Wednesday 13 July 2020 - Amsterdam

 

When Carla tried to do online check-in this morning for tomorrow’s trip home, our first flight out of Amsterdam was missing. This did not bode well. The original itinerary was Amsterdam – Zurich – Vancouver – Regina.

We visited the on-site Viking rep who allowed us to use her phone to call the Viking emergency line. After about two hours on the phone, most of it on hold, the agent found that our Amsterdam – Zurich flight was cancelled and eventually arranged a KLM flight Amsterdam – Edmonton – Vancouver – Regina departing at 2:40 pm and arriving home at 11:30 pm. With the time change it is about 17 hours. This is about half an hour less total than the original with less flying time but more stopover time. I was looking forward to my first flight on a Boeing 787 from Zurich to Vancouver, but, at this point, I am just happy to have what seems to be a secure path home.

With our travel disruption resolved, we took the tram to the town centre and walked the streets, exploring the sites. It was quite busy with pedestrians and there were several shopping streets with all the modern retail stores and brands. 

 Carla found a Lego store and purchased a kit that she had not been able to find elsewhere. 

 

We settled at an outdoor café by a canal for a drink. It was right beside supposedly the narrowest house in Amsterdam.

The traffic takes some getting used to. There are lanes for bikes, cars, and trams. Long before we got here people were warning us about the bikes in Amsterdam.

 

Celeste and I returned to the hotel while Carla and Tyler found a place to eat downtown then found a South African pub. I had arranged to meet a couple of third cousins from Dad’s side (Dominique and Govinda Deckers) for supper while Celeste again took the night off.