Part 1 of our European Adventure
10. juni 2016, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
We will discover the best of Europe on one grand journey from the North Sea to the Black Sea.
We will travel the length of Europe through eight nations, exploring wonders of the Old World and theLes mer
Leaving on a Jet Plane
10. juni 2016, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
The start of our European Adventure - 12 countries in 52 days by air, land and sea.
Let the fun begin with the first leg to Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi Airport
10. juni 2016, De forente arabiske emirater ⋅ 🌙 32 °C
First stop Abu Dhabi Airport awaiting next flight to Amsterdam. One more flight and the Hopwood's European Adventure begins.
Hotel Estherea
11. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
Amsterdam is home for the next 5 days staying at Hotel Estherea. It is a quaint Hotel over looking one of the many canals in Amsterdam. Once settled we walked around the area to get our bearings.
The Adventure Begins - Amsterdam
11. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Amsterdam Canal district near we are staying is very pretty with lots of lovely old buildings and cheese shops.
Amsterdam
11. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
The walking continues up and down streets, in and out of museums, past buildings, flower markets. Amsterdam has so much to see.
Anne Franks House
11. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Our Hotel is very close to Anne Franks House and the tour of the house was sad and informative experience walking from room to room and learning about her life through her diary and thinking what itLes mer
Zaanse Schans
12. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Today we went on a bus tour to the countryside and visited Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken where we saw working windmills in a unique dutch village including chocolate making.
Marken
12. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
On our way to Marken we stopped by a little village to watch clogs being made. Marken is a little village port where we took the ferry across the largest fresh water lake in Europe disembarking inLes mer
Volendam
12. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Volendam is a port village larger than Marken. We walked through the township and tasted a number of different cheeses.
Tour ended with a bus ride back to the city.
Bike Ride
13. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
The morning started with a bike ride it was a bit scary as I thought John was going be wiped out as he kept riding on the wrong side of the road and looking the wrong way.
The bike ride was onlyLes mer
Out and About
13. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
The long walk around the city began. We walked all the way to the other side of the city as Amsterdam is very flat which makes it easy to walk everywhere. Lots of lovely houses, cute laneways and artLes mer
Canal Tour of Amsterdam
13. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
We continued walking to where the Blue Boat Company Canal Tours started. The canal tour was great seeing the houses lining the waters edge and hearing the stories of many of the houses along the way.
Heineken Experience
13. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
It was then time to hit the Heineken Experience and what an experience it is. They even have a multi dimensional ride which was fun. I even had a few beers. Still not my favourite refreshment though.
Clever Photography
13. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Today I thought I would be clever with my photography and take a photo through the bike wheel. We found a bike which was not attached to a railing so John picked up the bike and held it on its end soLes mer
Red Light District
13. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
At night we walked to the Red Light District most of the girls looked so bored and disinterested.
No photos of the girls as they are not allowed.
Jordaan Food Tour
14. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Today was another fun filled day as we walked around the Jordaan area of Amsterdam on a 4 1/2 hour food tour. So much food I think we tried 8 different types of foods in some very old historicalLes mer
House Boat
14. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Still walking around the city we came across a House Boat Museum, it was so cute. Not sure I could live this way but what fabulous real estate.
Food and Drinks
14. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Just some examples of the food and beer we tried in Amsterdam I even enjoyed the beer as it was strawberry. Such a shame we cannot purchase in Australia
Still Walking
14. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Amsterdam is such an incredible safe easy walk place to visit the history is everywhere. The buildings, flowers canals are just beautiful. Definitely a place to come back and visit another time.
Those Cakes
14. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
This is our last night in Amsterdam and yes we ate those cakes. Maybe when we return one day we might try those cakes in a more up market cafe.
Amsterdam - River Duchess
15. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Today we board The Uniworld River Duchess to start our European River Cruise for 25 days. River Duchess is much smaller than other ships we have cruised on and is very elegant, more like a luxuryLes mer
The Crew
15. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
The staff are wonderful and the bar staff have already made a few different cocktails for me. Ten ton tessie here we come.
River Duchess
15. juni 2016, Nederland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Now leaving Amsterdam to start our cruise. We are looking forward to cruising the rivers passing by the many villages and going through the many locks . By the end of the tour we have been told thatLes mer
Cruising The Rhine
16. juni 2016, Tyskland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Flowing through six countries, the Rhine River has served as a link between southern and northern Europe since Roman times. Originating from mountain brooks in the Swiss Alps, the Rhine travels northLes mer