Friday, June 9, 2023

Zeebrugge Belgium

Today we were in port at Zeebrugge.

Zeebrugge is the port or Brugge, built artificially because the original marine channel to Brugge had silted up, and the canal was built at about the same time. It is 12 km (7.5 miles) long and has a depth of 8 metres (26 feet) and a width of 125 metres (400 feet).

There wasn’t a lot to do in town and we didn’t plan any excursions. We walked to a local church and really enjoyed our visit and took a lot of pictures.

Sint-Donaaskerk en Begraafplaats (St Donatian’s Church and cemetery)

Parish church in simplified Gothic Revival style that was originally built around 1910, then rebuilt in 1951. Immediately to the east of the church is an English military cemetery, where German and British soldiers from the First World War are buried.

Coming back out of the church we see this to the left side. We all think we know what it was used for but we will let you think about it. 😉

War Memorial

Following the trench warfare in the poppy fields of Flanders, Belgium during World War I, poppies have become a symbol of remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime, especially in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other Commonwealth realms.

Poppies

Next we were off to find shops and chocolates!

I spied this cute sign on one of the houses. ❤️

Ahh we found a chocolate place 😋

Some of the molds

We sampled some and Belgium chocolate never disappoints.

We headed back towards the ship still looking for shops but no luck. So we headed back to have lunch and pack because our trip will end tomorrow morning right after breakfast.

It was the last dinner service! We will all be lost when we get home and no one is cooking, serving and cleaning up for us. 🤣

Appetizers

Fried shrimp

Chilled peach soup 😋

Frog Legs

Cobb Salad

Soup Wisconsin Beer and Cheddar

Entrees

Country fried chicken

Salmon

Jerk Pork

Braised Short ribs

Mark collects all the green vegetables nightly

Our dining room team. Ronald, who has worked for Carnival 30 years, Wayane and Robert. No better people to take care of yoj and remember all the smallest of details about what you like. ❤️

Dessert time

Baked Alaska

And one more time……

Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake

Our room steward Putu, from Indonesia, has worked for Carnival for 15 years. He made sure I always had ice 2 times a day for my water. IYKYK

It has taken us 12 days but we finally know how to use this hand dryer. I never could seem to get my hands dried. But I think I now understand. If you need to know how just ask one of us. 🤣😂

Sunset on our last night heading towards Dover England

We have a van picking us up in the morning early and they will be taking us to London for our flight home with a little sightseeing along the way.

It’s been a great trip but we all are ready to come home to our family and friends.

Thank you all for following along on our adventures. 🧳 🚢 ✈️

Thursday, June 8, 2023

Amsterdam

Our day in Amsterdam

Fun Fact ~Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades, legacies of the city’s 17-century Golden Age.

Going through the locks below

Sailor on the lookout, Dutch Zeeman op de uitkijk

With the war memorial "Sailor on the lookout" the former Steamship Company "Netherlands" commemorates the sailors in World War II were killed. At the head of the Java Island.

Swan 🦢

An exercise park with heavy bag and elliptical machine. People were out there doing their daily workouts. Please note bicycle that is the preferred transportation here.

After breakfast we headed out to walk around Amsterdam and shop a little. Bicycles everywhere and they have to right of way. So you have to be very careful.

A shoe seat in front of the bike

Cute store with all kinds of rubber ducks.

Canals everywhere

This floating Chinese restaurant below in Amsterdam opened its doors in 1984. It is a copy of the Chinese floating restaurant in Hong Kong.

Flags of former shipping companies that used to be housed there. The building is called Scheepvaarthuis, Shipping House. Built in the 'Amsterdam School' style of expressionistic architecture. Now converted into a hotel.

Mark and David discussing the best way to return to our ship to avoid the bicycles and cars. Lots of road work construction just like at home.

David headed out alone to be sure it was the correct way to go and ran all the way back to get us. It was definitely the way to go.

Architecture is stunning

Sightseeing boat on one of the canals

We got back to ship and some of us got a bite to eat and then it was time to check in for our Windmills and Edam tour.

David was tired and took a little nap.

Michael didn’t want him to nap alone 🤣😂

We learned about making the different cheeses and aging process.

Then a demonstration about making the wooden shoes

Michael petting the cow 🐄

Susan wanted to pet the cow too.

Our guide below

We headed next to see the windmills and explore the shops.

We had a break and some ice cream and Susan has a new friend trying to get her to share 🦆

After our visit we headed to a little village to do a walk about. Let me tell you people on their bicycles mean business you better get out of their way. 🙃

The view from the distance of the church in the village.

Wayne and one of the villagers boats on the canal. It seems that the come out and relax and watch people on their boats in the evening. They didn’t move about just sat in them and chatted and watched us invade their tiny village.

The church in the village

Heading back to our ship.

The Amsterdam was an 18th-century cargo ship of the Dutch East India Company. The VOC was established in 1602. The ship started its maiden voyage from Texel to Batavia on 8 January 1749, but was wrecked in a storm on the English Channel on 26 January 1749. Wikipedia