Tours can be done in English (native US), Dutch, French (near native) Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or German.

Sinterklaas

Posted on Categories Holidays, Moments

Below you can see a shot from the traditional Sinterklaas Celebration in Amstelveen Shopping Centre. Sinterklaas is celebrated annually with the giving of gifts on 5 December, the night before Saint Nicholas Day, in the Northern Netherlands and on the morning of 6 December, Saint Nicholas Day itself, in the southern provinces, Belgium, Luxembourg and Northern France.

For those of you unfamiliar with the holiday, Sinterklaas or Sint-Nicolaas is a mythical figure with legendary, historical and folkloric origins based on Saint Nicholas. Accompanied by his band of cheerful helpers, the Zwarte Pieten, he rewards good kids with chocolate letters and marzipan, while he punishes naughty children by bringing them coal instead of presents.

Sinterklaas is considered the primary source of the popular Christmas icon of Santa Claus.

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Arrival Bruges Holland America Pre Cruise

Posted on Categories MomentsTags , ,

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This is last trip of the season though… I will miss all those wonderful people along the way, who helped make it a great experience every time: drivers Ali & Alain in Paris, the wonderful staff of the Opera Cadet Hotel there, Bob tour guide in Brussels who helped me so much when the vehicle broke down right before the city tour was supposed to start, (but i will never get to treat to lunch as promised because he could not make it for this my last tour, thank you so much Bob hopefully I will keep a raincheck for next year!), wonderful Rita in Bruges and last but very much not least, “Cafe-Restaurant” La Civiere d’Or” in Bruges with delicious food and Robert who has got to be offering the best service this side of the Atlantic: warm hospitality with a terrific sense of humor! Thanks all of you for making the Holland America Pre Cruise Tour such a success and so memorable; I certainly hope to be back next year!