Alkmaar - Amsterdam

As promised in yesterday's post, we start with some pictures of the launch of Onbekommerd after the winter storage period. As you can see, this time we were actually on board during the process. Once we were afloat it was simply a matter of turning the key to start the engine and reverse out, waving goodbye to the capable and friendly Nicolaas Witsen crew and Ed (who came - with Elly - for coffee on board that evening and gave us these pictures:

After a good night's sleep (we did not sleep all that well on the ferry the previous night), we quickly went into Alkmaar as it was the first Friday this year that the cheesemarket was on. It was absolutely packed with people, it being school holidays as well as nice and sunny weather. We found this street organ:

And these cheesebarges going through the canal:

Then we left for Amsterdam, where we arrived mid-afternoon. We went to the shop where thy sell the charts you need to get anywhere in the world (you tell us where you want to go, we'll get you the charts, the owner said). A dangerous place for planning / navigation enthousiasts like me.... We got the chart sets we need for our planned trip to Denmark this summer.
Finally we took the tram to Lyn's favourite shop, Broekmans en Van Poppel which specialise in sheet music. Lyn wanted a copy of Beethoven's C Major piano concerto, because the previous day, we bought this:

The idea of living on the boat for 6 months without being able to play the piano was really difficult, so after a lot of research we got this digital piano. It (just) fits into the wardrobe in the cabin. We have a stand for it and also a set of headphones so that Lyn can practise without disturbing the neighbours. The first session was this afternoon and was very successful by all accounts. Onbekommerd is probably the only Valkvlet with a piano......