Mar. 24, 2014 Amsterdam

After breakfast at "Bagels and Beans", where we had a delicious breakfast, we headed to Museumplein where Obama was scheduled to land by helicopter and hold a press conference in the Rijksmuseum, where we stood yesterday. Saw the helicopters and a large police presence, but no sign of the President other than on TV in our hotel room. Our taxi arrived at 11:30, and we went to our ship, the Viking Jarl, in the harbour. Our staterooms were ready, and we enjoyed a light lunch buffet before joining a somewhat less than satisfactory tour of the city center. We were glad that we'd stayed outside the center, in the museum district, where we had a much more favourable impression of Amsterdam than we did today. The center was much more crowded and hard to handle than our museum area. Aggressive bikers are dangerous!

Had a great dinner after a lengthy presentation of the ship's safety procedures and optional tours. Lots of delicious food and conversation. We are looking forward to tomorrow's canal boat tour and a free afternoon. Edla and Robin plan to return to the Rijksmuseum, and Bryant and I hope to visit the Anne Frank Huis museum.

Sunday March 23

Today's activities included  a visit to the recently refurbished Rijksmuseum near our hotel.  The collection is magnificent, and we didn't even have to stand in line, as we arrived just at the opening hour.  After seeing Rembrandt's Night Watch and the four Vermeer's we had a relaxing breakfast at the museum cafe, and Bryant headed to the ship and airplane displays while I scoured the museum shop for small gifts.  Edla and Robin left to have a short rest at the hotel before going to their concert at the Concertgebouw hall nearby, and Bryant and I waited in line for 30  min. or so to get tickets for the Van Gogh museum.  Toured around the vanGogh works, arranged in chronological order, then to the cafe for a quick lunch.  After lunch we walked back to the Rijksmuseum to use their wifi, and on to see some of the canalside architecture.  We have had a sunny day today, though cold and breezy.  So glad we brought warm clothes!

We'll go out for dinner again tonight.

Rembrandt's The Night Watch

Canalside house

Tree-lined canal view

The crooked little house by the canal

Sent from my iPad.

in Amsterdam, March 21, 2014

Two tired fellas this morning in Schiphol Airport waiting for breakfast.

Say no to winter

This is a test of posting from my iPad.

One week to go!

March 12, 2014

A week from tomorrow we'll begin our travel to Amsterdam for a Viking Cruise.  Hope to post most every day, as long as the WiFi cooperates!  Stay tuned…….

June 16, 2013 - Grand Manan, NB

Today's post is from home....Grand Manan Island, NB.  A group of friends took a 2.5 mile hike along a rough trail at the northern end of the island from near Swallowtail Lighthouse along the cliffs to the Hole in the Wall and Whale Cove Beach.  We started out in the fog, but soon the skies cleared and it became a beautiful, sunny, warm day.  The bugs weren't bad, and the pace was perfect for me....most all of us are beyond 60, and so it was not a race.  The hike took us about 3.5 hours, including a stop for a picnic lunch at the Hole in the Wall, a natural formation between Fish Head and Whale Cove.  We are so lucky to live in this beautiful part of the world!

Bob giving advice to some of our hikers

   

The Hole in the Wall

My sister and I near the Hole in the Wall

Swallowtail in the fog

                                                                    View from the trail

Cortona again....and farewell to Italy

We returned to Cortona to celebrate B's birthday at Trattoria Taccone, and to do some quick shopping.  Saw Frances Mayes' home from her book Under the Tuscan Sun and visited La Celle, a monastery where St. Francis spent some time.  Then it was off to Florence and our hotel where we spent our last night in Italy.  We hated to leave, after another wonderful tour with Linda of LetsGoItaly.  Thanks for everything.....except the weather!  It was great to see Gianni, Marisa, Noemi, Francesco, and all our other friends from our trip in 2010.....and the Donini wine (Umbertide) was better than ever!

Trattoria Tacone kitchen

Face on Cortona building

  La Celle Monastery