I thought the cruise would be relaxing… Today we were up at six a.m. to get dressed and have a bite of breakfast before setting out for a walking tour of Willemstad, the Netherlands, in order to be back at the ship by 8:30 to take off on the bus to the Delta Works, the country's proudest achievement: holding back the North Sea. I never have time to blog - if I do, the internet is down - or everyone else is trying to get on-line. The signal is weak and sporadic, so my posts are also sporadic.

Last night's dinner was fantastic. Never in my life have I seen so many utensils at my place setting! We started with hors d'houevres served at the Champagne Reception. Then, seated at dinner, we had an appetizer of roasted duck salad with mango & red raspberry sauce served with homemade brioche, followed by a hot appetizer of sautéed prawns with mashed, crispy potato served on leek julienne with lobster sauce. Then we were served a palate cleanser - black currant granite in yogurt frappe, like a syllabub, served in a tall parfait glass with a long spoon. Our entrees were a choice of grilled veal loin with a Madeira glace, green beans wrapped in a bacon slice, creamy savoy cabbage & onion pie accompanied by potato William (shaped like a pear and toasted on the outside) - OR Gorgonzola E Noci (tortellinis stuffed with gorgonzola and nuts) arranged on creamy spinach and served with a baked tomato filled with tiny cole slaw and topped with more cheese. Our dessert was two-fold served together: crème brule and a Belgian waffle with pistachio ice cream, served with caramelized sugar lace "cookie" and fresh fruit with vanilla cream. Or if you didn't care for that selection… you could order some grilled salmon. Need I say more? We are well-fed on this cruise!

This morning, our walk in the pre-dawn hours of Willemstad was fun. The brave band of early birds walked through the sleeping town to see the first Protestant church built in the Netherlands and then we paraded, holding our loved ones' hands up Lovers Lane to the Town Hall where newly-weds go to register. If done, it is said you will love each other forever. D&I did, so I guess we will be in love forever - at least one more day.

Getting on the bus, we drove to the North Sea to visit the Neeltje Jan, a theme park to feature the shore animals living in the marshes of the Delta Works. Neeltfe means "near sea lady", or mermaid, the symbol of the area. We saw a good movie, explaining how the Dutch built the huge gates - 66 of them! To keep the sea surge from flooding the country as it did in 1953. One of the modern wonders of the world, and we had an opportunity to walk through one of them. It takes only 15 minutes to close, or re-open the gates, in the event of a huge storm.

Steven explained to us about the Netherland's government and royal family on our drive back, and had a surprise for us when we arrived at the boat. Docked nearby was a food truck selling only raw herring, pickled, whole, etc., etc. He showed us how to down a whole raw herring - about the size of a small perch -without its head & innards of course - and then gave us each a small sample - yum! But Darrel had to have a piece of chocolate when we got back to our cabin. His excuse: to change the taste left in his mouth.

The boat slipped out of its mooring in Willemstad while we were served lunch by our waiters who were dressed in Dutch shirts and suspenders. Flying all around the room were flags of the Netherlands (not Holland which is just one small section of the Netherlands). We sailed to Kinderdijk, which means Children's Dike. Along the dikes are a series of old-fashioned windmills, thatch roofed and still operational. Provided low-cost housing, the operators are certified and for many it is a family tradition to live in these windmills and keep them operating. They get paid for having the blades turn 17,000 times. And yes, they only pump water. Paradoxically, the more the Dutch pump water out of the land, the lower they sink - like a sponge drying out. Adding to the dilemma is the fact of global-warming, which is making the rivers and the ocean rise higher as mountain glaciers and polar ice melt. After visiting the workshop where how a windmill is built was explained, we walked to one which was opened. Darrel climbed the ladder to see inside, but said when he came back that it was disappointing - not much to see. I was a wuss and sat on a bench outside to wait, but along came the operator in wooden shoes to unfurl the canvas for the blades. I got to see how it is done - or how the canvas is wrapped up quickly in the event the blades begin turning too fast in a heavy wind. Very picturesque.

After our fabulous banquet at dinner again tonight, the program directors are planning a horse race. I have no idea what that will be, but we are tired after such an early morning. I think a good night's sleep sounds so good! I was up last night - maybe still a bit of jet lag? - so at three in the morning, I tried to upload some of our photos. Sorry friends, can't do it. The signals are so weak. Maybe when we get into a more populated harbor.

Well, the best laid plans… At dinner, our wine steward was pouring our tables' glasses, when BUMP! The boat jarred horribly, and he was thrown on the floor. The wine decanter he had been holding sheered in half right at his hand. All our glasses (except mine, because I know what to grab in an emergency) went flying, spilling. Alarmed, people screamed, water and wine and broken glass was everywhere around our table. Clothing was wet, and some had to leave to change. But soon calm was restored and the ship moved on. Funny thing, though - people at the other end of the restaurant hardly felt the bump.

So then, we had to go to the horse races in order to find out what had happened because that is when the captain would debrief the passengers on the accident. I had seen a huge, black piling slowly moving past our window where we were sitting at the back of the restaurant in the aft of the ship. I thought we were entering a lock. As the "training captain" turned the ship however, the rear of the boat bumped into the piling. All is well, so we stayed to see the horse race - what fun! And I won every race! Came back to our cabin with $4 US more than when we left!

TOMORROW: Nijmegen, site of the Remagen Bridge, an important battle of WWII.