Arrival to Amsterdam Dec 23

Trains, bikes, cars, and people are everywhere. You must be very careful getting around or you will be run over!!

Going in and out of shops looking for unique souvenirs! We did stop at a waffle place and bought a stroopwafel with coffee.

Stopped in for a coffee and a Stroop waffle.  Very good tasting, like caramel in between waffles.

Now to find the Canal House Museum which is our next stop. 


Grachtenmuseum Amsterdam (The Museum of the Canals) is the starting point for visitors to Amsterdam! So this is where we are starting to learn about how Amsterdam was built. It was located in one of the most beautiful canalside houses. 

Looking through the window of the miniature version of the canal house.

After leaving the museum we walked down the street called the Flower Market.

Misc things in windows that got my attention.

Sampled some cheese in this huge cheese shop. Later in our trip, we ended up going to the farm where this cheese is made.

Several stores sold rubber ducks. Florentijn Hofman and his giant floating rubber duck traveled from harbor to harbor.  The love of ducks became contagious and this was the first step in opening the first duck store.

Hungry?  See something in the slots you want?  You can order here and pay the door opens and you get what you paid for.

The streets are narrow here.  Most cars park 1/2 on the sidewalk.

Lots of graffetti

The canal views throughout the city are so nice to look at. Peaceful, relaxing.....

I don't know what this is all about but I did find it interesting. It made me laugh. 

There was a demonstration of rioters shouting Hussein. A crowd was following them with a group of police close behind.

Time for lunch and decide what kind of food we want to eat.  We decided on a place called Wok to Walk.

We were not dissappointed in our choice to eat here.  The food was amazing. 

I  got phad Ti noodle with chicken.

It gets dark early. That is our hotel in the background.

Many streets have canopies of lights.  I feel Christmas in the air.

We have reached our destination of finding a Christmas Market.

Many stalls with lots of things to purchase. Food, trinkets, beverages. It's a little chilly tonight but it's not raining so that's good!

Spent time at the market and now we are cold and tired.  Time to find something to eat then get back to the hotel.

Love the lights reflecting on the river.

Dinner tonight at Gourmet Burger.  

Burgers were exceptionally delicious. Audy accidentally ordered two large fries.......lol

We are back at the Clayton Hotel formerly known as Hard Rock.  This is the view from my balcony.

Cologne Germany Viking River Cruise

We have arrived in Cologne Germany and the weather is cold, raining cats and dogs, and windy.  

Our friends weren't feeling to well so they stayed on the boat.

Tried to go with the tour group but the wind kept blowing my umbrella inside out, it was also raining and cold.  Went partway across the bridge to Cologne but I said let’s go back to the ship this is not fun. We were not the only ones who did this!! We did make it to see the locks of love on the bridge!  

Hung out on the boat with Kenn & Carol. After lunch, we decided we had to go into Cologne and see the cathedral and the beautiful Christmas markets but we would go by taxi 🚕. Upon our arrival to the church when we got out of the taxi the weather was awful 😣 so windy and rainy. We sucked it up and started walking. The cathedral was very big and beautiful I’m happy we went to see it. Kenn has been coughing and sounds like he is having breathing problems.

So many markets throughout the city.  I think we found them all😂 I’m happy Kenn & Carol weathered the storm with us.  We stopped for some blueberry gluwein and I had a hot eggnog with cream. I have quite the collection of mugs🤣

We watched ice skating at one of the markets and I enjoyed watching the Christmas pyramid spinning around. 

 In the city of Bamberg in southern Germany, there is a mysterious statue. A young man sits atop a horse, a crown on his head and a cloak around his shoulders. This is the Bamberg Horseman, a statue that stands in Bamberg Cathedral.

We have decided to find the Lindt chocolate factory!  So off we go in the rain and wind!!

So sick of the rain, wind, and cold.

We have arrived at Lindt in Cologne Germany.  I bought some chocolate to take home, and Marlon got our friends some chocolate truffles that had rum in them. 

Tried to find a German restaurant for dinner, but the one I found online was closed!  We got a taxi and went back to the boat! The guy who waits on us gave me a special treat of Black Forest cake which is 40% rum 😀😀