Day 12 – In Rotterdam, departure for Oslo

 

Day 12 – In Rotterdam, departure for Oslo

This was our first experience of staying on board our cruise ship while most passengers departed and others came on board.  The “busy-ness” of the morning was entertaining in its own way, as we could be interested but uninvolved observers.  Unfortunately, Joe and Toni had to change staterooms and were thus involved in moving belongings from one location to another.  We learned that ~ 400 people were continuing on while 2300 departed.  We looked forward to getting to know some of the new guests and observing the changes in the subtleties and “gestalt” of the new group of people.

Once Joe and Toni completed their transfer, we spent some time in the cruise terminal using the internet.  The lack of reasonably fast and inexpensive internet has been a continuing frustration, and the Rotterdam terminal was particularly useful.  We then planned to explore the city together, but somehow Joe and Toni and Ben and Judy missed connections and ended up going into the city separately.  Joe and Toni walked over the harbor bridge and explored the area near the terminal and did some shopping.  Ben and Judy took the metro to Delft Haven, a section of Rotterdam which escaped the Nazi bombing and retains an ambience similar to Amsterdam.  We located the “Pilgrim Church” where the Pilgrim’s congregated before boarding their ship, the Speedwell.  The final sermon by their pastor is thought to have occurred along the banks of the harbor, outside.  The church contained several displays and a movie which explained the motivation, preparations, and the voyage.  As members of the Congregational Church, Ben and Judy appreciated being close to our denomination’s founding people.

After walking to a nearby classic windmill (no longer in service) we reboarded the metro and went to the modern downtown center where the Cube Houses and multiple museums are located.  Two buildings, nicknamed the “pencil” and the “sharpener” which were modernistic edifices, as in the photographs. While interesting as a contrast to the old town, there was little of interest.  We then walked back to the ship amidst off and on rain showers.

Our departure towards Oslo was amidst insistent rain, hindering appreciation of the Rotterdam harbor complex.  We were, none the less, impressed with the massive and extensive shipping facilities – the largest in Europe.  Ben, ever the engineer, located the coastal protection dam whose testing delayed our previous departure.  And so out to see and into the night!

This was our first experience of staying on board our cruise ship while most passengers departed and others came on board.  The “busy-ness” of the morning was entertaining in its own way, as we could be interested but uninvolved observers.  Unfortunately, Joe and Toni had to change staterooms and were thus involved in moving belongings from one location to another.  We learned that ~ 400 people were continuing on while 2300 departed.  We looked forward to getting to know some of the new guests and observing the changes in the subtleties and “gestalt” of the new group of people.

Once Joe and Toni completed their transfer, we spent some time in the cruise terminal using the internet.  The lack of reasonably fast and inexpensive internet has been a continuing frustration, and the Rotterdam terminal was particularly useful.  We then planned to explore the city together, but somehow Joe and Toni and Ben and Judy missed connections and ended up going into the city separately.  Joe and Toni walked over the harbor bridge and explored the area near the terminal and did some shopping.  Ben and Judy took the metro to Delft Haven, a section of Rotterdam which escaped the Nazi bombing and retains an ambience similar to Amsterdam.  We located the “Pilgrim Church” where the Pilgrim’s congregated before boarding their ship, the Speedwell.  The final sermon by their pastor is thought to have occurred along the banks of the harbor, outside.  The church contained several displays and a movie which explained the motivation, preparations, and the voyage.  As members of the Congregational Church, Ben and Judy appreciated being close to our denomination’s founding people.

After walking to a nearby classic windmill (no longer in service) we reboarded the metro and went to the modern downtown center where the Cube Houses and multiple museums are located.  Two buildings, nicknamed the “pencil” and the “sharpener” which were modernistic edifices, as in the photographs. While interesting as a contrast to the old town, there was little of interest.  We then walked back to the ship amidst off and on rain showers.

Our departure towards Oslo was amidst insistent rain, hindering appreciation of the Rotterdam harbor complex.  We were, none the less, impressed with the massive and extensive shipping facilities – the largest in Europe.  Ben, ever the engineer, located the coastal protection dam whose testing delayed our previous departure.  And so out to see and into the night!