Friday/Saturday May 26, 2023 On to Amsterdam

 A LONG day/night/day but we made it to Amsterdam! We left Boise at about 11:00AM, flew to Seattle on Alaska. They thought our carry-on roller case was a bit too big and tried to get us to check it. I explained that we had an international connection, so that wouldn't work. Our other suitcases were already booked straight through to Amsterdam. So we took it on board and it fit just fine!

After about 90 minutes, we boarded Icelandair for the seven hour trip to Rekyavik. I had worried about getting from Alaska to Icelandair terminals in Seattle, but it was not a problem. We left Seattle at about 5:00 and flew uneventfully until we reached Rekyavik at 1:00 AM body time (9:00AM local time). We hung out in the terminal for awhile, grabbed a snack, then flew very smoothly to Amsterdam. It was about 1:00PM local time. We tried to grab a little shut-eye while on those flights, but not successfully. We watched movies and TV documentaries. Our body clock was about 6:00AM....it gets confusing, but you know you've lost a night's sleep which you'll never get back!

Icelandair also claimed that our little carry-on was too big, so we had to check it at the gate, wondering if we'd ever see it again! I guess we need and even smaller carry-on!

Rekyavik is Icelandair's hub and they have an interesting marketing plan. Virtually all their Europe/North America flights stop there, even though they wouldn't have to. They promote the idea of a 1-7 day stopover to visit the wonders of Iceland before continuing on your journey. There is no change to the price of your plane ticket. Sounds like a plan worth considering! Visit the Blue Lagoon!

We were told by our driver that Amsterdam was the biggest airport in Europe (We always thought Frankfurt was). But it us huge! We were frustrated at baggage claim because we did not know that there are 23 baggage carousels, in different parts of the building! We finally retrieved our three suitcase and right at the "Exit" we were greeted by four smiling Holland people....they'd been waiting for us; we were the last to arrive.

We were driven to the Apollo Hotel and checked into our room. Since everyone had said "you have to do a canal cruise", and we'd only be here this afternoon, we had our Concierge book us a tour on a company called Smollen, with a one hour narrated tour at 5:00. We called for an Uber and darn if the guy didn't drop us off at the wrong place! By the time we realized it, and hiked down to the right place, they had left without us! All the cruises, of which there are many, were fully booked for the rest of the day. (Note that the weather today is spectacular!) So, no cruise for us. We wandered around the Rijks Museum area before Ubering back to the hotel for dinner.

Our hotel is very nice, right in the middle of the city. Amsterdam looks like a great city to explore sometime; be sure to do a canal cruise! Very old buildings (many under restoration), bikes everywhere (nobody wears a helmet).

Sunday - Leaving Amsterdam May 28

 Beautiful sunny day! After a great buffet breakfast at the hotel, we took a walk around the residential neighborhood around the hotel. Very nice apartment homes along the canals. About 20 of us boarded to bus to the Port Terminal. After the usual slow paced hassle of boarding, we arrived at our cabin a little after noon.

The bus ride over to the ship took us all through the city, block after block of high rise apartments; all very well maintained. Typical of European cities, people don't own single family homes; they live in apartments. Green space and parks at every turn. Amsterdam leaves a very good impression of itself. By the way, just this week, it became illegal to smoke pot in public. The city is wanting to improve its reputation!

It was interesting to watch the river traffic from our balcony. All sorts of craft - river cruisers, commercial barges, personal motor boats, ferries, etc.

We sailed at about 4:30. We followed the Amstel River, for many miles, until we reached a lock before entering the North Sea. Most of the distance was past industrial facilities, but some agricultural fields and an area that was heavily forested with deciduous trees and country estates.

It was "steak night" in the Lido Grill tonight. Very tasty! After dinner we enjoyed a show called "Cantere"; four gay guys singing popular tunes with great harmonies.

Once out at sea, it was very windy and the boat rocked a bit, enough to bother my sleeping!

Tomorrow is a "Sea Day".

Monday at Sea May 29

We spent the whole day "at sea". Never saw a thing. Mostly cloudy, very windy, 50 degrees. Too cold to be outside. This would be the only sea day of our trip. We'd have 8 successive ports of call. We went to three different presentations today explaining what we'd see at each port. Lots of choices for excursions. Tomorrow we're at Eilfjord where we're going to visit a waterfall and cruise the fjord in a small boat.

Our entertainment this evening was a dance troup with some awesome visual effects.

Both if us feel a bit droopy today. I think we have not recovered from that lost night and we both have mild colds. Tomorrow will be better!😊

Tuesday May 30 Eidfjord

Surprise! When we awoke this morning and looked out the window, we saw beautiful green, snow covered mountains! We had arrived in the Hardanger Fjord, just shy if the village of Eidfjord, where would dock by about 8:00. We had gone under the largest suspension bridge in Norway; they said it was longer than the Golden Gate? Looking at the map, its amazing how far inland we had cruised. These fjords are very deep.

After breakfast we left the ship and wandered around the village, checking out some gift/souvenir shops. There's only about 600 people who live here; they get all excited when the cruise ship arrives! The weather is nice, partly cloudy and 50s.

Our shore excursion this afternoon had two parts. First we had a boat ride up and down the "lake", which wasn't very exciting. We'd already seen that on our way in this morning. At the power plant at the end of the fjord we boarded an ELECTRIC motor coach for a drive up to the end of the valley to see the famous Voringsfossen Waterfall. The drive took us to an elevation of 3200' at the top of the Hardanger Highlands. There are several waterfalls in this location, falling almost 600 feet. Massive amounts of water! Most impressive is the extensive series of walkways and catwalks providing views from many angles.  It was difficult to take a picture! The Fossli Hotel, with a cafe, overlooks the whole operation. The weather this afternoon was outstanding. Locals said we "lucked out"!

Anchors aweigh by 3:00PM as we head back to the open ocean to continue about 300 miles north to the city of Molde for tomorrow's adventures. I spent an hour in their well-equipped fitness center with great views! Dinner in the dinning room with new friends from Key West and Coeur d'alene. Dinner was only so-so but the conversation was great! World Theater entertainment tonight was a hysterical comedian/magician.