Amsterdam on land

Up early this morning to ensure we have our suitcases fully packed and out the door by appointed times. Amazingly all is packed away somewhere although I think both B and roomie have suitcases that can be compared to loaded springs so I don't want to be around when they open them again! Time for our last breakfast onboard and numbers have already dwindled as a number have had early flights and then there are others with later flights, but we all have to be out of cabins by 9. Farewells made to the staff and then it's time to wait for the call for our hotel transfer. B is staying a couple of days with friends and is picked up at 9 so goodbyes made. 9.30 and the rest of the gang board a coach that takes us on a five minute coach ride to the hotel Movenpick. There is almost a full bus load so you can imagine how pleased we all were to arrive at the hotel just after 9.30 am to be told that rooms aren't ready and won't be until 3 pm.... NOT HAPPY! Poor D and S are both feeling poorly and want nothing more than to get to their rooms for a lie down. M has scored a room he's the only satisfied camper in the group. J, roomie and I head off on the 10.30 shuttle to the central train station and then go for a wander up a Main Street towards the palace. Thankfully not nearly as crowded as the streets were yesterday, but unfortunately it is bloody cold and grey skies. We continue on undeterred though. Lots of window shopping and a couple of last minute souvenirs purchased. Time for a cuppa so we find a reasonable little cafe to have a hot drink and shared muffins. At this time I realize that I can't find my reading glasses and convince myself that I have left them on the counter at the hotel reception or put them in my back pack which I stored at the hotel. So, more strolling about and eventually found our way to the flower market which does not have fresh flowers, but masses of bulbs, mainly for tulips, plus the usual Dutch souvenirs. Also pass a Magic Mushroom shop and plenty of cannabis starter growing kits. Roomie found marijuana lollipops for sale but I successfully dragged her away from them!!! Still haven't got my head around how it isn't legal to smoke or possess dope but it is so openly smoked in the street and sold in coffee shops. Maybe that's where the concept of Double Dutch came from as it makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.

We then meander back towards our starting point, go into the information office at the railway station to ask them to call the hotel for the shuttle bus for us, get the shuttle and back to the hotel. thankfully we now have rooms allocated as it is about 1.30. Head out to a nearby Subway shop for lunch. Back to the hotel to eat our lunch. Down to reception to see if my glasses have been handed in but no success. Finally retrieve our suitcases and our opinion of staff at this hotel is not good as the concierge were clearly not going to bring our suitcases to our too many time soon but I'm quite sure they would have had a pre paid porterage fee provided through our Travelmarvel booking. Travelmarvel will be hearing from a number of us over our dissatisfaction with the booking in process, room readiness, reception staff professionalism and concierge lack of actual service. However at this point I have later gone back to reception to again ask if my glasses have been located and when I get another negative response I ask the lass if she can provide a phone number for the one store I made a purchase at earlier in the morning. I had the store receipt but it had neither an actual address or phone number. Thankfully she found the number very quickly and offered to call them for me. She couldn't have been more helpful and as luck would have it, my glasses were at the shop. So back on the hotel shuttle I go and then find my way to the store where I was very happily reunited with my reading glasses and case. Have no idea how I lost them, can only imagine that somehow they fell out of my bag when I pulled my wallet out. Anyway, happy ending! I then walked back to the hotel which was a bit if a hike but was good exercise and I successfully dodged all cyclists which was no mean feat. It was jolly cold though. I am told that the temp never got over 8 today! Back at the hotel, it took a bit of faff ing about but I finally contacted all our group to arrange to meet in the bar for dinner at 7 pm. S and J are heading out tomorrow at 7.30 for their Singapore airlines flight and won't be joining us for dinner so I probably won't see them till we are all back in Adelaide. While waiting for the others M and I are able to share a quiet drink in the bar. D is feeling a lot better so I'm really pleased that she is up to joining us at dinner. As it transpires, we all have a really nice meal and agree that we've had a great holiday. No one wants a late night so agree to catch up at breakfast. It's been a funny sort of a day that we've done quite a bit of 'hurry up and wait' and then wandering about without any real purpose. Not sure that I have any real interest in ever coming to Amsterdam again. Tomorrow is travel time so this is my last chance for a good night sleep in a proper bed for about the next 40 hours.......