Every Thursday in Rotterdam, arrives the AIDA Perla to the cruise terminal. The ship brings around 4000 passengers, 95% of them are Germans. They come from the whole country, and they represent the German middle class. There are many children on board and often grandparents with them.
The tour they have bought, it is for a week through Europe. Seven cities in seven days. When I ask them, why they have booked the trip, the regularly answer because: “die AIDA ist schoen” and as well as an opportunity to visit so many places in a short period and what is offered does not represent a high cost.
At the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal, around 20 buses are waiting to take them for a day to several destinations: Amsterdam, the Hague, Delft, Gouda or Rotterdam and besides, packages with activities in each city. A rainbow. I am in one of those buses, sometimes full with 56 persons or just 15. Once the coach is complete, we leave. I talk on the bus about Rotterdam first, once on the highway I focus on other topics such as Dutch politics, or I tell jokes, and they laugh. I like to make people happy.
Point of this article is to describe what I do. I take them to these places where they walk with me and/or they have free time, which they love. For that, they often ask, what should be nice to do and I offer a full guided walk. I have learned and discovered new shops to visit with kind vendors, since I listento what the guests want. These comments help me since I take notes and I improve the tour for next time. I learn the diversity of the cities. I see the difficulties for parking slots for coaches. I see colleagues from other trips walking around with their groups in other languages, limitation of time in certain shops because I have to walk back to get my bus again. People with mobility difficulties, buildings and shops not ready to welcome them.
Most of all, I see the will to spend a good time in the Netherlands, from everyone, whether they are Germans or not. So, why shouldn’t we have the kingdom of hospitality? I love my job and that is why, I see things.