Amsterdam & Basel
Jun 12, 2015 09:51:01 #
brill41
Loc: Dade City, FL
Taking a Viking river cruise from Amsterdam on the Rhine to Basel, Switzerland. Need help from the Hogs for Photo Ops in Amsterdam, along the Rhine to Basel. Also in Lake Lucerne where we're spending two days at the end of the trip. Made reservations 15 months in advance, so it's been a long long wait.
Jun 12, 2015 09:59:07 #
In Amsterdam, start at the main railway station and start walking with camera ready to shoot. There are so many photo-ops there, that one day won't be enough.
Take a tour on one of the canal-boats and again, keep your camera ready.
There is a tourist office right outside the railway station (Centraal Station), they can give you advice about special current events, routes to avoid, bus/street car connections, etc.
http://www.amsterdam.info/tips/touristoffice/
Besides reading the main text, check out some of the links on the left side as well.
Basel or the Rhine I can't tell you anything about, I've only seen them from train windows. But when your cruise boat passes through Cologne, have your camera ready for at least a photo of the Cathedral, very impressive!
Take a tour on one of the canal-boats and again, keep your camera ready.
There is a tourist office right outside the railway station (Centraal Station), they can give you advice about special current events, routes to avoid, bus/street car connections, etc.
http://www.amsterdam.info/tips/touristoffice/
Besides reading the main text, check out some of the links on the left side as well.
Basel or the Rhine I can't tell you anything about, I've only seen them from train windows. But when your cruise boat passes through Cologne, have your camera ready for at least a photo of the Cathedral, very impressive!
Jun 12, 2015 10:24:22 #
There are so many castles along the Rhine, even one located on a small island in the middle of the river that you'll be running from side to side of the boat.
At Koblenz there is a huge castle on the east side of the river and an enormous statue of William 1 on the point where the Mosel River comes in. The original was destroyed during the war and replaced after the wall came down.
You'll pass the Lorelei South of Koblenz where the current sweeps through a gorge. Watch for the River nymphs there. Sort of a freshwater mermaid. Thye'll try to entice the ships captain closer to the rock to destroy your boat so be careful.
Have fun and keep your camera handy at all times.
At Koblenz there is a huge castle on the east side of the river and an enormous statue of William 1 on the point where the Mosel River comes in. The original was destroyed during the war and replaced after the wall came down.
You'll pass the Lorelei South of Koblenz where the current sweeps through a gorge. Watch for the River nymphs there. Sort of a freshwater mermaid. Thye'll try to entice the ships captain closer to the rock to destroy your boat so be careful.
Have fun and keep your camera handy at all times.
Jun 12, 2015 10:25:13 #
Took the same cruise 2 years ago. Great trip, and more photo ops that I can remember. Got some pretty good shots in Cologne's cathedral. And many on the Middle Rhine portion: more castles that you can count, need some reach but you can get some passable captures.
The little town of Rudesheim, and surrounding vineyards offer many ops too. Take the chair lift for some great perspective landscapes, river, vineyards & town.
Speyer wasn't very interesting to me, but I found out after the fact that there is a huge techno museum in walking distance from the boat dock. My one regret is that I did not get to see it. Look it up on-line, I think it would have been much more interesting than Speyer itself.
Strasbourg has many ops, in addition to the cathedral.
In short, keep camera at your side every time you leave the cabin...and enjoy this grand trip!
The little town of Rudesheim, and surrounding vineyards offer many ops too. Take the chair lift for some great perspective landscapes, river, vineyards & town.
Speyer wasn't very interesting to me, but I found out after the fact that there is a huge techno museum in walking distance from the boat dock. My one regret is that I did not get to see it. Look it up on-line, I think it would have been much more interesting than Speyer itself.
Strasbourg has many ops, in addition to the cathedral.
In short, keep camera at your side every time you leave the cabin...and enjoy this grand trip!
Jun 12, 2015 10:33:25 #
In Amsterdam take pictures of the insane bicycle parking garage near the train station. Also take a canal cruise and sit in open area near the back. Inside is too obstructed for many great shots.
Visit a "Coffee Shop"
Visit a "Coffee Shop"
Jun 12, 2015 10:34:59 #
The Anne Frank house is a great place to visit if you have the time. The van gogh museum too, just to look at the art.
OH my you wont have time for everything there is to see and all the wonderful art museums.
You wont be at a loss for photo ops when you see the architecture in Amsterdam, the bridges over the canals, the boat houses, and all the bicycles. HAVE FUN!
OH my you wont have time for everything there is to see and all the wonderful art museums.
