July 4 - Around Amsterdam and River Empress

We started our nation's holiday (Go America!) with a great breakfast at Hotel Andaz and got "the secret" from Prince Andaz.

Jane, what did he say???

Arnaut our captain

Our canal cruiser

 The canal system of Amsterdam is quite unique. It probably could be used in places like Miami to control for climate change and the rising water levels. The Dutch have done that for centuries.

Your eyes are not playing tricks on you...many houses in Amsterdam are crooked because they've settled over time.  This

particular group is referred to as The Dancing Houses.

After our cruise of the canals, your Ramblers cabbed over to our ship to drop our luggage off.

After dropping the luggage, we went in search of food and a little more sightseeing (which included the famous Red Light District).  At 1pm in the afternoon the District seemed mild. A little leather, a little lace, ho hum.

After touring on land and sea all day, it was time to check into our room on the ship and hit the restaurant for our first dinner on the River Empress.

The first of MANY glasses of wine

We will post soon and until then, blijven wandelen ("Keep on Rambling").