Saturday 6th April, 2013
Kinderdijk, the Netherlands
I got a sleep-in today as we are not docking until 2pm in Rotterdam.
The river is wider and rougher today. It’s another bleak, cold, grey day.
I’m up at 7am for a cuppa and croissant and take Pam a cuppa back to bed. She’s not feeling too good so forgoes breakfast for sleep!
I decide to try a poached egg which comes in ramekin with water inside & half a slice of toast! Luke warm cuppa and service to match. I find my friendly waitress and get a hot cuppa and help myself to eggs, beans and mushrooms from the buffet.
I take Pam back a hot cup of tea. Our room isn’t warm this morning so after filling in feedback forms & getting our bathroom done I head to the lounge which is nearly full to capacity.
The view is mostly industrial, only 2 windmills to date.
The Dutch must be hardy souls, out fishing on riverbanks. Land is so flat with only willow trees for shelter.
Houses are built right up to the riverbank on raised land.
I'm not sure how they get the boat down to the water. Perhaps it's only used in floods.
I use the time to catch up with family at home and send photos. I’ve been lucky with my internet while Pam hasn’t had any for three days.
It certainly isn’t a quiet relaxing morning in the lounge - lots of talking - not many have taken up the option of shuffleboard in the library.
I think a hot chocolate in my room sounds good about now and head back there for some peace and quiet.
Once again the question of tipping arises. We make a decision to tip our waitress who learned to make hot tea, and our room cleaner, a young guy.
I’ve found the level of service on this ship to be a lot lower than I had expected especially for the high cost of the cruise. In comparison to the Mediterranean cruise I took last year the service is non-existent. Another fact that we learned while talking to our dinner companions is that the English couples got their cruise for $1000 US less than us and that price included their airfares to Switzerland then home from Amsterdam. We feel ripped-off! So much for booking early and taking advantage of ‘earlybird’ specials, it’s all a have. We both had airfares on top of our cruise cost and we’d booked 9 months earlier. So lesson is not to book early.
We arrive in Rotherdam where a bus tour takes us through the city out to Kinderdijk where windmills are still functional.
Windmills are an essential part of the Dutch landscape and responsible for keeping half of the country above water. Kinderdijk, a tiny village located on a strip of land between the Lek and Noord Rivers, is one of the most picturesque and iconic sights in all of Holland. This is what we've come to see.
The picturesque Dutch contryside of the historic Kinderdijk area. Built in the mid-18th century, the collection of 19 windmills is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The windmills were once employed with a system of dikes to pump water from the pastureland, forming an area of reclaimed land called the Alblasserwaard polder. The powerfull mill sails catch the wind and turn large paddlewheels that scoop water from the polders.
In 1950 a modern pumping station took over but the windmills are still in working order. The families who live in them today must be able, by local ordinance, to maintain and run them.
This is a living, working piece of history. We climb up, up, up and view small spaces which the miller lives in and even smaller sleeping spaces. Obviously they don’t make 6ft5" giants here! But I know the Dutch are the tallest race so not sure how they’ve managed that living in these cramped quarters. The miller meets us in clogs which are still worn daily.
It’s a very touristy site and once again we’re waiting in the cold for the bus to open and leave. There are two small gift shops and one small café into which about 8 bus loads of tourists try to cram to get out of the cold.
After browsing the gift shop we are lucky enough to get a seat in the café and order a hot chocolate and a slice of delicious apple cake.
We’re back to the ship in time for the Captain’s Dinner. 5 courses although we had to ask for the cheese and coffee again.
Dinner Menu:
salmon caviar with eggs
soup
giant prawns (2) on polenta
desert medley
cheese & coffee
Pam headed off to bed early. I slept well, must be all that fresh air and exercise.
We’re up early as have to be out of our rooms by 9am.
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