Amsterdam to Volendam - Day 12

Tuesday 14th August 2012 - Amsterdam to Volendam - Day 12

Awake by 06.00 and ashore with Alfie, we took the ferry to the central station and he caught the 07.20 train to the airport.  Thank you Alfie for all of the help in getting to Holland and the good company.

Amsterdam Canals

I now had a few hours to kill while waiting for the next crew member to join.  I had found the address of a couple of chart suppliers which were situated on the main street opposite the station.
I strolled along here in the morning sunshine watching the people busily going off to their work.
Both of these suppliers did not open until 10.00 so I ambled off in the direction of Dam Square through the red light district and passing the process of cleaning up the arena after the night's excesses.

Church

Near to this church in a cafe I breakfasted on eggs and salad.  Behind the church is Anne Frank's house and I could not believe at this time in the morning, the number of people in line wanting to go inside.  Strolling back to Dam Square, I received a text from my new crew member that he was on the train from the airport.  I hurried on down to the station and met Bill (Tuboat) from the Tallships as he came off the train.  We went to the ferry and were on board in Sixhaven by 10.30  and left the marina at 11.30.

We re-traced our course out into the canal, through the Oranjesluizen locks and the lifting bridge and back into the Markenmeer.  Past Marken lighthouse we altered course directly for Volendam and entered the new marina just south of the town and were in our box at 16.45.  We motored all the way from Amsterdam as there was little wind and travelled 14 miles.

It is a fifteen minute walk into the old harbour and the quayside is full of bars and restaurants where there was lots of visitors.  We had a meal in the 'Lotje' restaurant which was of such large proportions we could not finish it all.  Quite a few of the bars were very, very noisy so we strolled back to the marina to find the nearest one to the marina was absolutely full and the noise unbelievable and become known to us as the boom-boom bar.  We all had a long enjoyable day and were all in bed before midnight.