Amsterdam – Bikes | Viking Cruise
by Elouise
Last summer D and I, together with our daughter and son-in-law, enjoyed a two-week cruise down the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. From Amsterdam to Budapest. We came back loaded with photos. I’ll be sharing some from time to time, partly as a cheery way to get through the winter! But also because it was a great adventure. Today’s photos focus on bikes.
We arrived in Amsterdam on an overnight flight from Philadelphia and were taken by bus to the cruise ship.
After a light breakfast/lunch buffet, a friendly, energetic guide kept us awake by trotting us around the city. Watch out for the bikes (and for cars and buses, of course)! No crossing the street unless the light is green.
Bikes flew by (too fast to photo) and were parked everywhere. Note locks and chains.
Our guide explained that old bikes are preferable to new bikes. They’re not as likely to be ripped off piece by piece, and are easier to replace. In addition, owners don’t always remember where they left their bikes. Hence a variety of sometimes eccentric add-ons or colors to give your wheels higher visibility.
As you can see, bikers can park virtually anywhere. However, the most impressive place to park is at the huge bike garage near the transportation hub of the city. If you can just remember where you left your bike.
To be continued from time to time. Stay tuned!
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 4 January 2017
Photo credit: DAFraser, July 2016 in Amsterdam
Telling the Truth 
Must be a lot of healthy and happy fit people there, have never seen so many bikes in my life, wow. Very cool Elouise, thanks for sharing 😊💕
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Healthy and fit is such an understatement! I saw several women and men definitely older than I am just flying along with the rest of the pack. Mind-boggling…..😮🤗
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Dear Elouise
Happy New Year. I read all your posts and marvel at many of them – what a lot of bikes, I had no idea. I love to read your posts because you write so well, and inspire me in ways I cannot begin to articulate. Maybe that is the magic of writing, that it makes us think in ways we didn’t before, and believe in goodness.
Bless you. xxx
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Happy New Year to you as well, Dear Fran! I’m hoping you have a book coming out this year…. 🙂 Thank you for all those kind words you wrote in your comment. I think you’re correct about the magic of writing. It shakes things loose in a good way that helps me see connections I hadn’t thought about before. Reading other writers also shakes things loose for me–when I see the way their words come to life. The way yours do. Heaps of goodness even in the middle of other stuff–that’s what I pray for this year. For you and for all of us.
Love and hugs!
Elouise
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