Tues. 8/27 Amsterdam again a

We docked in Amsterdam very early and our group was getting off the ship among the first groups. We had a shuttle to take everyone who wanted to go to the airport. Ana and I are spending a night at a hotel close by because we are leaving tomorrow and decided this was a good way to get there.


After off loading our stuff, we took the train into the city. We are feeling so comfortable here. We have some things we want to buy and know exactly how to get there.

First we went to the Rijksmuseum to see the famous Night Watch.



It has been cleaned since I saw it last, and is much brighter. The whole museum just reopened after a big redo. The room in which this was hung also had other paintings of guild groups by other artists, so you could really see what made Rembrandt's special.


It was a beautiful day and we wanted to try Dutch pancakes. We found this place to sit right by the water.


Ana watching a family of ducks and the boats going by.


We shared a large crepe with strawberries and whipped cream


And the smallest order (10) of the little puffy ones. We were glad we shared and really glad we tried them.


The cook and the griddle for the little ones.


This a city filled with bikes. I have never been quick enough to catch the ones transporting children. This holds 3 kids in the box and one behind.


This one has one behind and one on a little seat between the pedaler and the handlebars.


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Mon. 8/26 sailing

We have only spent 3 days at sea - that is 3 days too many for me. I find the ship board activities sort of silly. How many trivia contests can you participate in in a day?

We went to the dining room for a served breakfast. We always say that we will eat with others, that way we meet non knitters. I am amazed at how many cruises some of these people have been on. (One couple I knew did not get off the ship in St. Petersburg. There were no yarn stores.)

I did a lot of reading and sitting and knitting

Dinner was "International Night". There were menus from 4 areas of the world, but you could mix and match.

I had the Asian appetizer of fried won ton.


The South American soup.


The Asian salad


And the European duck.


For dessert I had Baked Alaska (North American?)


Just a simple fold tonight. They must be getting ready for the big switch over. Our suitcases had to be out in the hall before midnight. We had color coded tags to put on them so that they were taken off and put with the correct group.


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Sunday night

Tonight was an exhibition of the dessert making skills of the chefs. Picture taking started at 10:15 with tastings to follow. We had to stay up late for this. We have had to get up soooo early to get off the ship that we collapse about 9:30.

There was a lot of stuff. It didn't look great. In fact the cakes that Alec and Jef did for the kids birthdays was much much better.














We didn't stay to eat. Just clicked and left.


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Sun. Aug, 25 Copenhagen

As we walked away from the ship, I took this picture. It gives you an idea of how big it is.




In Copenhagen the knitters had booked a private walking tour. Since there were so many of us, we divided into 2 groups. Lapins and escargot. I was a lapin.
The Little Mermaid was almost right next to where we docked.




Porta-potties look the same the world over. Who knew?




At the palace, the guards are not as sober as the ones in England. The crown prince's family was in residence because school is starting and his children are in K, 1 and 2. The guide says that in the morning their mother walks them to the school down the street.




We were invited into a small private museum - these steps went up to a garret that Hans Christian Anderson lived in. The museum was really a history of the big department store.




Our walking tour ended at another yarn store. This one had a trunk show. The young woman on the right showed her designs and gave everyone a gift of enough yarn to knit two of her hat designs. The directions are in English.




Ana and I lunched at the outdoor pub across the street. We both chose deep fried Camembert with fried parsley. Delish!




We chose to pass on another yarn shop. Instead we walked by the famous Tivoli Gardens, and then went to the special Viking exhibit at the museum that my guide had told us about. I would have liked to spend much more time but we had to get back to the ship. (This is one of my problems with the cruise - the time in port is really short and we leave each place rather early.)




We took a bus back. My guide pointed out where to get it and said they accepted kroner, dollars and euros. How civilized.
Soup




Lamb




Poached pear




Rabbit

Sat. Aug. 24, at sea

People only think I am a little strange - taking pictures of the rugs. But, some have not noticed that they change each day, truly strange.


Today we are at sea all day long. I scheduled a massage for this morning, figuring that after all of the walking I would be ready for one. It also gives me something to do. Ana is feeling much better, but is still resting. The knitters can be found in one of the lounges/bars so there is always someone to chat with.

Tonight was the second dress up occasion. Some people go all out. The knitters just get a little better, but no long dresses, no tuxes.

I started with escargot


Moved to a cold fruit soup


The menu said "surf and turf". I ordered "surf and surf". Some had two turfs. The waiters never question, they just bring the food.



This was a soufflé.


We roared when we saw the orangutan hanging from the curtain rod.

People talked about them the next day.


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Fri. Aug 23 a

Ana is still sick. I am exploring alone again. Today is Sweden. Because it is hard to wend the way into Stockholm we anchored at a little fishing village.

I decided not to go to Stockholm. It is a pricy 1 hour train ride each way, and I have been there twice for longer times.


In all of our other stops we just walked off the ship onto dry land. Today we had to take the tenders. (In effect, we rode the lifeboats. When they are tenders, they can hold 120. When they are lifeboats, it is 150. Since we would all be wearing lifejackets, it would be a REALLY TIGHT SQUEEZE!

The town was a 15 minute walk. The red wooden buildings are so Swedish country.


A red brick church on a hill. Gotta walk up that friggin' hill to get to town.


The senior citizens absorbing the last rays of sun before winter. It is a little chilly, which is why the still have their clothes on. (All the Swedes I knew disrobed the minute the sun came out.)


I found yarn. It was in their version of a 99 cent store, so I didn't buy any.


The Farmer's market had two stalls. This one for fruits and vegetables and another for flowers.


A knitter has been here. SSK is an abbreviation for slip, slip, knit. (This might be something rude in Sweden, who knows?)


I went back to the ship early and joined another knitter for lunch. We sat and chatted a long time. Ana was feeling better, but staying in bed. She fid get up for dinner. We started ordering tea and several glasses of water in the afternoon. (That way we weren't paying for their pricy bottles.)

Tomato and mozzarella salad


Halibut


Since Sebastian made Ana get up so he could change the sheets, he put the animal on her bed.


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