CHATTER FROM THE RIVER

Monday dawned somewhat warmer, though not much.  Ken elected to do the leisurely tour of Cologne which included a stroll (elderly style) to the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The weather continues to inhibit our desire to really get out and enjoy the town, shop or sightsee.  However, in the afternoon a representative from the local information factory (tourist bureau) gave a brief presentation of Germany today, it's progress since the war, it's problems with immigration and it!s adjustment to the new world order -- if indeed that is what we are experiencing in our world today.  It was enlightening and to the point.

Our day was capped off with lively dinner conversation with pleasant dinner companions and a classical musical concert in the lounge.  All is well but we could use a little warmth from Mother Nature.

Kinderjik March 24

We arrived Amsterdam on time, as  scheduled. Our KLM flight from Los Angeles was smooth and as comfortable as people poured into a can like sardines can expect.  Indeed,  "steerage" has lost it's appeal.

Our adventure started with the unpacking when we discovered what we thought was our bag, was not.  A staff person from the ship accompanied Ken back to the airport where we were lucky to find our identical bag complete with proper name tags. That will teach us to check  our baggage tags before blindly grabbing and running,

Dinner was great, our table companions interesting and bed a welcome completion to a successful day.  Our ship departed Amsterdam 11PM for Kinderoijk where we were greeted with very cold weather and a cold wind that rivaled that of our brief visit to Barrow Alaska. After a background briefing on Hollands very tenuous grasp on stability from the sea and an unfriendly accumulation of water. A  walking tour of the windmills that have preserved the country and its treasured way of life was offered for those who wanted to brave the cold.  Sensible to the end -- I watched from the comfort of the ship.