You wont be at a loss for photo ops when you see the architecture in Amsterdam, the bridges over the canals, the boat houses, and all the bicycles. HAVE FUN!
brill41 wrote:
Taking a Viking river cruise from Amsterdam on the Rhine to Basel, Switzerland. Need help from the Hogs for Photo Ops in Amsterdam, along the Rhine to Basel. Also in Lake Lucerne where we're spending two days at the end of the trip. Made reservations 15 months in advance, so it's been a long long wait.
Jun 12, 2015 10:43:43 #
Fourpar mentioned Strasbourg. He's right, there are many many things to see there and they have a great museum to visit if its lousy weather. Be sure to spend a lot of time along the river section in the old town, Grande Ile. It's a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Jun 13, 2015 06:19:49 #
Take note of all the suggestions. They are all great. But here is the drill.
Amsterdam, one of my favorite cities. Start at the train station and walk toward the Dam(Dam Square, De Dam.)
Every 20-25 feet stop there will be something to take a picture of. You may have to make it 10 at times. At the Dam go right and walk the street all the way around.
Wonderful museums and other major and minor points of interest.
On the Boat get to the top and every 10 minutes or so there will be something to take a picture of. Grapes, Chateaus, Castles etc. etc etc.
You will never ever have a problem finding photo ops.
Bring +SD cards.
Amsterdam, one of my favorite cities. Start at the train station and walk toward the Dam(Dam Square, De Dam.)
Every 20-25 feet stop there will be something to take a picture of. You may have to make it 10 at times. At the Dam go right and walk the street all the way around.
Wonderful museums and other major and minor points of interest.
On the Boat get to the top and every 10 minutes or so there will be something to take a picture of. Grapes, Chateaus, Castles etc. etc etc.
You will never ever have a problem finding photo ops.
Bring +SD cards.
Jun 13, 2015 08:32:59 #
Going on this trip on August 1-20. Fourpar
mentioned you need reach for some photos. Which lens would you recommend a 24- 105, 55-250 or the canon 100-400 mm. Thanks Ron
mentioned you need reach for some photos. Which lens would you recommend a 24- 105, 55-250 or the canon 100-400 mm. Thanks Ron
Jun 13, 2015 08:45:05 #
londonfire
Loc: NY to NC
ronjay wrote:
Going on this trip on August 1-20. Fourpar
mentioned you need reach for some photos. Which lens would you recommend a 24- 105, 55-250 or the canon 100-400 mm. Thanks Ron
mentioned you need reach for some photos. Which lens would you recommend a 24- 105, 55-250 or the canon 100-400 mm. Thanks Ron
Ron, for sure I can say leave the 100-400 home. Nice lens but you'll regret carrying that bazooka.
Jun 13, 2015 09:58:25 #
Ditto, things get heavy. Leave the Long one home.
I use Bridge Nikon (P530), and a point n shoot and am happy with that combination.
Whatever you take, weight is the big consideration....lots of walking. No shortage of subject matter, wherever look!
Have fun!
I use Bridge Nikon (P530), and a point n shoot and am happy with that combination.
Whatever you take, weight is the big consideration....lots of walking. No shortage of subject matter, wherever look!
Have fun!
Jun 13, 2015 09:58:59 #
LeeSart
Loc: Valrico, Florida
Took same trip 2 years ago and stayed extra in Lucerne. Hard part in Lucerne is between lake cruise, and going up into the mountains. If you haven't been to a lot of mountains - the time would be worth it to take the whole trip, great photo op. Food is expensive. choose restaurants wisely, we enjoyed a lot of the baked flat bread with veggies, better than pizza.
Jun 13, 2015 11:12:29 #
mikegreenwald
Loc: Illinois
I've been on the same cruise, with several days in Amsterdam first. My best shots came from walking the several rings of canals more than once. Sidewalk cafes too are opportunities.
The comments above are right on, but add that several evenings the lights provided opportunities for reflection shots and multicolor lights and laser light sky patterns.
The comments above are right on, but add that several evenings the lights provided opportunities for reflection shots and multicolor lights and laser light sky patterns.
Jun 13, 2015 13:12:40 #
Jun 13, 2015 13:17:36 #
Waltm wrote:
Flowers are everywhere, but Keukenhof Gardens will keep you busy.
Not in June or July! Won't be open till 24 March 2016 now - and will close again on 16 May 2016.
If you are in Holland in that period of time it certainly is worth a visit although I must admit that, even though I was born only ten km from Keukenhof, I've never been there yet.
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