Sunday, August 15 (Day 19) - Amsterdam

It felt that we had been going and going and going since we left Vancouver and we were under the impression that being on the cruise would provide a little bit of a respit, but how wrong we were. Our first morning on the cruise we landed (docked? made port? dropped anchor?) in the lovely city of Amsterdam.

We decided to forgo the overpriced guided tour offered by the cruise and took off on our own, which proved to be relatively easy once we spoke to the tourist information folks right at the cruise terminal. The main point of interest for us was the Van Gogh Museum and being that we would have to take a tram there and back, they suggested we buy a city pass which would give us a day pass on the tram and free admission to the museum. So we did!

But first we had to walk from the cruise terminal to the train station...

Constance is Amsterdam on our walk to the train station.

On the tram to the Van Gogh Museum. I think she's trying to look like a local.

Stand up straighter, Maile! We took a walk before the museum opened and happened upon this nice little park. If you look closely, you can see a German shepherd swimming in the pool.

While waiting in line before entering the museum we started chatting with a very tall man who turned out to be from D.C. I think he thought I was Canadian at first (the jacket), but said my accent gave me away. There was also a lady who noticed my jacket and thought I was Canadian - or that I had been to the Olympics. Of course I quickly corrected her on both points, though afterward I thought I should have just told her that not only was I Canadian, but that I also competed in the Olympics.

The museum itself was great. Too many people to properly enjoy, but still very interesting and cool in that it not only included works by Van Gogh, but also by his contemporaries, those who inspired (and taught) him and those who were inspired by him.

Part of our Amsterdam pass could get us on a canal cruise and since we were both a little tuckered out by the museum we thought a relaxing trip on a boat...seems we've been here before...would be nice.

Oooohhhh!

Cruising...

House boats all over the canals...

...and bridges...

...and cool buildings - these used to be warehouses.

All in all, Amsterdam was...okay. Constance wasn't impressed with the city itself, but I think she enjoyed the museum very much. We were back on the ship by 1:30, ate and napped the afternoon away.

Dinner was the first of two "formal" evenings and since neither one of us had anything fitting to wear, we opted for the more casual buffet and the early show called Cinematastic - a musical review of songs from the movies over the years. It was fun and silly - the ship was really rocking that evening and so the most amazing thing about it was that no one fell over!