Day 11 - Amsterdam

This is our final day of the tour. We have a few more hours to take in the sites of Amsterdam. After a hearty breakfast we head out for a walk around the historical city centre. It's a quiet Sunday morning and quite different from the hustle and bustle of yesterday. It's a beautiful day for a stroll along the canal, the sky is clear and bright and the temperature is nice and warm.
The Amadagio staff have prepared a light lunch for us.Delicious. We gather in the lounge to reminisce and to raise our glasses for one last toast. This has been a great trip with 18 wonderful women. Thank you for making this journey so special and I look forward to traveling with all of you again one day. Cheers!

Day 10 - Amsterdam

This morning we woke up in city of Amsterdam, which is also known as the Venice of north . There are many river ships docked at the pier, side by side 3 deep and one behind the other 3 deep. It's quite a sight to see . Our ship is in the middle which creates a unique experience when disembarking. We have to walk through the lobby of another ship to get to the pier.
We begin our day with a guided cruise along the500 year old canal system. There are 60 miles of canals and 1200 bridges. This is a great way to absorb the overall feel of the city and to see how they live and get around. There are many boat houses along the sides of the river and chained bicycles line the bridges and rails. I've never seen so many bikes. Walking or cycling seems to be the best way to get around. You see 2 and 3 people on one bike, parents and children together and some bikes are equipped with a front car to hold the kids.
Looking down the canal you see bridge after bridge, it's quit a sight. The tall narrow row houses appear to be leaning and some are as they have shifted over the years. The fronts of the houses lean out at the top to allow for pullys to lift furniture and large itmes up and in through a centre window at the top. It's quite a system. After our canal cruise we board a bus for a panoramic driving tour which takes us to windmill and the flower market. Here we enjoy some free time to visit the market and surroundings shops. It's a busy Saturday morning and the market is bustling with tourists and locals.
This afternoon we are free to explore the city on our own. It's a great day for walking, the sky is clear and the temperature is about 17 degrees. Some of the gals visit the Anne Frank Museum, the Rembrandt Museum and others stroll through the Red Light district which is one of the well know areas of Amsterdam. Coffee houses line the streets, but be aware there is no coffee here. This is where you go for a smoke. If you want coffee you must go to a cafe. The city is vibrant and alive with excitement. The locals have gathered in the main square for a demonstration against nuclear power. There is music and buskers and the old and young have come to voice their opinion about this issue that is affecting people world wide.
This evening we are treated to another fabulous dining experience on the Amadagio. After dinner everyone gathers in the lounge for their last evening of entertainment and fun. Helen takes the stage one more time and sings us a few songs. Our friends from PEI and Australia join in the fun and a great time is had by all.

Day 9 - River Cruise - Cologne

This morning we woke up in the city of Cologne which is inhabited by 1.2 million people. The city was founded by the Romans in 50 BC. You can still see remnants of the old city. After another fabulous breakfast we head out on a walking tour of the old town. Some of our energetic gals have opted for a bicycle tour of the old city and surrounding areas. Our guide is pleasant and knowledgeable and the weather is pleasant and the sky is sunny. The Gothic cathedral sits in the centre of town and is quite an architectural marvel. There is a gold tomb in the cathedral which has the bones of the 3 wise men. In the year 1164 the Germans stole the bones from Milan. It was at this time the German emperor decided to build the cathedral to house these bones. At one time this was the tallest building in Europe until the Eiffel tower was built. This is the city where cologne was invented in the year 1709. You can still purchase the original cologne named Farina.
Our afternoon was free to wander through the pedestrian zone to browse in the shops (excellent shopping here), eat strudel and to enjoy a Kolsch, Colognes beer. Most of the ladies included a visit to the Lindt chocolate factory. MMMM good.
This evening was the Captains cocktail party and farewell dinner. Everyone was dressed elegantly and the staff were introduced and appreciated for all their hard work. Judging by the applause everyone thoroughly enjoyed their time on board the Amadagio. The chef and wine staff seemed to get the greatest applause. They certainly deserved it.
Later in the evening many people gathered in the lounge for laughter, fun and dancing. Helen sang a few songs for us and everyone thoroughly enjoyed her music. Our new friends Eastern Canada and Australia joined in the fun.

Day 8 - Rhine Cruise, day trip to Heidelberg

This morning our private coach departs Mainz and takes us on the Autobahn to Heidelberg, Germany's oldest university town. Here we enjoyed a guided walking tour of the red walled castle ruins, dating back to the 12th century and built over many centuries with various architectural styles. From the castle we have a magnificent view of the town below and the gentle Neckar River. The wine cellar houses ancient casks that held up to 30,000 gallons of wine. We continue our tour from the Hauptmarkt, the main square in town. After touring we enjoyed free time to wander the cobbled streets, shop in the quaint stores and enjoy a traditional lunch of schnitzel, potatoes and beer. Delicious. After lunch we visited the chocolate shop to purchase some of the famous student kisses. Our bus takes back along the autobahn to Rudesheim where the ship is now docked. Some of the ladies stayed behind today and to enjoy a walking tour of Mainz then sailed with the ship to Rudesheim.
After and early dinner we were taken by small local trains through town to the Siegfried Museum or a tour of the historical Musical Cabinet. What an experience. There were many wonderful music boxes dating back hundreds of years. Rudesheim is a quaint, charming town.

Day 7 - Cruising on the Rhine

Today we begin our tour in Koblenz, the only city situated on both the Mosel and Rhine Rivers and two wine areas. The harbour area boasts a magnificent statue of William the 1st. Most of the old town was destroyed during World War Two. There a few original churches and buildings and some have been reconstructed. The weather has turned quite cool so most of the ladies returned to the ship after our tour. Some chose to wander through the quaint streets and visit the shops along the way. Everyone was back on the ship by mid day and were happy to settle into the comfy chairs at the front lounge with a cappuccino or hot chocolate.
The afternoon was relaxing and exhilarating. We gathered at the front lounge to enjoy the scenery as we cruised through the Rhine Gorge. MAGNIFICENT! Truly the highlight of my trip.
Steep slopes covered with vineyards and dotted with castles and picturesque villages. The area between Koblenz and Bingen is 65 kilometres and has the greatest concentration of castles and ruins, 30 to be exact. Some of the castles have been restored and are now inhabited only during the summer months as they are too damp and cool to live in during the winter months. The piano player serenaded us with wonderful music as we cruised through the majestic Rhine Gorge.
As we passed the famous Loreley Rock situated in the narrowest and deepest part of the gorge, the stewards passed out warm Loreley drinks (hot chocolate and amaretto) and the Loreley tune played on the loud speakers. Truly a moment to remember.
We finished our day off with a fabulous meal and a local singer came on board to entertain us with Frank Sinatra tunes. He was flamboyant and fun and engaged the whole audience. Another wonderful day and evening was enjoyed by all.

Happy Birthday Maddy

Happy Birthday Maddy, love from Gramma (Judy). Have a great day!

Scarf tying with Dixie

Our lovely Dixie has taken the time to teach us how to tie a scarf. The ladies are more than willing to be her models and everyone is delighted with the demonstration.
Debbie, Betty, Louise and Judy were willing models. The end result is shown in our group photo.