We spent our first night on our ship, the AmaKristina. Very nice, as usual.

Canal cruise

This was our last morning in Amsterdam. We had a city tour, part canal cruise and part bus tour…with about 45 minutes walking on our own. Much sunnier today (although it did rain some) making for better pictures. We did manage to stop by a bakery for chocolate (muffin and brownie) for a late morning snack.

Canal Cruise

Swan on the canal

flower shop

Cobblestones

They fit a whole carnival in a small city square!!

We enjoyed our time in Amsterdam. It’s an interesting city…having been occupied for thousands of years. The canals are manmade over hundreds of years and are mostly in a C shape in the city. Because of the canals there are nearly 1600 bridges. They use pumps to keep water out of the land, as much of it is under sea level. Apparently the land was originally swampland and pumping the water out (originally using windmills) provided land for farming and buildings. Over the centuries of doing this, the land has compressed and gotten lower.

Windmill

Windmill selfie

Near the windmill

After Amsterdam, we went by bus to the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. First we stopped at a windmill, no longer active, but lived in. We got to go through beautiful countryside. The canal was opened in 1952 and has been expanded since then. The canal has locks along the way to adjust for different water levels.

Village along a river with rowers

Countryside windmill

Countryside

In the afternoon, while sailing along the canal, we had a cooking demonstration by Joanne Weir. It was filmed for her cooking show (I’m in the background typing). She was very nice and made a bruschetta with goat cheese, olives, and figs. Interesting to see the filming process and she was very nice and personable. She also was gracious and let us ask questions after she was done.

Lock on the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal

Our ship in the lock

Leaving the lock

Joanne Weir filming

The entire afternoon was spent on the ship. Makes for a very relaxing time.

(Someday I’ll figure out how to not have sideways pictures.)