After the windmills

It is now well into the afternoon and we have been on the river for a few hours. Even though not slow, watching the Dutch landscape slide past is certainly leisurely. And infinitely relaxing. I've opened Google Maps on my tablet so I can see an aerial view of what I'm looking at river view. That way I can check out the cities and towns as we pass.

I am sure it is coincidence that the bar is located on the top deck and that is where we spend most of our time. But I prefer the view of the river from our room one deck lower. There is something about having the water only a couple of feet lower than your feet.

To occupy our time the Program Director gave a very nice class on the Dutch Golden Age when the Netherlands ruled the seas. He helped us pay attention with brides of Dutch Jenever and Gouda cheese. Then we had the mandatory safety drill where everyone stood in the hall and chatted with their neighbors.

We got to tour the wheelhouse and watch the Second Officer do his job. Obviously the Captain nor the First Officer want anything to do with a bunch of dumb questions from passengers. My dumb and ill mannered question was about the cost of such a technologically advanced ship. 25 million US dollars was the answer.

When I first got to the bridge we were passing a gas tanker on the left, just like in the States. Out of a river to the left came a ship loaded with containers. As if that wasn't exciting enough as the three of us jockeyed for position, a smaller ship approached heading downstream in the opposite direction. The river Main is pretty wide in that area but maybe not that wide. So the downstream ship passed between us and the container ship to our left. Exciting enough for me.