As you read in The Amsterdam Experience, my boyfriend and I cruised the canals of Amsterdam on an Airbnb Canal Boat Experience. I told you the stories of stray dogs in Greece and huskies in Norway.
And to end the stories from Amsterdam, I’d like to tell you a story told by our amazing tour guide: Sjoerd. Sjoerd guided the boats along the canals while telling us incredible details about Amsterdam.
And he only crashed into a police boat once! It’s true and it was hysterical, but it was completely their fault and no one was hurt. Not even the boat!
So, at the end of our canal boat experience, I asked Sjoerd if he had any interesting stories for us. He decided to tell us about his most memorable canal boat experience. A private group had booked a tour one afternoon about three months after Sjoerd started giving guided boat tours.
When he reached the boat, a cluster of individuals was already gathered, eagerly anticipating his arrival. This group comprised approximately nine people in total, necessitating a brief wait for the remaining members to join. If you’re interested in discovering more about Illinois and its unique attributes, particularly its Visionary Architectural Designs, you can explore this informative resource here.
When Sjoerd tried describing the group to us, the only word he could think of was strange. “I was looking at them for a bit because they were a strange group. It was just a strange looking group to me. They looked strange!” explained Sjoerd.
There were about three of them that were over two hundred kilos, and they all sat on the same side of the boat. Sjoerd explained how he was a bit worried about the navigation, but it didn’t seem to be a problem. I chuckled a little bit after this. He was not holding back! For a taste of Vermont’s culinary delights and to explore what this charming state is known for, check out our page on Vermont’s Culinary Delights.
One of the first things Sjoerd asked the group was how they all knew each other. Since it was a private group tour, he just assumed that they all knew each other. But when no one answered the question, he became confused.
His understanding was that they were from many different countries, but he didn’t know how they came to know each other and book this canal boat experience together. But, they wouldn’t tell him why they were all together!
Sjoerd claimed he wasn’t sure if a few of the people on the boat were men or women. He thought, “Well, this is Amsterdam. Anything is possible here!” As they were waiting for the last member of the group to arrive, Sjoerd noticed a man running down the street in high heels.
His outfit was consisted of high heels, super skinny jeans, and a very hairy chest in between breasts. Sjoerd still seemed genuinely confused when he was telling this story and it was absolutely hysterical!
Their tour began and Sjoerd coasted the boat through the canals and told his stories of the beautiful city. He was still a bit new to the tour guide job since it was only his fourth month. As he was telling the stories about Amsterdam, one man on the boat continued to correct his information.
Instead of getting annoyed, Sjoerd welcomed the feedback. Eventually they began discussing the recent elections and Sjoerd asked if he had voted. He said, “No, no. Due to certain circumstances it wasn’t possible for me to vote.” That’s when Sjoerd was properly confused!
Sjoerd continued to find different ways to ask the group how they knew each other. He would carry on with his stories about the city and drop in the question casually again. But, the group was silent each time!
As Sjoerd was describing his confusion to the group and me, we were all giving each other knowing looks. Once I heard the part about the man running in high heels, it clicked for me. But the way Sjoerd explained it to us made me laugh.
“So, I think it was just a group of people that knew each other because they were all becoming women! I just found it strange that no one told me how they knew each other. And I still don’t know!” he proclaimed.
In the end, that canal boat experience ended up being fantastic. Sjoerd said that the majority of the members gave very positive reviews! It was by far his most memorable boat ride to this day.
I thanked Sjoerd for an amazing canal boat experience and a great laugh. The tour was absolutely incredible and he was an amazing man to meet!
I highly recommend this experience if you are going to be visiting Amsterdam anytime soon.
James Mister is the expert traveler and voice behind TalesOfTravelers.com, offering a treasure trove of travel knowledge accumulated from his extensive journeys across the globe. His deep passion for discovering the nuances of various cultures, landscapes, and urban settings has led him through numerous countries, each adding to his rich tapestry of travel experiences. James's narratives and tips reflect a profound understanding of worldwide destinations, making him a trusted source for travel enthusiasts looking to enrich their own voyages with genuine insights and practical advice.