Tulips and Windmills: Arrival and Transition

It was February, 2020, and we were putting the finishing touches on our upcoming trip scheduled for April. Almost everything was in place except for a few museum visits. The Viking trip we were anticipating had been in the works for a long time -- the itinerary is one of their most popular, and it fills up quickly. We'd had to wait a year or more for a vacancy. 

February, 2020.

We finally left home for our trip on April 18, 2023!

Prior to the Viking portion, we scheduled some time in Amsterdam on our own. We spent two nights at a delightful B&B called The Milkhouse, and I heartily recommend it to anyone considering a stay in Amsterdam. Our room was charming with every conceivable amenity, and the breakfast each morning at Bagels & Beans down the street was delicious. Our hostess, Eline, was delightful.

A canal boat tour, exploration of the bulb market, our first stroopwafels, museums, local restaurants, filled our days (and nights). We both fell in love with this beautiful city where there were planters of tulips everywhere, friendly and helpful folks who spoke perfect English, and picturesque canals wherever we looked. We walked and walked (and ate and slept). 

A friend had provided me with the name of a traditional Dutch fabric shop; unfortunately, a hand-lettered sign on the door indicated it was closed (presumably due to a family emergency) so I guess I'm just going to have to visit their website . . . .

We'd come to see tulips; these were the first.

We stumbled upon the bulb market and while we were tempted, we made no purchases. Later we learned that one isn't allowed to bring bulbs back into the U.S. due to the possibility of disease; furthermore, these were last year's bulbs and by the time October/planting season arrived, they'd be duds.

One evening we had dinner at the restaurant on the corner where Joe ordered an appetizer with a most unlikely combination: baby shrimps and cabbage! He ate every bit.

It was hard to choose which canal photo to include; I took so many.

So many beautiful buildings and canals!

Again, we made no purchases.

On Friday, it was time to present ourselves to Viking Gefjon in the Amsterdam Harbor. Gefjon was to stay in Amsterdam for a couple of nights and we'd have additional free time. We had bought timed tickets to the Rijksmuseum for Friday afternoon, so the plan was a cab out to the port where we'd leave our luggage and take the tram back into the center for the museum.

Alas, when we got to the port, the ship was nowhere to be found, although there were other Viking boats anchored. We searched and searched and finally Joe went into the terminal to the Viking desk where he learned that Gefjon was harbored in Zandam, a totally different town. Although Viking had our email and cell info, they failed to let us know of the change. An expensive continuation of our cab ride finally landed us at our ship; by then it was too late to follow through with the museum visit. We were disappointed, both in missing the museum and in Viking's failed communication. It must be noted that ultimately they apologized for the oversight and reimbursed us for the hundred and fifteen Euro cab ride.