My views do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
February 2025
So far I had taken the tram into the city center, the MSC shuttle into the city center, a bus tour all over Rotterdam and I had walked across the street to the New Yorker Hotel (formerly the headquarters of Holland America Line) and the Foodhallen. Today I decided to walk across the bridge and finally go to the Maritime Museum that had been calling to me for weeks.
I walked into the museum to buy a ticket and a man offered to give me a tour. We went outside and he told me the history of the harbor.
There was also a collection of cranes through the ages.
Then we went inside to see the boats being made. The wood is slowly bent into shape.
Still, if I ever stay the night in Rotterdam, I would love to stay in this Boat and Breakfast… Or in the hostel in the Cube Houses!
Halfway through the tour I had a hard time paying attention to the very kind, very detailed guide – because I was getting hungry. I remembered that on the bus tour I had taken previously, the guide pointed out a restaurant that supposedly had the best (and very reasonably priced) meatballs in Rotterdam (or perhaps the Netherlands).
I checked Google Maps to figure out how to get there, and the best (and most fun) option was to take a water taxi! Yay! That was already on my Rotterdam to-do list!
(This is a reference to the tv show, The Office. If you get it, you’re welcome. If you don’t – it’s not worth the story – you had to be there.)
I found the meatball place.
The restaurant had free WiFi (I love Rotterdam), so while I was waiting for my meatball, I started downloading new podcasts and checked my email. PEEL Entertainment -the company hiring people for Lauren’s ship – asked if I was a available for an interview… which was now in about 20 minutes! I decided to go for it.
I found a bench outside the restaurant with a view of MSC Preziosa, and tried to find a spot where the wind wouldn’t be too loud. PEEL had decided that instead of needing someone to do all of the Entertainment, they wanted a new Destination Expert. I figured if I was applying for a job where I’d be telling people what there was to do in ports, why not do the interview while I was out exploring a port?
It was the first job interview for which I did not intentionally dress up- or put on makeup.
I had a great conversation with Franco and based on that (and Lauren’s recommendation) I was offered the job at the end of the conversation. Whoo Hoo!
Obviously, I won’t announce this until I have a contract, but I texted my people and skipped back to the ship!
I skipped past more fun boats!
Including my present home
