Welcome to the Aurora - Our New Home in Holland

 

Welcome to the Aurora - as lovely as shown on their website

Sunday, April 17, 2022

Today we start our official "Luxury Tulip Tour" of Holland, aboard the Aurora - a luxury barge which will be our home for the next 6 nights.  It's a beautiful boat - as advertised, with 4 large cabins, each with it's own bathroom and shower.

The passengers include 8 people - 2 other US couples, from Houston and Cincinnati, and two sisters from Edmonton Alberta.  Our bike leader, Willem, picked us up at our hotel in a van and drove all the US couples from Amsterdam to Schiedem, a town outside of Rotterdam.  Willem has an easy sense of humor and told great stories about the history and culture of Holland during our drive.

We arrived at the boat quay and got to see the Aurora up close.  Once on board, we met Karina, the wife of the husband and wife team that own and staff the Aurora.  Unfortunately, Karina had some sad news to share when we arrived.  Her husband Steve - also the boat pilot - is in the hospital.  They do not have an additional pilot, so we will stay anchored here in Schiedem, living on the boat, but not cruising the waterways.

That, in turn, puts more emphasis on our biking.  The proposal is that we bike about 30 miles every day - making the circle via bike that we would have done via barge.  We will leave our bikes at the end of the day, locked up at our new location, and return in the van back to the Aurora for our evening and dinner together.  That way we will see most of what was planned, and we will be biking (the maximum) of what was generally planned for each day.

Everyone was in good spirits about trying this approach, with great flexibility.  Of course, we felt very bad for Karina, with Steve in the hospital, and she is trying to take care of our vacation plans at the same time as worrying about him.

So, deep breath - a little different than expected, but it should be a good adventure.  

In the meantime, the boat is beautiful - filled with cut flowers and beautifully furnished.
We were welcomed with champagne and canapés when we arrived around 3 PM.  And got a chance to settle into our rooms, which are large, spacious and immaculately clean.  We have a huge private bathroom with two sinks and a large shower.

I'm looking forward to sleeping here the next 6 nights.

Main outdoor deck on the Aurora - our bike helmets are lined up and ready to go!

Lounge and dining area

Cut flowers everywhere - including two large vases of lilies - reminding us it's Easter Sunday

Delicious offering of canapes - not all made it in the photo.  Loved the olive tamponade.

A fully appointed bar - nice for end of day after bike riding...

The fresh flowers fill the common rooms with beautiful fragrance

We have the Red Room - spacious and bright with lots of room for our gear

A large, comfortable bathroom - nicer than many hotels

This beautiful bouquet welcomed us to our room

We even have fresh flowers in our bathroom. This flower lover is smiling big time.

Canals, Boats and Rows of Tall, Gabled Houses - Amsterdam's Unique Character

 

The Singel Canal, with Hotel Estherea's navy awnings on the right; our home for the night.

Saturday, April 16, 2022

We visited Amsterdam about 10 years ago.  When we returned home, my most distinct memory is of beautiful canals, with many boats, lined with 17th century houses - all tall and thin, mostly 5 stories high, with various decorative gables topping each one to distinguish it from its neighbors.

While the streets in the central district were packed with people, bicycles, motor scooters and taxis, the canals seemed like an oasis of quiet elegance.  The early spring green leaves are popping out on the trees and the golden evening lighting painted a warm glow on the tops of all the buildings.

Our hotel says the Singel Canal is the oldest in Amsterdam.

Imagining what stories this bike might be able to tell

Covered structures on the right are the Bloemen Markt - flower market- along the Singel canal

No spaces between these structures, but all manage to look unique - especially the gables

The Magna Plaza shopping center at the Dam, one of the main squares in the central city

Koninklijk Paleis - Royal Palace - on the Dam Square

Windows of the Royal Palace

Lucius Visrestaurant - a tasty dinner in central Amsterdam

 

Lucius Visrestaurant - a great place for a seafood dinner

Saturday, April 16, 2022

We had a fun afternoon and evening walking around central Amsterdam, but were glad we had made dinner reservations in advance, as the city was packed with people on this beautiful Easter Saturday.

Our hotel receptionist had recommended the Lucius Visrestaurant - a great choice.  We enjoyed a few glasses of Cava, and started with a seaweed salad and lobster bisque.  The seaweed salad was a winner - topped with chopped shrimp and lobster - it was crisp and tangy.

Michael enjoyed the mixed grilled fish platter, but my choice was the tops.  Three pan fried baby sole, with a light breading crust.  So tender, and easy to fillet right on the plate.  We enjoyed every bite, and left no room for dessert.  And then headed out to walk off our indulgences in the evening twilight glow.

Intimate, with about 20 tables, and packed - even at 6:30 PM

The menu is a book - lots to choose and all sounded so tempting

The mixed grill, with halibut, tuna, salmon and prawns

Michael chose the seaweed salad - fresh and crisp and tasting of the North Sea.

My favorite - three simple, pan fried baby sole - delicate and delicious

Sampling the Cheese!

 

Holland, like Wisconsin, is chock full of cheese shops.

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Near the Bloemen Markt, we found lots of fun shops - including this fun cheese emporium.  You could sample pesto cheese, truffle cheese, asparagus cheese, apricot cheese, garlic and herb cheese - and about a dozen more options.  

The lovely sales person was fun to speak with.  Dressed in a traditional Dutch outfit, she cheerily told us she is from Chicago!  We did succumb to the temptation and bought a round of truffle cheese - it won't last the week we are here, so no worries about how to get it back to the US.

Working in Amsterdam; roots in Chicago...

Michael deciding what to sample

Love these shuttered windows

Tulips - First Look in Central Amsterdam

Saturday, April 16, 2022

We will be seeing many tulips and other flowers during this upcoming week, but it was exciting to get our first look during our afternoon stroll around the central city.

After freshening up and taking a quick nap, we walked along the Singel Canal to the Bloemen Markt (Flower Market), where every type of flower bulb that you can think of is on sale.

And there were many places that had tulips - decorating their outdoor tables, their door side planters and their window boxes.  It made me happy to see them all.

Tulips along Singel street and canal

Central Amsterdam's Bloemen Markt - flower market - is on the right of the Singel Canal

Another view of the Bloemen Markt - on the street side, it was packed with shoppers and lookers

Any number and any color that you want to take with you

It was exciting to see so many bulbs; so many different flower choices

Tulips casually decorating everywhere - outdoor cafes and bars could use a little brightening up