Volendam day Eight Monday 31/10/11

Got up early but bad news as we had breakfast, owing to port congestion we would be an hour late docking. That put our planned train trip in jeopardy as we would have problems getting the 11 miles to the station in time. Queued up at the exit to make sure we were one of the first off. Arranged a cab share with a couple from Ohio who were under the impression there was a train every half hour not just two a day! Jeremy put them right and advised a taxi as time was so tight. That halved the cost to 22 dollars per couple. Ignored the request to have our photos taken with a ghost and ran off the quay and got a taxi, despite the driver's best efforts we managed to get him to wait for Carol. We arrived at the station at 9:15 as advised and our reservation worked, they were expecting us. In the event they delayed departure for a few minutes for other people coming from the ship by taxi. Weended up with 4 seats and a table to ourselves so that was great. Only a small train, 3 foot gauge as the rest of NZ trains. Off into the mountains along the Taieri river valley through some fantastic scenery and some incredible engineering feats. Quite slow and there were platforms at the end of each car where we could stand and take photographs. A couple of stops along the way then we got to our destination. A stop there while we changed the engine from one end to another and so we couldbuy souvenirs from the local stallholders. We then shunted onto'a'loop to allow another train, which had set off fromthe cruise terminal to pass us. They were paying four times as much as it cost us! Cheerful and informative commentary, good snack bar kept us going. Back into Dunedin Station and we then planned to go to the Settlers museum which was given a good write up in the briefing sheet. Unfortunately, not for the first time, the travel information was not up to scratch as the musem had been closed for quite a while for refurbishment. Change of plan and in to the iSite but by then we were exhausted as thensun had come out and it was pretty scorching and we'd dressed for the cool of the morning. Decided to pack it in and get a bus back. Nice lady in iSite told usthenbus number, time and place to catch it. We walked over the Octagon past a piper entertaining the encampment of 'occupy' protesters. Many shops selling scottish themed items - well it was originally New Edinburgh. The nice lady got two out of three right, the bus stop she sent us to didn't have number 14 buses so we had to ask again.
Bus packed with cruise ship passengers so school kids struggled to get on their bus. After a more scenic route than the taxi we were dropped only a few hundred yards from the ship. Back aboard for a late tea time again. Ship leaves quite early today, 6 pm so we didn't have much more time available anyway.