ABC Tour – Canal Boat, Commencing the Cruise

MONDAY 11 JULY

There was no sleep in this morning as before we sailed we went on a canal boat tour of Amsterdam.  We were to be ready to depart at 8.15am after a wonderful breakfast.

The best way to see Amsterdam is from the water.  About a third of The Netherlands is below sea level, so managing water is a major part of their infrastructure. It was great to see the wonderful facades on such a nice day.

I was surprised at how old these buildings are.  Quite a few are a bit lopsided where they have subsided into the spongy soil.

Of course there are lots of lovely old bridges as well.

Many people live in houseboats.  We saw people sitting out on their decks enjoying a leisurely breakfast.  What a life.

The many modes of transport available.

Another stunning bridge, although this one is fairly modern.

This bridge is only just wide enough for the barge.

There are bicycles wherever you look and the most amazing parking lots for them.  Apparently they are always being stolen and they regularly have to clean lots of them out of the canals.

We started our sailing just before lunch on the Amsterdam Rhine Canal, which took us to the Rhine River.  The countryside is flat but really pretty.

We traversed our first lock. 

How it works is that the water level in the lock is lowered to the same as the canal, they open the doors and the boats going downstream sail out.

We, along with  several other boats sail in.

They close the door behind us and fill it up with water to the higher level.  Then they open the front door and we sail out and continue on our way.  This is one of the bigger locks we went through.  Most will be only wide enough for one boat, and some are quite a tight squeeze.  We go through 14 all up.

After a while we made a turn and were on the Rhine River.  The river is really busy with cargo boats.  They carry all sorts of things – oil, coal, stones, dirt, shipping containers, you name it.

We enjoyed the afternoon lazing on the sundeck, watching the world go by.

After our six course dinner we went back up onto the sundeck to see this glorious sunset.  Yes, could definitely get used to this.

We sail through the night tonight.

ABC Tour – Catching a Cab, Train, Cab, Bus and Boat

SUNDAY 10 JULY 2011

We had a bit of a busy day today. It was an early start to get to the train station in time to catch a high speed train to Amsterdam.  We allowed plenty of time, only to find that  our half our cab ride only took 5 minutes on a Sunday morning and that catching a train to another country is easier than catching a suburban train.  You just rock up, walk straight onto the platform and show your ticket at the door.  It is that simple.  It doesn’t seem right.

The train took us through Belguim, to The Netherlands and Amsterdam, where we caught another cab to the port to check in for our next adventure, a one week Rhine River Cruise. How exciting!  This is the finale of our trip and something we have both really  been looking forward to.  It is to be a relaxing wind down week before getting home.

We had plenty of time to spare before sailing, so we took advantage of the optional tour to the Dutch folk village “Zaanse Schans”.

Here we visited a working windmill that grinds pigments for artists’ paints, a wooden shoe maker’s and a cheese maker’s.

It was really picturesque.

The weather was glorious, so there were lots of people out and about.  We were really taken with the gorgeous boats, both at the village and in the harbour at Amsterdam.

After our tour, we boarded the “Avalon Felicity”, which is to be our home for the next week.  It is only twelve months old and somewhat luxurious. 

I think we might spend a fair bit of time up here.

Once we boarded we were introduced to the crew and then there was our first experience of the food.  Dinner consisted of six, yes six, courses.  Surprisingly, we were able to eat it all and didn’t feel overly full.  They were just little tastes. A great way to dine.  I could get used to this.

Generally, everyone is finding their way around, getting used to the routine and meeting the other passengers. 

Tonight we stay berthed in Amsterdam and start the cruise tomorrow.

ABC Tour – Continuing in Paris, Climbing a Tower

SATURDAY 9 JULY

We had no real plans for today, so we just went with the flow.

Firstly, we hopped on the  green bus again and headed to Montmatre, past the Moulin Rouge.

Up to the Sacre Coeur.

It is really light inside, especially compared to the Notre Dame.

The views from up there over Paris are wonderful. One major landmark is not visible, as it is further around to the right.

Just up the road from where we are staying was an antique market today.  We had a good look, but there really wasn’t much that grabbed our attention.  I just bought a little few buttons.

