On the Move!

I thought today was going to be a simple day—a seated canal tour and a look inside a Medieval castle—but the day brought so much more than simplicity! After the canal tour took us by the famous streets of Amsterdam, including Anne Frank’s house, the Dancing Houses, and the Waldorf Astoria, we were asked, “would you like to tour a diamond factory?” Um. Yes. 

The Gassan Diamond Company has existed since 1945, due to the survival of Samuel Gasssan, a Jewish diamond cutter who escaped to Switzerland for the duration of the war. Returning in 1945, he reestablished his business and has been a source of beautiful diamond cutting and shaping for the entire globe ever since. There is even a Gassan 121 cut—a brilliant diamond that has 120 facets and 1 face on top. We were allowed to play in the diamonds after a demonstration of the process, but alas, not allowed to keep any. Ah, well.

Then we toured the Muiderslot Castle in Muiden, which was famously the home of Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, a Dutch poet and playwright (the Dutch Shakespeare, I’m told) in the late 1500’s and early 1600’s. Before him, the castle was built by Count Floris V, who was held prisoner in his own home (he had it coming, don’t worry), then the castle was demolished and fully rebuilt on its own foundation. This castle has had a busy history, as evidenced by the military fortifications around it and in the towers, and features an all-purpose dungeon. Y’know. For holding your enemies in the stocks before you behead them a couple months later. After they’ve had proper time to Think About What They Did.

Now we’re back on the boat and the Avalon Vista is on the move!! She’s taking us up the river? Even though we’re headed south? Because Amsterdam is at sea level… I’m gonna need a minute to make my peace with that. I’ve been thinking this whole time that we’re going down the river and the Shannons, my former teachers and Mom’s colleagues, were going up the river. But nope!

We awake in Cologne tomorrow!

The view from inside the canal boat

Bridge inception! You can see several bridges through this bridge. The guide was v proud of this!

The Dancing Houses! Amsterdam is built on a swamp, and the enterprising Dutch built canals to drain the water, but the downside is that… it’s still swampy. The houses lean if they’re not anchored to a post that reaches all the way to the rock under the water; these houses were anchored by wooden beams, instead of the new steel, and so they’ve bumped into each other over the centuries. (They’ll still cost you two million euros, though, foundation or no foundation.)

The Hickman fam on a boat!

Our tour guide to the diamonds

A little raw diamond! Destined, she says, to become a brilliant cut stone (her fave)

There were artists working on stones, and this is the work accomplished while we watched.

Sadly, not a parting gift

Hm. Medieval castle pics do not want to upload to my iPad. Calling it technical difficulties and will try again in the morning. Reader. I do not have to be anywhere but the breakfast and lunch tables until 2:30pm tomorrow… I can… read? Use the gym? Walk around on the sky deck? Order chocolate shakes? The possibilities are endless!