The two of us departed Ottawa and connected in Toronto for the overnight flight to Amsterdam. We were greeted with warm (30 degrees!) sunny skies and some efficient public trains to get us to our hotel. We took some leisurely strolls along the canals, grabbed some dinner and settled in for a peaceful night's rest.
Day 2 took us to meet up with our food tour at the edge of the tulip market. We met up with our small group and enjoyed amazing cheeses at a small shop called Henry Willig, Bitterballen, phenomenal triple-decker grilled cheese, Stroopwaffle (for Dave since they hall have cinnamon), fresh herring, deep fried cod, fresh Dutch fries, chocolate chip cookie / croissant and a slice of Dutch apple pie. The food and the guide were both fantastic!
On day 3 we took in the Anne Frank museum. It was powerful and moving. The audio tour told the story of Anne and her family, while original artifacts such as the original bookcase which created the barrier between the workshop and the loft where the family spent their time were very impactful. We both learned a great deal and made our way through the streets and shops of Amsterdam to round out our day.
On day 4 we boarded the ship at the port very nearby to our hotel. While boarding a gentleman in uniform felt he bumped into Sarah-Jane while backing up to let staff go past us on the passerelle. After finding out it was out first cruise and our 25th anniversary he sent the anniversary package to be arranged in our room. The rose petals on the bed, swans & elephant made from towels and bottle of authentic champagne made us feel quite special. The level of service throughout our cruise was exceptional.
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