Christmas on steroi_s 🧑‍🎄🎅🎄🦌🛷

[Pushka]

So the Champagne by the glass is - Veuve Clicquot and all covered on the package.

 

[MARTINE]

It’s like that in Adelaide currently anyway

Just arrived into our suite. Oh my. Gorgeous.

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I thought it would be bog standard sparking. It’s not. It’s Veuve!


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The sitting area has a standard balcony.

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The bedroom has a French one.

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Good quality binoculars.

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The fridge is replenished daily.
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Looks like all the ingredients for a restful wonderful holiday. Enjoy @Pushka

 

[Flyfrequently]

Made friends with the Bar tender.

Good move @Pushka !

 

[latawiec]

Remember the famous chip shop? This was the queue today. Even once you get to the red line it turns in for a queue of another 10 people or so.
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Because of Sunday

 

[latawiec]

We stumbled across the Redlight street. Not much activity being Sunday arvo but did get a few surprises as we turned down a side street. . Lots of Christmas baubles too. .

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Wildplassen is verboden.
And it may cost now probably about €200.

Therefore, for weekends starting from Friday are being placed "plastik men facility" ...
Important, particularly after few beers...

 

[Pushka]

Just a quick update before breakfast. Met up with some excellent travellers last night for drinks then dinner. One couple. He with tattoos as far as I could see and a ginger beard right down to his belt, turned out to be the owner of the business in USA that did all the Covid testing and also investigations into what practices can limit the impact of the virus. So pizza boxes and footballs didn't come into those findings. He said for people who do grocery shopping then never take the trolley from inside but always outside ones. The virus can't survive more than two hours in sunshine. And we should always wipe down the handle, even now.

At dinner we met with a couple who'd just returned from an Antarctica cruise, and their luggage disappeared mid flight the whole trip. Viking had to provide them with everything. Drakes passage was a millpond on way over but on way back, they were the only people who surfaced that day. The other couple were engineers in Defence.

Of the three couples we met, all had previously served with the Defence forces and held high security permits. And they are all so so distressed by the state of politics in their country and were interested to hear what Aussies thought.

Dordrecht today. Sunrise at 8.35am. We are doing a trip to Gouda to make Stroopwaffels.

We know the river levels are high and may lead to river closures towards Basel, which actually won't impact us as we immediately depart Basel for Lucerne. Let's hope that's it.

 

[tgh]

Met up with some excellent travellers last night
+1... we always meet the most interesting folks cruising
Think I mentioned this recently when discussing cruising with some ..well one mainly…naysayers ..

 

[RooFlyer]

but on way back, they were the only people who surfaced that day.

Too much information

 

[latawiec]

Wildplassen is verboden.
And it costs now €140.

Therefore, for weekends starting from Friday are being placed "plastik men facility" ...
Important, particularly after few beers...

Penalty only €140

 

[Pushka]

Too much information

They loved the experience and said everyone should do an Antarctica cruise. They've already convinced bearded man and his wife to book onboard. That experience only lasted less than a day. If you are prepared then it won't be a shock to you. And chances are it won't happen anyway.

It's likely we will experience a boat swap. Have to pack up again, then go on an excursion then join a new boat. Same cabin. Same Cruise Director but different crew. And the reverse will happen to our boat. The river is so rapid and we are sailing against it. Very bumpy last night but not the seasick kind.

 

[latawiec]

It's likely we will experience a boat swap. Have to pack up again, then go on an excursion then join a new boat. Same cabin. Same Cruise Director but different crew.

Never heard about such event.

Did they say what is the reason?

 

[VPS]

Too much information

You'll be fine

 

[VPS]

Never heard about such event.

Did they say what is the reason?

Read the thread - post 6

 

[latawiec]

Read the thread - post 6

I have done a few cruises in 1990th on the Rhine and Main Rivers but never below Duisbourg to Amsterdam.
And agree that now there might be a much bigger or longer ships that are not easy to operate at low or high water levels.

 

[Pushka]

Never heard about such event.

Did they say what is the reason?

It happens frequently. Just today with the ship a day ahead of us. It’s for flooding rivers and bridges too low. Sometimes it’s the opposite reason. As in August. River too dry.

 

[Pushka]

Started the day with a good breakfast. Last night we could feel how strong the current was flowing against us. Berthed in Dordrecht this morning. We’d booked the Tour to Gouda.



And the selections.





8.30 am and only just sunrise.



There were just 6 of us doing the excursion and a large bus. Passed by Rotterdam which was completely rebuilt after being bombed in WW2.


In Gouda. St John’s Church. We weren’t able to see the stained glass windows with the dull weather.



The first of many cheese shops.


Gouda is also known for its candles.

 

[Pushka]

St John’s again.




This chalet was stunning. Part of the Relais group. They also host Emily in Paris events.

 

[Pushka]

More window shops. Most were closed. It’s Monday.




Yup.

 

[Pushka]

We were also going to a bakery to cook some stoopwaffles.

My result. The group nominated me to go first and it wasn’t the best looking. But tasted fab.



The bakery also cooks the usual cakes etc.







And a completely self service stoopwaffle store front.


It was a fun trip. No rain but cold. Arrived back on the ship in time for lunch which we didn’t bother with. Now just cruising alone the Rhine to Cologne tomorrow.

 

[Pushka]

views this afternoon cruising along to Cologne. It was raining.

The Captain. He was four hours late to the ship thanks to Rail strikes.





I have no idea what I did to this photo but it looks like a painting


Crew Christmas carols.



We made use of our free laundry. The folding of the underwear was exceptional






Tomorrow is Cologne. The best markets to visit.