We departed the Hilton Carlton on a cool morning. Ken went to Waverley Station Car Park to retrieve our rental car but found the pay machine was out of order and being serviced by a technician. He eventually returned to the Hilton parked out front at 9.30am and we loaded the car, departed with the intention of going to park near Edinburgh Castle , but with 2 large international conferences in Edinburgh there were many streets closed and thousands wanting to walk up to the Castle. It proved too hard so we drove to the airport, returned the rental vehicle and made our way to checkin.

it was at this time that we find the KLM City hopper has been delayed from 12.15pm until a likely time of 2.10pm. We are concerned as our schedule in Amsterdam is tight.

This drags on, we ebentually board at about 2.09pm but departure is delayed until 2 .35pm. Our short flight has us on the ground in Amsterdam at 4.05pm but with the time change it is 5.05pm and our luggage doesn’t arrive until 5.27pm. unfortunately, Jeanette’s new case has a wheel missing, torn off. But can’t do anything now.. We meet out Blacklane driver in a new E 300 Mercedes. We drive quickly to Doubletree by aHilton, very near Central Station. Checkin is quick we are in our Room 918 by 5.20pm, unpack , iron and change and are downstairs awaiting a taxi at 6.50pm.

Our taxi arrives at 6.53pm, and we arrive at Mark and Marilee de Jager at Marriottplein 1 at 7.16pm, where we meet Peter and Wendy Sarborne and Mike Priessman and his son, Brad. We also meet their 2 young boys Max (5) and Arthur (2).

Mark a tax lawyer for a Private Equiyt Group, provides a superb meal. His wife is completing her PhD and is a radiographer. They are an impressive couple and we have a pleasant meal, following which we depart and make our way by tram #14 Back to Central Station by which time it is 11.35pm. It has been a long and frustrating day. We walk the 300 metres from the tram stop to the Doubletree .

A great start to our time in Amsterdam, before joining Oceania Marina on 17th September,

Tomorrow we do an excursion to Windmills, Fishing Villages, Cheese factory, Clog factory and Waffle shop.