6.18 SATURDAY-TOT ZIENS AMSTERDAM

OR

You Parked the Dam Boat Where?!?

“Can you direct us to the Viking Dock?”

“Viking?  Oh yes… let me check the schedules.” Says the nice shop keeper at the Amsterdam Passenger Terminal.

“OK, she says, “go all the way to the second cut through, not the first and go straight to the water.”

 “Way down there?!?” WTF!  

Wait, let’s get this started in a true Chucky Fashion,

Last night, before heading out for a late night bite with the hardest working Pizza Lady in Amsterdam, Chucky headed to the laundromat to get the first weeks stuff ready for the Boat Ride.  Even after 3 blasts at High on the drier, he still had a few damp things that had to be packed in the AM.  That and a quick shower, no squeegee, and they were ready to say Tot Ziens to Irisa and Hannes at Hentje Hoeksteeg 12, slow drain, Flat-Flat and all. 

Something tells me DL’s Review on TripAdvisor and Airbnb ain’t gonna be rosy.

Now to LUG the LUGGAGE to the hotel on the corner, down the alley they should have taken in - to cut the trek from Central station by half- [Hey, it didn’t show up on Google maps…] and a call to Uber had Aman here in 3 minutes. 

Getting to the Viking dock was another thing all together.

The night before, Chucky had emailed the Ship for its exact location on the massive Passenger docks so he could give proper instructions to our driver.  All he got back was:

“Tell the driver the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam, they all know where to take you.”

Uh…NO.  

As we later found out, most of the Uber drivers are not all from here and when they put Passenger Terminal in their GPS it takes them to the MAIN Terminal entrance and drop off, all the way at the other end of the docks from where Viking moors.

Now… Chucky sticks his head into a tchotchke shop and the opening dialogue ensued.

Sooooo, they head East on Terminal Way to what appears to be the “second cut through” but turns out to be the cargo entrance and they are directed “All The Way Around The Building.”

WTF!

They have now been LUGGING farther than from the train station to the Flat-Flat, and she remarks,

“And you wanted to haul this stuff from the Flat-Flat?????  And your Uber record ain’t so great either.”

“Keep walking.”

Finally rounding the corner All-the-way-around-the-building, they spot… Nuthin.

So he drops the bags and scouts ahead to finally locate the Viking Tialfi…

All-the-way-down-there!!!!! 

Another quarter mile.

As they round the fence and head to the farthest point of the passenger terminal docks from where they started, a Viking porter spots them and hustles down to intercept them and take over the Lugging of the LUGGAGE promising to have it in their cabin right away.

The now dripping couple is welcomed with a refreshing cool face towel presented by the executive housekeeper who apologizes that their cabin is not ready yet. [Well, in Vikings defense, check in is 1500 and its only 1200] 
“Please check in and then step into the dining room for a light buffet and to relax, we will find you when all is ready.”

We follow their lead and settle in the lovely dining room and have a little snack while cooling off.

After a brief look around the boat to get our bearings, we are intercepted by delightful Elanora who escorts us to cabin 118 on the bottom level with the usual spiel about how what works - Room Card in slot by door for lighting - HEATED teak-wood bathroom floor [Ooo-La-La] - TV controls - Daily program, etc.

Left to our own devices, we quickly unpack, there is ample room for clothes though the cabin is a bit tight.  Not really a problem, the plan is to only be there to sleep and shower.  We expect to spend the rest of the time in the lounge, upper sun deck or aquavit terrace watching the river go by, drinking cool ones banging out NOWAT or out on a shore excursion.

Time to relax a bit, then dress for dinner and head to the lounge for a happy hour.

Dinner was lovely - the usual 3 appetizers - 3 entrees and 3 desserts, but the chef will accommodate.  
I don’t intend to go into describing all the meals unless they are Remarkable… or - heaven forbid - a disaster.

We met Animated Allyn from New York a self-described "recovering lawyer", who now researches for the Estate of the Esteemed American Sculptor David Smith.

Also at our table were Michele [one L] a marketing and development consultant for non-profits and her former colleague Amy an executive with Club Corp that manages country clubs, city clubs and other Hospitality ventures, [A former client of Chucky's - why a Former Client will be the subject of another tale.] and Alena [sp?] a non-recovering attorney, all of whom along with their school teacher cohort from the Slidell contingent, Chucky would find out one night in the lounge, can REALLY P-A-R-T-Y.

After dinner we retired to the lounge for a night cap and headed to the cabin for a quick shower [no Squeegee needed] and an early turn in after Chucky posted a few NOWAT.  [he's still trying to catch up]

Tomorrow will be an early day as we head to see the Windmills of  Kinderkijk.

Ciao Voor Nu,

Uncle Chuck & The Never letting him pick the Airbnb again

Dragon Lady