The Fellowship of the Rhine - Part 1

Days 8 to 9 - 23 to 24 May
Our first full day on board the Avalon Impression began modestly with an all-you-can-eat gourmet breakfast buffet.  Having consumed an inelegant surplus of food we set out on the first of two compulsory activities.  'Compulsory' might be overstating things somewhat, but our fellowship felt obliged to go with the program.  The first activity was a cruise along the canals of Amsterdam. Those of us who had been on the small boat cruise three days earlier need not have worried about feeling that we had done it all before.  The torrential downpour we experienced meant that we couldn't really see anything (only a slight exaggeration).

It was either raining a bit, or we were upside down in a glass-bottomed boat

The commentary from the tour guide was much better than that on our previous canal cruise and the overall experience was enjoyable.  Then it was back to the ship for those of us who didn't trust the weather, while the hardier folk went for a walking tour around parts of Amsterdam.

Robin and Joanne clearly happy that the rain had stopped

After a bite to eat back on board the ship it was time for the afternoon activity - a bike ride through the countryside.

The bike ride safety briefing from our guide

Kitted out in bike helmets - partly for our safety in case we fell off a bike, partly to warn the locals to give us a wide berth - we set off, pausing along the way to take photos.

Stopped opposite a windmill for a quick break

It's probably worth noting that John had visited a 'Torture Museum' while in Bruges.  Even in medieval times they could not have conjured up as dastardly a device as the bikes we rode over cobble stones.  My pelvic bone has still not recovered from the ordeal - and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Another stop for a break

We cut quite dashing figures in our bike helmets.  One local cyclist (helmet-less of course) later that afternoon was moved to remark: "look, blue Smirfs".  She surely meant it as a term of endearment.  A collective sigh of relief was heard later when our guide told us we were stopping in a lovely little village for a cup of tea and some apple pie.

Lea getting an energy boost from a slab of apple pie during our well-earned rest stop

The village really was lovely, as you can see from the photo below.

Perfect conditions for a spot of cycling

Our energy levels restored to normal, we gathered for a group photo.

Less the Tour de France, more the Tour de farce

We managed to complete the activity without too many people falling off the back of the peloton, and soon found ourselves back in Amsterdam.  On our way back across the river - on a ferry - we saw a sign that caught our attention.

Maybe it's a language thing

Back on the ship our cruise started and we settled back to watch the scenery glide past.

Those local pilots can sure land in tight spaces

Then it was time for dinner and we all headed off to the dining room for the nightly feast.

Appetiser - only soup, main course and desert to go!

The meals on board are simply outstanding.  The food is delicious and the staff do a fabulous job preparing and serving it.  A lot of the staff are foreign workers, from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Poland, etc., and they work tirelessly and professionally to ensure that we, the passengers, have a relaxing and enjoyable time.

Lyn and Maggie - it was Maggie's birthday and the staff brought her a birthday cake before desert

The next day dawned - and it's just dawned on me that every day dawns - and we went for a stroll before breakfeast (breakfast doesn't seem an adequate word to describe what we have).  The photo below shows the bar in the lounge area.

The bar in the lounge area - if you look closely you'll see that Rhonda is propping up the bar

After breakfast it was up on deck to take in some beautiful German scenery on our way to Cologne. We were all very excited at the prospect of finally seeing the verdant green German countryside. Instead we got the Ruhr - the industrial heartland.

The rural hamlet of Leverkusen

It was all to much for some of the less hardy travellers among us.

Robin - overcome by the sheer beauty of the scenery

Then, after building up our energy with a light snack, it was time for a city walk.

Lea having a power snack before the walking tour of Cologne - we've all learned not to put our hands anywhere between food and Lea's mouth

Before you could master pretty much any outrageously-long German compound noun (apparently, Geschwindigkeitsbeschrankungen (please ignore the missing umlaut) means 'speed limits') we docked in Cologne.  Sadly for us, the entire population of Cologne (over 1 million) had gathered at the river side and placed themselves between us and anywhere we wanted to go.  It was a holiday weekend.

A less-crowded area near the river - part of a large group of German 'Goths' is visible at the rear right of the photo

The city, when we finally got there, was very pretty, as you can see from the photos below.

Pretty buildings

Traditional German Argentinian Steakhouse

Traditional gigantic German Gothic cathedral

 We had a great time.

Having a great time

Soon, however, and to my horror, Rhonda discovered that she could have even more fun with her new BFF's (or should that be BFsF?).

The Fellowship of the Rhine wives - Joanne, Maggie, Lea, Lyn and Rhonda

After returning to the ship there was little to do except contemplate the staggering beauty of the Rhine Gorge that we were to see tomorrow - and eat another five-course dinner.  I had the sauerbraten (roast meat with red cabbage, potato dumplings and other stuff) for main course.

Sauerbraten anybody?

Tomorrow we'll discover if there is a physical limit to the human capacity for looking at castles on hillsides (something that would translate in German to: hillsidecastleviewingboredomethreshold).