Day 2 in Rotterdam allowed us to explore sites closer to where our ship is docked, which is very central with a short walk over the bridge and we are in the Maritime District. An area with many shipping vessels from old heritage classic boats, to wonderful live a boards, to boats converted to wonderful boutique restaurants. The next area that we wanted to explore was that of the Cube houses, a program which began in the early 1980’s here in Rotterdam. Very unusual if you ask me, to flip town houses on 45 degree angles and think they work, okay, but don’t be over 6 feet tall as you are bound to hit your head before making a cup of coffee in the morning, just saying. Cute, yes, very great for pictures, yes, to actually live in, well the jury is out. Close to here is, Markthal, a huge outdoor market as well as a modern fabulous indoor multi level shopping area. Everything is here, just fantastic.
Back over the bridge I had to check out the former head office for Holland America and then took a stroll over the old ss Rotterdam, a HAL ship that was in service from 1959 to 1997. This ship now serves as a museum, hotel and restaurant. If you have a fondness for HAL this is a must see. I did not give it the time it needed to really get into the core of HAL. I figured about 90 minutes should do it, no, not at all. Doing this right would be coming over here, about 20 mins stroll from where our ship is docked, and doing the ship tour and then having lunch on board. The staff here are passionate all things HAL, from the line itself to the ships and to the crew and not in that order. For free you can walk onto the ship and stroll the outside promenade deck, but this led me to want to do the tour. The tours can be as involved to include the engine room (book at least as hour for this) and the bridge (another 30 mins, minimum), then there is the ship as well, dining rooms, staterooms etc. I say minimum because the crew giving the commentary are so passionate that they answer questions and get into stories. Just fantastic. The officer leading my tour found out that I was on the Zaandam and maximized my time by asking when my all aboard time was. He told the group my situation and with that told them to wait in one of the rooms while he escorted me to the bridge (through back room chambers) and then told the officer conducting that part of the tour about my situation and gave me the quick tour while also telling me about the shortcut back to the Zaandam and then escorted me off the ship. Twenty minutes later I took a quick peak into the now restaurant in the old HAL head office building, beautiful. I understand that they have the best Dutch Apple Pie here. Back on board by 4:20 for sail away, dinner and show. Bonus tonight is that we get one of hours back that we lost coming over to Europe.
A few pics of the day, hope you enjoy… As usual on a ship the wifi struggles so uploading struggles, a bit frustrating but this is why the posts are delayed…
Quote of the day - “As you move through this life…you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life-and travel-leaves marks on you”. - Anthony Bourdain
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