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*LIVE PHOTO BLOG* - Ben the Bendy Man's Breakaway Adventure April 28 to May 4, 2013


kylenyc
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Hi awesome cruise enthusiatists and bendable buddy fans!

 

Ben the Bendy Man is back! For the past week, our intrepid adventurer has left The Big Apple, crossing the Atlantic, and been having a fantastic journey trekking across Europe to join the new Norwegian Breakaway on her maiden voyage back home to the Breakaway's new home port of New York City!

 

Our flexible friend left on Sunday April 21st and has been blogging and photo journaling his most excellent adventure through Iceland and Netherlands. He's now blogging live aboard the intercity hispeed train from Amsterdam to Rotterdam where the Breakaway is waiting to board her first paying passengers tomorrow.

 

If you'd like to read and view pictures from the start of his journey, you can friend Ben on Facebook (link in signature)...

 

Otherwise, Ben will be doing his best to blog his journey aboard the Breakaway barring possible exhorbitant satellite wireless fees or technical difficulties. Would be nice if Norwegian gave their number one flexible figurine friend, 3 pts shy of platinum member, and amateur photo journalist some free minutes, ... hint hint nudge nudge.

 

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Hi awesome cruise enthusiatists and bendable buddy fans!

 

Ben the Bendy Man is back! For the past week, our intrepid adventurer has left The Big Apple, crossing the Atlantic, and been having a fantastic journey trekking across Europe to join the new Norwegian Breakaway on her maiden voyage back home to the Breakaway's new home port of New York City!

 

 

I missed something. How did Ben the Bendy Man get recovered from his unfortunate zip-lining incident?

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Day -1, Friday, April 26, 2013

Two days until the Breakaway, Making his way from Amsterdam to Rotterdam

 

Ben spent the last of his 3 days in Amsterdam sightseeing and spending as much time as he could before leaving for Rotterdam and joining the Breakaway. Amsterdam is a beautiful and vibrant city. Our amarillo adventurer was wide-eyed and awestruck from the instant he arrived in the city by train and stepped outside of Amsterdam Centraal Station. He marveled at the steady streams of commuters, tourists, passing trams, and bicylists, and the magnificant buildings and canals.

 

In the afternoon, Ben took a free guided walking tour with Sandemans New Amsterdam tours. For a modest 3 euros per person, our guide Rob took the tour group throughout the city and gave us an in depth commentary on the city's rich history. The tour is amazing and highly recommended. However, you'll definitely need an excellent pair of comfortable walking shoes. The tour is 3 hours with lots of walking.

 

Here are some pictures from Ben's three days in Amsterdam.

 

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Hustle and bustle of pedestrians as Ben exits Amsterdam Centraal Station (picture of the station itself later on)

 

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Trams arriving and departing every minute from throughout the city

 

P1000555x.jpg Some of the picturesque canals throughout the city

 

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(5 am in Rotterdam and Ben's typist is starting to nod off. Will post more pics in the morning as he makes his way to Rotterdam... Thanks everyone for joining Ben on his latest adventure!)

Edited by kylenyc
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Thanks everyone for the encouragement. Ben's personal valet has had a bit of rough Saturday (will explain later in the blog). Now 1:20 am at the Maritime Hotel, Rotterdam trying to catch on the blog while waiting for the Breakaway to return from it's VIP cruise to nowhere.

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Day -1 - Friday, April 26, 2013

Bidding farewell to Amsterdam is such sweet sorrow

Here a few more pictures of this unique and vibrant city..

 

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Pre-Queen's Day Celebrations

 

As Ben wandered aimlessly exploring the streets of Amsterdam, he stumbled upon some pre-Queen's Day celebrations. Live bands filled the square with music; Two small carnival rides added to the festive atmosphere; Crowds celebrated in the square while people watched from a distance from one of the many surrounding sidewalk restaurants and cafes.

 

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A church located in the heart of the Red Light District

 

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Pre-Queen's Day festivities continue into the night.

 

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A canal tour in the Red Light District

 

Amsterdam seems to be a city of contradictions with it's tolerance for certain adult recreational activities but in fact it's quite consistent with its long and rich history of tolerance, openness, and order.

 

Note: Ben did not avail himself of the two notable adult activies so please keep comments PG-13. Feel free to private message him questions on Facebook and he'll try to answer.

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Day -1 -Friday, April 26, 2013 (continued)

Bidding farewell to Amsterdam is such sweet sorrow

 

Ben checked out of the Hotel International and said goodbye to his new friends Michel (Michael) and Lieke. Our amiable acrobat is now the unofficial mascot of the Hotel Internationaal with all the benefits and privileges there to... He has an honored place behind the hotel's bar... Cafe International.

 

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Michel (Michael) Bos, manager of the Hotel Internationaal

 

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Ben's simple but comfortable room situated over a bustling street with heavy foot traffic from the surrounding bars, cafes, and restaurants, minutes walk from Amsterdam Centraal Station

 

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Complimentary ear plugs were waiting for Ben but he didn't need them. What's a little late noise from revellers compared to the screeeeeeeeeeeching breaks of an NYC MTA bus, its hissssssssssssssing air suspension, or honk honk hoooooooooonk when the street is blocked. Yo! Fowgeddabowdit!

 

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An interesting feature of Amsterdam architecture - Narrow steep stairways.

 

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Our brave mountaineer eventually makes it to the bottom. What's a few stairs compared to flying off a zipline into the Samana mountains?

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4:30 AM and the Norwegian Breakaway has entered the river Niewe Waterweg past the Hook of Holland and heading towards the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal. Will head out and try to get some pictures soon.

 

I can not wait to see your pictures!

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Skipping ahead and without further adieu...

 

Day +1 - Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 6:10 pm, Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands

Ben welcomes the Breakaway as she sails up river into port and terminal...Yaaaaay!

 

 

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The Norwegian Breakaway slowly and steadily sails into view

 

 

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Ben welcomes the Breakaway! He can't wait to board her this afternoon!

 

 

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Ben wants his name and picture painted on the ship too! Where can he buy a bucket of paint?

 

 

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Edited by kylenyc
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