where planned, so we did the best we could.
We met up with the local guides, divided up into two groups and went on a tour of the city.
We went inside St. Bavo Church. It was quite interesting and very old. I learned that the term “stinking rich” came from the custom of rich people being buried inside the church under the floor. Some of the stones on the floor dated back to the 1400s. Lunch was independent that day. I met up with Carol and Del De Jong and Lynda Barendse-Witte for lunch. We ate at the Brinkman. I enjoyed a wonderful rustic tomato soup. Lynda and I wandered around the town. There was an open air market. She was cold and bought a scarf. I thought they were very pretty so I bought one too!
We met up with the bus and headed toward the ship, which was docked in Amsterdam. What a very pretty ship! The cabins are so nice. The ship is very pretty. The crew is extremely friendly. Dinner that night then we could turn in for the night.
Terri Foley, Graphic Designer