Joanne Safe in Amsterdam

Hello all......I might be repeating my self....but we were supposed to fly home on Saturday and of course I am still here in HOLLAND......(My Brussels to Holland Riverboat cruise was from April 6-17) ..I am at the huge beautiful AMERSTDAM library now on the free internet. We are lucky to be able to stay on the ship with 164 other US people.....40 of which are new so we are doing the cruise again only backwards from where we came....The FREE food we order from the menu like a 5 star hotel and it is so very good...lots of salmon, veal, pot roast,fresh carved turkey, caviar, toss salad bar every lunch with ROMAINE, pumpkin seeds, all kinds of beans and veggies...........fancy...fancy....lots of y ummy desserts and OATMEAL and prunes every morning with GREEN TEA and passion fruit, kiwi, and fresh pineapple......2 free glasses of wine with dinner and ALL FREE.....how lucky can we get....

GRAND CIRCLE (our cruise company based in BOSTON) is arranging our flights home when it is safe...they are so huge that they have a little pull with the airports.....so if the volcanic ash from ICELAND ever settles we will be back home in a few more days, weeks, or months....SORRY I CALLED YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT MOM....I was just so happy to get a free phone line from the ship that I forgot what time it was......I just wanted everyone to know that I was safe and NOT SITTING IN A CRAMPED AIRPORT WITH NO BATHROOM,,,,etc. The short call to you and then 5 minutes to David Sunday a.m. cost $30.....so that will be tthe last you hear from me by phone until I get back to DC and Rochester.

We are very comfortable....I have the right clothes and just wash out things when I need them......My roommate is my age and very nice and has traveled all over the world...she loves museums....our room has a huge table and the pull down beds are VERY COMFY.....weather is about 52-65 but sunny and warm and no rain yet...so LUCKY......

The lounge has fresh fruit basket and hot free beverages all day and night long...not much entertainment...just a key board player.......GRAND piano that no one plays...which I had brought my music to practice..heehee...People playing cards and we are going to being a scrabble game or monopoly game soon......I am happy to visit and drink green tea and hike morning and afternoon around the various towns or cities with our guide....Our tour is actually over but they are giving us lots of options this second week.


We can watch movies in our room like Julie and Julia, but have been too busy walking all the little towns........Walk 2-4 hours a day.......and always have meals on the ship...so a nice break...

Actually got to go to the ENGLISH REFRMED church in Amsterdam on Sunday with all local DUTCH and very nice to be in English and also familiar hymns and GOREOUS sounding pipe organ.....

A very Friendly country.

The average aged passengar is 77, but enough people my age and a few single ladies but the couples are all very nice....we sit with different people each night like at Chautauqua so I am getting better at my social skills.....some folks have been on 30-40 trips with GRAND CIRCLE....wow......

I have enough vitamins for2 more days and luckily don't really need to go the pharmacy for anything, but they did get a DR. to come on board for all those who needed to refill prescriptions.

I NEVER FELT better.....my knees don't ache, my back doesn't hurt and my acid REFLEX is NOT acting up even with all of this BELGIUM CHOCOLATE and little bit of red wine.......

The ALSMEER FLOWER ACTION is the largest in world with acres and acres of flower cut ready to send all over the world within 24 hours, however, now I expect they are losing lots of money. We have seen the Anne Frank house, had numerous canal rides, been to VANGOGH, RIJKSMUSEUM, Vermeer, and lots more. Also to Rotterdam, Hoorne, Enkhuizen, Delft, Veere, Terneuaen, Brussels, GHENT, ANTWERP and more harbors and quaint little towns. A lovely cruise but anxious to get home and back to my routine......I have my bathing suit so might have to SWIM THE ATLANTIC....no pool on ship and hot tub is broken..darn........

I got to see all the old wooden windmills that were for PUMPING WATER...and they have lots of new ones as well for energy.......

Their are huge huge acres of tulips and hyacinths and the flower park (Kerkausen ?sp?) is designed with millions of bulbs around canals with swans and windmills and just lovely with a big outdoor organ........another nice warm day for us.......bus rides to these tours when we go away from the ship, but always back for meals.....We did have a little tea party with local family and that was fun......6 of us to each family...ours gave us gifts of famous salt licorice......

Trying not to buy any souvouirs........just post cards....I want to save my $$...no telling how long we will be here.........AMSTERDAM has the RED LIGHT DISTRICT where PROSTITUTION is LEGAL and Marijuana is legal, but not to worry....I am not that desperate yet.

Well......not to worry about me............and I will see you when I see you.

Love and HUGS, JOANNE