ROTTERDAM Sat. July 13

Now it’s Holland!  Rotterdam is a magnificent city. While we had breakfast we watched the low and long barges crawl back and forth along the waterway below the Sea Princess. Going down river they were empty and riding high, with their living quarters of three, four or even five small windows with curtains at the back where the barge captain (owner?) had living quarters. Coming up river they were loaded with containers and low in the water.

Across the water we could see the tall office blocks of the city, and Erasmusbrug stretching across from one side to the other. This is the third bridge we have seen supported by wires from one side stretching right across to the other. Only one we saw in Ireland could be lifted a bit and swung to one side. This one did not lift or swing, was firmly attached and busy with traffic.

We took the scooter out and down along the inner road between the port buildings and the wharves, where we found a Shuttle Bus provided by the city waiting to take us into the city proper. The guide there told us to wait for the next bus which had a lift to take up my scooter. So it was. The driver hopped out and opened a special small door at the back and lifted out a ramp which lifted me and my scooter by motor up to the inside floor of the bus.  He then strapped it into place with heavy hooks attached to the floor.

When we reached the old Town Hall in the main street, we did it all in reverse and I sailed off along the wide footpath beside Bruce. No pushing the wheelchair today. There was a breeze here and we had coats but expected a high of 22°C today. The Town Hall was old and had stone stairs and windows surrounds in stone. It must have survived the bombing in the war as when we saw an aerial photo of the city in 1946 at the Information Centre there wasn’t much left standing. On the footpath today there were old bronze statues of various Mayors of the city several hundred years ago. They likewise must have survived the bombing.

We had been warned about the bike paths on each side of the road, so we were cautious. Push bikes and motor scooters like the Vespas of Rome went at speed in both directions in these 2-3 metre wide strips set apart from other traffic. Never a bike helmet in sight all day, and children being carried either in front of or behind the riders. 

So it was: find a striped crossing, make sure to dodge the bikes, remember to check for cars coming from the right hand drive side, and see there were no trams on the way. Trams are really classy vehicles here. Where there were no lights at the crossing, motorists politely stopped for pedestrians. We paused for the bike lanes!

Streets are very clean, buildings well cared for and footpaths very wide. There are rows and rows of push bikes everywhere along the outside of the footpaths everywhere in the city. Some were in bike racks, others just standing on their own supports two and three deep – so the footpaths need to be wide.

The coach driver had directed passengers to the large Department Store called “de Bijenkorf” so we went there. It was big and airy, with each department stretching across a large floorspace and enticingly well laid out. Plenty of room to move between displays.  Out of the lift area came a rather large lady in a flowing scarf on a scooter maybe a bit bigger than mine with two dogs sitting in the space under her legs. When I smiled my surprise and enjoyment of the site, the lady nodded and gave me a hearty smile back, and both dogs – obviously tied on short leases – also looked up at me and ‘smiled’ in their doggy way. I guess they had been travelling like this all their lives.  Although I told Bruce to look out for her we didn’t see her and the dogs again. Dogs seem to go everywhere on leads with their people.

There were five floors of elegant displays and another in the basement, which contained formal men’s wear and stationery.  Bruce was amazed at the prices of suits on display at ‘Half-Price’. The stationary on display was cheerful and full of colour. There were mothers and girls looking at the bright exercise books and school supplies and I realized they were getting supplie for going back to school in September. Fancy thinking of going back to school as early as this. But at least the supplies were very bright and cheerful. I enjoyed buying a cheerful note book and a couple of book marks myself. This was also the Book Shop.  Lots of books had covers in English and names I recognized. Such as those by Dan Brown. Inside they were in Dutch. It was still a surprise when I opened them.

            For lunch we had a toasted sandwich at a footpath restaurant called ‘Roaul’s’. By now the clouds had burnt off and the sun was out.  We enjoyed sitting on their padded seats with extra cushions. The place has six foot high glass walls all around, so we could watch all the comings and goings on the street when we took off our coats and sat in the warmth of the sun.

            After a visit to The Information Centre we decided we’d better go back to the Old Town Hall and wait for our bus with the electric hoist to get back to the ship on time.

            This is our last port to use Euros, so I had a walk around the hall in the Cruise Centre next to the Ship when we got back. It was full of stalls selling Dutch handcrafts of all sorts, with a man carving clogs. I used my last €5 on two small blue and white dishes decorated with windmills.

            At midday today (14^th) the Captain told us we are in the North Sea and must expect usual rough North Sea weather. There are lots of white horses out there and the floors have started to move up and down again.

Bruce saw the end of the First Cricket Test in England today and was disappointed at the lack of fifteen runs for an Australian victory. The  Sky News Sports Channel has been more interested in all the Football teams with who is transferring to where, and how many thousands a week they’ll get. Cricket scores were reported every News half hour. But when the conclusion of the game drew close they actually played the last 10-15 minutes – and the controversial last decision which led to England’s win.