After breakfast, we departed for our transfer to Brussels and return home.  It has been a great trip, with great friends.  But, it's good to be home.

This is the last travelogue blog until January when we leave for Arabian Adventure followed by The Best of Kenya and Tanzania in February.  If you've received this message, you're subscribed to the blog.  Stand by to hear about those adventures.  

Happy and safe travels.

Thank you Audrey for the waffle photos

We had the rest of the day at leisure.  Some did some last minute shopping, some enjoyed a harp concert, and some of us headed to the north side of town to find the pub Rand and I discovered while here four years ago.  We found it and they still have Straffe Hendrik Quadruple, probably our favorite beer in the world, on tap.

At 5 PM we gathered in the hotel bar for our farewell drink and toast to a great trip.  We said a sad goodbye to our Chris our Program Director and our fellow travelers.  We all arise early tomorrow for our return flights.

Today we said a sad ado to about half of our group who departed for home.  The rest of us boarded the bus for a full day transfer to our Bruges post-trip. 

This wasn't your ordinary bus transfer with boring stops at road-side rest areas, but one that took us through two fascinating a places, which deserve to be destinations on their own.

Delft, the Netherlands  - Delft is mainly known for its city center and canals, and for
the famous painter, Vermeer.  After a brief walking tour in the rain, we visited a porcelain factory, which has been in the same family for 4 generations.  We learned about the distinctive blue Delftware pottery and how to recognize the authentic article v. the Chinese knockoffs that are so readily  available.

We arrived about 5 pm in Burges, originally a ninth-century fortress built to protect the Flemish coast from marauding Vikings.   Today Bruges retains its reputation as one of Europe’s best-preserved Old-World cities. The city’s centuries-old canal system, which was essential to its once thriving textile industry, beckens tourists to meander its narrow, winding streets in search of art, history, and fine chocolates.  Randall and I visited here several years ago.  It's one of our favorite European towns and home to our favorite beer in the world!  We look forward to exploring it's nooks and crannies again.​

We arrived in Amsterdam about an hour late because low water on the Rhine forced the boat to slow.  Not to fear - the schedule was once again re-arranged so we didn't miss a thing!

Today's discoveries of Amsterdam, the Venice of the North, began with a morning canal boat tour providing an unmatched vantage point to view the city's architectural achievements, including its famous tall and skinny row houses, many with tidy window boxes and hand-scrubbed stoops.

Excerpts from The Diary of Anne Frank

Some have asked how my knee is doing.   Thanks for asking.  In a word - Great!  I'm walking without crutches or brace while on board ship, but am still using the brace when walking the cobblestone streets.  It's pretty much pain free except after walking 10,000 steps or so, in which case both knees hurt-)