After posting our Blog yesterday, we went for a walk in Vondel Park, probably the biggest park in Amsterdam and even on a chilly day there were hundreds of people enjoying time in the park. The park contains many lakes with islands and many varieties of water birds, including a stork nesting on top of a tall pole. We were puzzled on hearing what sounded like parrot calls and eventually located dozens of large green parrots in the trees, obviously a colony that has developed from aviary escapees, we wondered how they survived the Dutch Winter.
On Sunday we again walked in the park and sat in the very weak sunshine to eat our lunch before catching the tram to Centraal Station and walking to the wharf to board the boat for our cruise along the rivers to Budapest.
We have a very nice cabin with large sliding windows and what is described as a “French Balcony”. If 10 cm. from the glass to the balcony rails could pass as a balcony, then we have one. Though I suppose on a warm day we could open the window and sit there watching the scenery.
The boat MS Amelegro was only launched last year and is very tastefully and comfortably appointed. We were welcomed on board in what was described as a cocktail party, one drink and one nibble but this was more than enough as dinner is a four course meal with all drinks supplied. We will have to be careful over the next fourteen days as the food we have experienced in the three meals that have been served so far, could result in us having to buy a new set of clothes.
The after dinner entertainment was provided by a group from a village outside Amsterdam performing traditional Dutch Folk Dances.
Monday 14 April
After breakfast we boarded coaches for an hour’s tour around Amsterdam past many old churches and 4 – 500 year old houses and through modern sections of town before boarding a canal boat for an hour and a half trip around the canals of Amsterdam, giving us a different perspective of the town.
Returning to the boat we had the choice of a buffet or silver service lunch and as we normally have a sandwich for lunch we will have to be strong and avoid having two or three courses in the middle of the day.
At 5:00 pm we cast off for the start of our actual cruise and we were invited to the sun deck for a hot chocolate and a little sail away party, this will be better later in the season when it is warmer as the wind was very cold.
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