London to Amerstam

Started early morning. Not intentionally, just woke early and decided to take it from there. Breakfasted well and then off to terminal 5 at Heathrow for transfer to Amsterdam and the cruise ship (right). Arrived there about 3.30pm and was welcomed aboard with rather lavish afternoon tea in the main lounge. All sort of nice things (Colleen, you would love it!) as well as a wonderful plate of very Dutch gingerbread cookies in our room.

Also, an urn of the most wonderful "hot tea" - fruity and european.

As for the room, you would not want to have a cat swinging competition there but it is rather comfortable for all that. Very elegant and the fullength windows mean a very wide view of all that passes on the river.

Tomorrows selection of tours has been made - canal tour for us.

[By the way, if there are any errors in todays blog, it is because we are working in Dutch. "Bewerken", so we have found out, means "Edit". Very handy.]

As for Anonymous (see yesterdays comments) you and Joseph would love this. Here we are surrounded by Rhine river, barges and water taxis running to and fro (rather like knowledge in the last days) and everything so calm and different from life at home. This is going to be a very different couple of weeks. Clearly we are going to be spoiled rotten. (Just the sort of thing you and Eric need, Wilma).

We've already met a few of our fellow travellers - the challenge, especially for Arthur, is remembering their names.

Also enjoyed seeing the daylight wane, from the front of the lounge, while listening to the gentle keyboard music by the onboard musician.

Must now be off to check out our choice of restaurant!