Viking Grand European River Cruise August 21-September 7

"Come away with us to the heart of where many of our stories and legends began. 

Sailing through the heart of cities and landscapes with Viking, you'll see things differently.

You'll get closer to iconic landmarks, to local life and cultural treasures. 

It's a feeling that only a river can give you."

Sound familiar?

If you are a viewer of Downtown Abby and other PBS programs, these alluring words will perhaps strike a chord.

About a year and a half ago, our friend, Jay Taylor, proposed that we take such a trip. We would sail the Rhine and the Danube, with many stops in Germany, where he served his LDS mission so many years ago.

Drawn in because it would be a grand celebration of each of us recently turning 70 

and our realization that we're not getting any younger, 

Roger and I said, we're in. 

Jay and Anne recruited two other couples, 

who are friends from when they all used to lived near Sacramento, California - 

Clyde and Pat Sitterud and Lynn and Annette Barton.

This is our group just before boarding our flight to Amsterdam at the SLC Airport.

Our adventure began in Amsterdam, though our longboat actually left from Rotterdam, 

due to the Regatta Sail Event taking place during the week of our departure in the Amsterdam harbor.

Our flight arrived late morning at the Amsterdam airport, where Viking's shuttle took us to the Renaissance Hotel, where there was a lunch and hospitality suite. We ate and then spent the afternoon sight-seeing.

When we had picked Mindy up from her BYU Abroad four-month study in London so many years ago 

(she is now married and has four kids),

we traveled with her through Belgium and The Netherlands, and we had visited the wonderful art museums in Amsterdam, which is where our friends went.  

We had the afternoon before our shuttle would take us to Rotterdam to board the ship, 

so we took a canal cruise, which we hadn't done before.

The first BIG impression that I think Amsterdam makes - bicycles everywhere!

Amsterdam, below sea level, is a huge system of canals and these boat cruises are a great way to see it.

Roger got some great shots of some of the sailing ships, 

which were in the harbor for the once-every-five-years event.

I love the architecture of the houses and buildings lining the canals.

There are several cute houseboats along the canals.

Crowds of spectators were on hand for the regatta event.

We wandered the streets a bit, stopping for an Italian ice and a macaron.

We boarded the shuttle and headed for Rotterdam to board our longboat.

By now, we were feeling the effects of our long flight from SLC.

As we were passing through Rotterdam, we spied this lovely park with an unusual floatie in the water.

These were unusual apartments we passed by.

At last!

Our longboat was waiting for us.

We boarded our ship to a warm greeting, unpacked in the small but well-designed stateroom with a French balcony, and enjoyed a delicious dinner in the dining room. 

There are just under 200 travelers on the longboats and there is no assigned seating or separate dining hours.

We sailed to Kinderdijk during the night.

Next morning, we disembarked for a windmills tour. 

The windmills are used to pump water from the low-lying land that has been reclaimed from the sea or other body of water and protected by dikes. These are called polders. 

There are eight Kinderdijk bonnet mills (only the top section revolves with the wind), all built in 1738.

Our guide walked us all along the canals by the windmills, explaining their ingenious purpose 

in protecting the land from flooding.

We were taken inside a wheelhouse and explained how it all works.

The "quiet boxes" Viking provides worked great throughout our trip, 

every time we went with a guide on a walking tour - 

much better than trying to stand right next to the guide so you can hear!

So picturesque, like the stereotype image we all have of Holland!

We walked up the steep stairs to the top of this windmill and viewed the living quarters of the family 

who had lived inside to maintain it.

It was tiny living quarters and they lived a very simple life.

A bridal couple were having their photos taken, so we got a pretty shot.

After we returned to our rooms, we were called up for our safety instructions.

We enjoyed lunch together in the dining room . . .

. . . and that night, we enjoyed a delicious Welcome Dinner.

When we returned to our room, we were greeted by a folded sailboat made by our cute cabin girl.

Our first full day of sailing on the Rhine met our high expectations and Roger got these gorgeous shots 

of the sun setting.

Now on to Germany . . .