Ogii opening presents for her birthday.
Some last-minute wrapping.
Some earrings from me from a local jewelry maker.
Many gifts.
Blowing up balloons.
To decorate our cabin.
Together.
A list of things that happened on this day.
The Daily.
We're stil in Rotterdam.
Breakfast buffet.
Meats.
Fruits.
Sides and an omelette station.
YOu can also order food.
I got some French toast.
Looking out of our window at a wall.
We're below the dock.
We could just climb out onto the dock from our cabin.
We sent in a little laundry. A bit expensive, but not too bad, and easier than cleaning my clothes in the sink.
Ogii wanted to go to a castle, and we all independently decided de Haar was the best. It was about a 40-minute drive, so we had initially thought about renting a car or taking a train, but we decided on Ubering instead. Like the laundry, a bit more expensive, but much easier.
A cool building by JEX, a software company.
The two major bridges.
With the lift bridge.
We all faced each other in the van, which was nice.
The bushes spell out Rotterdam.
Some cows on the way.
More.
Ogii getting pictures.
Geese.
And rabbits.
A golf course.
Monica setting up a tripod.
For a picture at the castle entrance.
Big doors.
A map.
A bee on a flower.
Another.
And another.
Pollen on its leg.
Ogii getting pictures.
The castle.
Rose garden info.
A drone shot of the castle, where you can see the multiple entrances.
Another gate.
Through that one.
The main buildings.
Another drawbridge.
Another view of the two main buildings.
Which have a little bridge between them.
A flower garden in front.
With us.
Entrance to the main castle.
With various statues.
A lion.
All of us.
A movie about the history of the castle. It’s not really an old castle; it’s a more modern house made in the shape of a castle. Construction was started in 1892 by the famous architect Pierre Cuypers, and it has 200 rooms.
Up some stairs.
A little door.
The main hall was very impressive.
With a large stained glass window.
Another on the other side with a tapestry below it.
More windows along the sides.
Many carvings on the walls.
And more windows.
Some old luggage.
Each room had an info sheet.
Tiled floors.
Different animals.
Dining room.
With a large fire place.
Carving above it.
Info sheet.
Tapestry.
A cake that took months to make.
Silverware.
Plates.
Info on them.
A view out the window.
Large bathroom.
The next room is the library.
Large book.
Detailed work above the fireplace.
Owl.
The rest of the room.
A table.
And couch.
Info sheet.
Some books.
The great hall for receiving visitors is next.
A chess set.
Table games.
Paintings and stained glass windows.
Weapons.
A famous plate.
Seats.
Nice chandalier.
Fireplace.
Info sheet.
Ballroom.
Huge tapestry.
Detailed carvings.
With a little movie beside them.
Some of the video.
Carvings and painting of women.
A Japanese litter to carry people.
Info sheet.
Beauty parlor.
Info sheet.
A small room.
use as a rest room for the baron's chauffeur.
The entrance hall from the next level.
Armor.
There were many guest rooms next.
They were pretty similar.
Some were a bit nicer.
And some were reserved for certain people.
Another bedroom.
Another.
A nice view of a garden.
Bedchamber of the baroness.
Info sheet.
Bedroom of the baron.
With a nice fireplace.
Info sheet.
A clock in a crocodile skin.
Secretary room.
Old typewriter.
Info sheet.
Bedroom of the baroness.
Info sheet.
Preparation room.
With a nice view of the entrance, so she can see who's coming.
Another stained glass window.
This guest room has an intricately-carved bed.
Chinese screen with mother-of-pearl inlay.
Info sheet.
A view of the front yard.
Watch your head.
Down the steps.
A tiny shelf.
The scullery.
Info.
And kitchen.
With many pots.
And a big oven.
Pheasant.
Info.
The gift shop had many children's books.
A photo of the castle in the fog.
A bridge between two buildings.
Mom, Dad, and Monica on it.
From the other side.
Everyone.
Front lawn.
Butterfly.
Flower.
Bee hvies.
Big flowers.
A hedge maze.
Ogii wanted to look in, but she was too short.
If she stands on top of me, though, she might be able to get a view.
Stand, not sit, on me.
Hey, no pictures.
OK, one picture.
She was able to see inside, and what lucky timing; she saw Monica and Brett.
If you keep walking, you reach a field which sometimes has deer.
A lake.
With some row boats.
A statue.
Tennis court.
Interesting plant.
Us back at the front.
We had a short lunch there while waiting for the Uber driver to come pick us up.
Reflection at the outside gate.
A neat restaurant on the drive back.
Sheep.
Three river cruise boats docked side by side. The people from the outer one walk through the middle of the other two.
Neat sculpture above a bridge.
Lighthouse boat.
Wheat work.
The apostle Paul by Jan Vlasblom on the Saint Dominic Church.
Market Hall.
The huge mural on the walls and ceiling.
There are many stalls.
With all kinds of food.
Duck.
Chocolate.
Cheese.
A nice sitting area with flowers. Many of the stalls also had rooftop seating above them.
A large grocery store on the floor below.
Nuts.
Toys.
Meat.
With some easy-to-carry small pieces.
Iris photos.
Another look at the mural.
There's also a market outside.
Selling all kinds of different things.
Watches.
Clothes.
Bags.
Fruit.
Fish.
More clothes.
Flowers.
Back at the cube houses.
A tall mural beside them.
We could actually go inside one now. The first floor has a living room.
A little table.
And the kitchen.
Up the stairs.
To the second floor.
A table.
Bed.
And bathroom.
Third floor.
A small room.
With great views all around.
And downwards.
We grabbed an ice cream cone.
And then had lunch. Ogii wanted a doner, and we were initially going to stop at a place outside, but the woman who sold us the tickets to the cube house said the one inside the market hall is much better, so she went there.
I wanted pizza.
The shopped for some souvenirs.
Umbrellas with tulip ends.
Ogii on a swing in the market.
Back on the ship they gave us an update on the next few days.
We were originally supposed to stop in Cologne, Koblenz, and Speyer. Then, due to the low water levels, they announced they were skipping Cologne and Koblenz. But since people complained so much, they added Cologne back in and paid for a hotel for the night.
So we missed Koblenz from the original itinerary but added Rotterdam. There were many statues and buildings I wanted to see in Koblenz, but Rotterdam, especially de Haar castle, was nice to see instead.
Dinner. There was a classic menu on the left, which was available every night. Then a regional specialty at the top right, custom for each stop, and also a different dinner menu at the bottom right.
Salad.
Soup.
Beef.
Fish.
Steak.
The staff sang happy birthday and gave a cake to Ogii.
With her cake.
More dessert.
And another.
Then we played charades in our cabin.
Everyone laughing.
Dad shooting.
Ogii with horns.
Then playing Heads Up!, a similar game on the phone.
Ooh, scary.
Mom thinking.
Everyone helping.
A video of some of the guesses.