The boat docked at Amersterdam at 2am. I was definitely asleep when we went through that last lock although I think Sooz was awake for it.
The departures off the boat were staggered, with some scheduled to leave to catch their flights from 5am. Others must have left between then and when we went to the dining room for breakfast because it was practically empty.
M went over to give her envelope to Milos and in the course of their conversation, he told her that he was married to someone on board - and it turns out it is our other most favourite person - Tijana. We were all so happy for them. What a wonderful couple. I was also happy that I had written individual notes to them rather than just change the name.
Our taxi was due for 9.30am but it came early so we bundled in for our short(ish) trip to our hotel - where M is also staying. We watched the rest of our party disembark and head off with their suitcases to their hotel - which was more nearby than ours.
We were so lucky that our rooms were ready when we got to our hotel so we could take our bags straight up, call for the LaundryHeap service to come and get our washing, and head out for a trip on the HOHO bus around town. It's always a good way to get your bearings in a new city.
We did one trip around and then headed back to the Hotel so Sooz, who is still not well, could rest up. On the way back to the hotel (via lunch in one of the establishments at Centraal Amsterdam railway station) we saw a stork with a huge fish that it had plucked from the harbour. It posed long enough for us, and others who were lucky enough to see it, to take some photographs.
This afternoon, I went off to do the HOHO canal cruise - after I'd been for a wander to see what I could find. I did find a camera shop and while I looked longingly at models that somehow don't make it to Australia, I managed to keep my distance and walk away from the store.
On my tour of the canals, I was lucky enough to see a cat in a Police life-jacket. I had no idea it was famous until M commented on it when she and Sooz were looking through the (edited) photos from today.
The Christmas trappings have started to appear here too and even though Sooz was not well, we dragged her out to the main street this evening so she could see them. I'm not sure what makes it so difficult to get photos of Christmas lights on the phone, but I'm hoping I can do a better job with the camera when we get to Paris later in the week.
We had a very ordinary dinner at a steak and pasta cafe on the main drag before walking back through the side streets to our hotel. I know there are signs at canals urging people not to 'pee' in public lest they be fined over Euro 100 but that message does not seem to have made it into the lanes and side streets.
I felt quite safe walking at night in Amsterdam, although there were the three of us and it really wasn't that late by the time we arrived back. It just seemed like it was because sunset is just after 5 here.
The hotel is lovely (thanks for the recommendation AM & R). The beds are comfortable and it's nice not to hear the sound of the locks during the night - or to have Sooz, while she's awake as I'm just about to fall off to sleep, sharing the excitement of seeing more boats. I do miss the heated floor of our bathroom on the Vidar though. And I miss my headphones ... which are now making their way back to Budapest, somewhere on the Vidar because that's where I inadvertently left them. I knew the Samsung device tracker worked! I'll ring the boat tomorrow to see if they have been found and handed in.