travel blog

After you exit the Vestibule, you go into room #2, the Bentinck Room (behind the audio tour counter) #2 Bentinck Room which is named for Hans Willem Bentinck, the Duke of Portland. He was an advisor for Willem III. The ceiling with painted clouds and a frame of imitation marble is from the...

Tickets are punched at the palace gate. First we went to a building which houses the second restaurant - Restaurant de Balzaal which is located in the west wing of the palace and overlooks the croquet court. That restaurant was not open when we were there - it is the one which is in the former...

Last night, I downloaded photos and then I went to sleep with the TV on, and my glasses on too. Bob got up and turned off the TV. But this morning, I couldn't find my glasses. I tore everything apart looking for them (and missed many idyllic photos as we were Coming into Arnhem) but did not...

We got back on the bus. When we got to Volendam, one of the men refused to get off the bus. We could hear the guide pleading with him and his absolute refusal. He said his leg hurt. So he didn't get off the bus. We were walking through the town when the guide got a call - we had left two...

I knew about Edam cheese, so I should not have been surprised that cheese was part of the tour. The cheese market is no longer the heart of the town. There is a smaller (smaller than the main one in Alkmaar) Cheese Market re-enactment in Edam on Wednesdays in the summer. We were there on Friday...

Continuing with the walking tour Sign translates as Dutch Water Board The Crescent Moon Ladies clothing store - nieuwe collectie Shop - Drogisterij de Graaf (Beauty supplies) Flower shop Verse Boerderij Friet approaching The Speeltoren The Speeltoren We saw the Speeltoren clock...

The weather we had on this trip was quite cold and windy. We had rain, sleet, and snow. So I suspect that the reason that we docked in Hoorn instead of Volendam was because of weather. In any case, we took a bus to Edam, and started on a walking tour We drove to Edam on a road by a dike, Road...

We started for Hoorn Skyline leaving Amsterdam We got a chance to see the boat go through a lock on the way there Directional lock signs Windsock on the opposite lock lock house Side of the lock and we ate lunch during the trip. I managed to do the salad bar and then had vegetable...

22 April 2016 (Friday) was an arduous day. The original plan was: Day 2 AMSTERDAM - VOLENDAM - EDAM After breakfast, enjoy a scenic morning cruise through the historic harbor and canals of Amsterdam....Return to the ship for lunch while you cruise the Ijsselmeer towards Volendam. Enjoy a late...

Just before 6 we went back to the lounge for the Captains champagne reception and safety briefing. Lounge before the Welcome Reception We had orange juice instead of champagne. We sat with some people named Dick and Liz from El Paso. Rose from the captain The Captain was giving a rose to...

We came back to the hotel room after breakfast and after a bit I decided to call AmaViola and see if we could come early. They said it was fine to come right away. This is their first cruise, so they don't have rooms to clean. When I looked out the bathroom window, I saw a regular size big...

Went back to the hotel and went to the restaurant but they said they were fully booked and it would be 45 minutes before we could get a table. We were to tired to wait, so we went and ate in the bar. Lobby of the hotel going to the bar Logo of the restaurant Art on the wall of the bar I...

April 20, 2016-continued Our hotel-the Movenpick-the high rise part The Movenpick hotel is a big tower plus some rooms in a larger section below the tower. We waited in line a long time to check in (about a half hour) - finally got checked in by 5:00. This is very large and very busy hotel...

Changing planes in Heathrow, the wheelchair person at the gate tried to get me to walk up the gangway - not going to happen. So she pushed me to the holding area, and then we got another wheelchair person who took us to the Lounge. But first we had to go through security again - we had to dump...

Bed of red tulips - Keukenhof I had my eye on a river cruise in the Holland to see the tulips for some time. I had many discussions with my travel agent Cal Ford about the best company to do this cruise with. Viking seemed to have good itineraries and some of their boats had elevators which...

27 June 2009 Went down to the lobby leaving B still in bed (she sleeps a lot), and got a taxi to the main PO with my package. Most taxi drivers wear a coat and tie. This one had jeans and a jacket but no tie maybe because it was Saturday. But he took the package from me and put it into the...

Now to get back to our hotel. I went to the information desk that was there and took a number to buy a tram ticket at about 4:45. My number to be waited on Granddaughter waiting for me to get a tram ticket When I was finally waited on at about 1700 the lady said I could go on any tram except...

I had really wanted to ride the blue line which starts AND stops at the same place, doing a complete circuit. So we got off at the City Hall stop and waited for the Blue Line. Clock tower Short round tower East Indiaman Amsterdam, a replica of a Dutch trading ship NEMO - The Science...

Sandwiches By this time it was noon, so we walked back along the kiosks and I bought a coke for B Coke sign Sandwiches My granddaughter eating lunch and sandwiches for €10. I told her she could not buy chips. They would just make her thirsty and she does not carry water with her as I do...