We have been staying in the Madeleine district, and today we finally had a look inside the Madeleine Church.  Apparently the building was built and they didn’t know what they would use it for.  It was eventually decided to use it as a church.

We found a patisserie which served delicious tarts for afternoon tea.

Before we left home we planned a little treat for ourselves – dinner on the Eiffel Tower.  It was hard to find a way to just have dinner, without incorporating a river cruise or Moulin Rouge, but with a bit of help from Mr Google we were able to book a table for two for a 9.00pm sitting at the “58 Tour Eiffel” restaurant on the first level.

We arrived in plenty of time so had a nice wander around.  Look at the size of the queues to go up the tower, even at 8.30 pm.

Of course the views were spectacular and we had fun picking out the landmarks.  We were lucky that it was such a lovely evening.

The obligatory photo of us.

The meal was delicious and the service spot on.

 

It was great having the later meal, as there was no pressure to be out in time for another party coming into the restaurant after us.  By the time we had finished it was dark and we had another wander around enjoying the night lights.

For the millennium the tower was wired for sparkly lights to be on display on the hour, each hour.  As everyone loved this effect so much it has been retained.  We first saw this when we visited in 2007 and it is really beautiful.  This time we experienced the sparkle all around us as we were still on the tower.  Something very special.

Isn’t it beautiful.  A special evening to remember.

ABC Tour – Coming Home to the Cold, Catching Up on the ZZZZZZZs

We’re home again!  It was a bit of a shock, as this is what we came back to.

Yes, that is a little bit of snow.  Not a lot, but enough to be a bit of a shock after the weather we had been used to.

We flew into Sydney on Monday afternoon and drove home on Tuesday.   I think the animals were glad to see us home and we are now all settling back into normal usual life.  Mick was back at work on Wednesday and I returned on Thursday.  We are glad it was a short working week.

I’ll catch up on the last bit of our trip over the next couple of days, before I forget what happened.

ABC Tour – Chunnel, Coming to Paris

THURSDAY & FRIDAY 7-8 JULY

Thursday saw us catch the Eurostar train to Paris.  It only takes a bit over two hours, with 20 minutes in the tunnel.  The world just whizzes by.  This was the only picture I got without blurring or just being trees.

Our hotel is in the Madeleine District and is really nice, with English speaking staff, which helps.  We just went for a wander that afternoon to get our bearings.

Today, we hopped on the open topped bus and went for a tour of the main sights.

The Louvre.  We didn’t go in, as we visited it last time we were here.

The arch opposite the Louvre.

The Champs Elysses.  They are getting things ready for the finale of the Tour de France.

Around the Arc de Triomphe.

Backwards and forwards over the Seine.  This is on the Alexander III Bridge.

The Church of the Madeleine, just up the road from our hotel.

We did the full loop and then went back to the Notre Dame Cathedral to have a look.

It’s a splendid building.  Apparently it was in disrepair, but after Victor Hugo’s book they restored it.

The queue moved really quickly.  The queue to the ladies’ loos was slower, and Mick had to wait at the door for me.

Another lovely interior.

Lots of stained glass windows.

A couple of the bridges over the Seine had lots of locks attached.  They are “Love Locks”.  Apparently it has only been going on for a few years.

So we added ours.

There it is, in among all the rest.

We wandered along the banks of the Seine looking at all the market stalls.

Then we hopped back on the bus to the Eiffel Tour.  We just wandered around the base.

There are heaps of fellows selling junky Eiffel Towers.  It is a constant battle between them and the police.  They are always on the lookout and when the police come along on pushbikes they all bolt.  This happens all the time.

We then went and wandered around the fountain over the road.

Mick loves watching the traffic, which has us both amazed.  It is like a continual dance.  There are no lanes marked on the roads and traffic just goes where it wants and you just have to watch out for them.  Add heaps of motor scooters zipping in and out, loads of busses and pushbikes as well and it is mayhem.  However, it seems to work.  Don’t ask me how.  I think there is about 15 abreast here waiting for the lights to change.

We finished off the day with a lovely dinner.  Mick tried the snails and they were good.