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Trip Report and More London Help, please!
The ship is on its way back to Amsterdam at the moment -- and look! We're in another lock. Cool. Except for the fact that we seem to lose internet connection when in locks.
I am surprised at how much I loved Belgium. Chocolates. Mussels and fries (but NO mayonnaise, thankyouverymuch), and beer. Plus they've got Brugges, which is pretty darn cool. Especially early in the season when it's not totally jam-packed with tourists. Oh, and there's lace (which I got for Mom) and tapestries (which I got for me). And I've actually figured out WHERE Flanders is! Yay me.
Though it is cold. Seriously. I'm colder on this trip than I was on my two previous Arctic cruises. Sadly, I didn't quite pack properly. Well, I packed pretty well but underestimated the cold.
The ship is very nice, but I do have a few issues. Firstly, being among the youngest people here is ... odd. Ship is full of retirees who seem to spend most of their retired life cruising hither and yon. Which is good for them, yay. Yet haven't found many interesting people to talk to. I don't really like cruising -- in terms of getting on a ship with 2000 of your closest friends and waiting in line to get off the ship, waiting in line to get back on the ship, drinking, eating, more drinking, gambling, more eating etc. While there are many people who enjoy this -- and I've not meant to insult any of those types here -- that kind of travel is NOT for me.
Also, I hate tour buses. And guided tours with 50 other people. There are only about 170 passengers, so at least it's not 2000 people being herded hither and yon.
I'd rather explore on my own, but these types of trips are good for getting a flavor of the place and deciding if you'd like to come back and explore on your own. If I do another river cruise I will definitely consider opting out of the guided tours and finding a good self-guided walking tour to follow. And hiking. And bird-watching. Am thinking of looking into those kinds of tours for next time.
But... only a minor complaint. Or rather, reflection. Anyway, it's been fun and cold and, hey, bonus -- lots of birds! Since this is the first time I've bird-watched in Europe, pretty much everything I see that's not a city pigeon is a new bird for me. 29 new birds for my list.
However - my long-awaited trip to London is filling me with trepidation. Seems we're just in time for the riots surrounding the G20 protests! Anyone have any suggestions in avoiding these things. Seems like Apr 1 will be the worst day -- and hey, that's my first full day there. I'm wondering if it will be safe to go anywhere.
From what I can gather, the places I'd like to go are not directly affected -- the Tower, the British Museum. But I am worried about scads of rioting anarchists in the Tube.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Places to go on Apr 1 to avoid the worst?
I am surprised at how much I loved Belgium. Chocolates. Mussels and fries (but NO mayonnaise, thankyouverymuch), and beer. Plus they've got Brugges, which is pretty darn cool. Especially early in the season when it's not totally jam-packed with tourists. Oh, and there's lace (which I got for Mom) and tapestries (which I got for me). And I've actually figured out WHERE Flanders is! Yay me.
Though it is cold. Seriously. I'm colder on this trip than I was on my two previous Arctic cruises. Sadly, I didn't quite pack properly. Well, I packed pretty well but underestimated the cold.
The ship is very nice, but I do have a few issues. Firstly, being among the youngest people here is ... odd. Ship is full of retirees who seem to spend most of their retired life cruising hither and yon. Which is good for them, yay. Yet haven't found many interesting people to talk to. I don't really like cruising -- in terms of getting on a ship with 2000 of your closest friends and waiting in line to get off the ship, waiting in line to get back on the ship, drinking, eating, more drinking, gambling, more eating etc. While there are many people who enjoy this -- and I've not meant to insult any of those types here -- that kind of travel is NOT for me.
Also, I hate tour buses. And guided tours with 50 other people. There are only about 170 passengers, so at least it's not 2000 people being herded hither and yon.
I'd rather explore on my own, but these types of trips are good for getting a flavor of the place and deciding if you'd like to come back and explore on your own. If I do another river cruise I will definitely consider opting out of the guided tours and finding a good self-guided walking tour to follow. And hiking. And bird-watching. Am thinking of looking into those kinds of tours for next time.
But... only a minor complaint. Or rather, reflection. Anyway, it's been fun and cold and, hey, bonus -- lots of birds! Since this is the first time I've bird-watched in Europe, pretty much everything I see that's not a city pigeon is a new bird for me. 29 new birds for my list.
However - my long-awaited trip to London is filling me with trepidation. Seems we're just in time for the riots surrounding the G20 protests! Anyone have any suggestions in avoiding these things. Seems like Apr 1 will be the worst day -- and hey, that's my first full day there. I'm wondering if it will be safe to go anywhere.
From what I can gather, the places I'd like to go are not directly affected -- the Tower, the British Museum. But I am worried about scads of rioting anarchists in the Tube.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Places to go on Apr 1 to avoid the worst?