Postcards from Amsterdam

Have just had 10 days moored in Weesp about 12km from centre of Amsterdam, what a gorgeous city.
Saturday is moving day, houses are so tall and narrow that moving furniture is done out the windows, we held our breath watching these guys trying to manouver this cupboard out the window. In the end they had to give up.
Cattery in the middle of Amsterdam
A guest at our table for lunch one day



Do love a pretty bike
bike parking at Amsterdam rail station
Button shop, love the door handles

The week so far in the Nethetlands

Arrived into Ter Apel NL from Heran D on a tiny canal, weather wet, cold and windy. For next couple of days we pottered along tiny , cute canal, swing and lift bridges abound.



A weekend moored near open air peat museum,
though for a moment I was out at Hume Weir

left the small canals behind & out onto bigger waters




Getting nearer to Amsterdam , we plan to spend a week here, moored about 15km from centre

Bremen

A days trip to Bremen , primarily to take Helga to train so she could return to Denmark, but we also made a 'day of it' doing some sightseeing.
Bremen , records of inhabitants for 1000's of years, was once an important Hanseatic town. Severly damaged in WW2 but largely rebuilt so that you can hardly tell the difference between old and new.




town symbol, this the original statue, many variations on a theme around the city.

Lovely week

Just put Knud's mum Helga on the train back to Denmark. Been a lovely week together, started in Hannover, continued westwards along Mittellandkanal then when we got to the Dortmund Ems Kanal turned right and continued to Lingen , where Linquenda sits now.
Knud and Helga




not as much room on Dortmund Ems Kanal

Mittellandkanal

Almost come to the end of Mittellandkanal, just 5km to junction of Mittellandkanal & Dortmund Elms Kanal, then we turn right.
Such a mixture of commercial, industrial and surprisingly large amount of rural landscape. Have really enjoyed this canal.

Things that make me happy

Arrived here to Hannover Friday..On our way over Germany 2 years ago had 1 day here so although we did some exploring ( see blog from 2 years ago) it is lovely to have a few extra days to really get a feel for the place.
The heat and humidity have been replaced with cooler conditions plus a bit of rain, no complaints from me that is for sure.
Do love a wimsical statue and they abound around the streets of Hannover







Bet this guy is glad its not too windy
Big Swing Band at the Maschseefest , a 3 week long music festivsl in Hannover, lots of free concerts, how good is that!

Past week

The time seems to be flying by and up dating blog goes to back burner.
Last week we set off along the Mittellandkanal, a long 300km stretch across Germany, only 3 locks ( but BIG ) this is the main highway for shipping across Germany so we are mixing it with the big boys.
We are taking it slowly , giving ourselves time to exploe surrounding areas that we didnt have time for 2 years ago when we came across.
Getting water in Haldensleben .This is not as easy as one would imagine. Because we are too large and heavy to go into most marines we dont have access to water easily. We had gone 5 weeks without being able to top up water tanks, however once we got onto Mittellandkanal we can use the water points for the commercials, just a matter of getting the correct swipe card and topping up with money. A distinct advantage that Knud is fluent in German.
Last night on board for Jennyfer & Colin, we arrived to Wolfsburg earlier that day. In background you can see the circus tent set up for summer at the Autostadt,( VW 's amusement park / expo/ vehicle promotion place)
Sadly Jennyfer & Colin must leave , heading back to Oz, been a great time with them on board.




An evening spent at Autostadt, Knud had a wonderful time looking at wizz bang car displays I was happy wandering around looking at the street performers , gardens etc. Saw some fabulous circus acts, one in particular, 70 minutes of top class performers, Canadian group called Cirque Éloize, breathtaking acts had us on the edge of our chairs, at one point it began raining and raincoats were distributed to everyone! Thats Gernan efficiency for you.
Knud's brother Torben, Jette and Josefine joined us in Wolfsburg and are continuing with us westwards for a while.