Sunday, May 20, 2012

Christine in Amsterdam

Outside of the Anne Frank House
Imagine sitting still all day.  With black out curtains.  So you don't get to see any of the outside.  No sunlight.  Not using the bathroom because the water would run through the pipes down.  Not walking because of the creaking.  With 8 people total.  In 4 small rooms.  I can't sit still for 2 hours to watch a movie.  Much less for 2 years.  What strength the Frank family had.  The Anne Frank house is an intense experience.  I'm glad I went though.

Visit Amsterdam for the museums.  Yes, you read that right.  I loved the museums.  I waited in line at the Van Gogh Museum.  I never wait in lines.  I hate doing it.  But so worth it.  There were tons of people viewing his art.  As I learned through the audio tour, Van Gogh only painted for 10 years before he killed himself.  He painted his portrait often because models were expensive.  When he did use models, they were often prostitutes.  Also, I learned a good lesson as a result of the Van Gogh museum.  Do not purchase large souvenirs.  Then you have to carry the item the next day.  I acquired a print.  They box the prints up for you and I put the box in a bag.  And I fastened the bag to my book bag the last day.  But the box kept hitting me in the back of the right knee/leg.  Nice bruise as a result.  Or maybe I need to toughen up.  Something.
You're not allowed to take pics inside
Finally, the Rijsmuseum contained many Rembrant's.  The Night Watch is the main attraction.  Interestingly, they rolled it up and moved it during WWII.  In 1975 a crazy guy sliced parts of it.  They did an excellent job repairing the painting.  You can barely see the damage above the dog.  And you cannot see any damage where the Captain is.   Rembrant was not my favorite artist though.  My favorite is Hendrick Avercamp's Winter Landscape with Ice Skaters. http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/images/aria/sk/z/sk-a-1718.z

I really liked Johannes Vermeer's Kitchen Maid.  The milk really does look like she is pouring it out of a pitcher.  Imagine being that amazing at painting to make it look so real.  Also, Woman Reading a Letter is like you are watching her, just doing an everyday task.  But it is life-like.   I stopped and stared at these paintings for a while.
Rijksmuseum
I really liked the architecture as well.  The Train Station and Rijksmuseum are like bookends of the city.  Both have the same architecture.
Train Station
Palace
The Red Light district is over-rated.  That's all.  And I don't think the prostitutes make that much money.  I heard one negotiating and she asked for 50 Euro.  That doesn't seem like much to me.

Beware of the bikers.  They definitely have the right of way.  And I'm pretty sure will run you over and not even think twice.  I admit, I had a couple close calls.  Also, this is the first city I regularly got lost in.  Not to brag or anything, but I'm pretty good about getting around new places.  But not Amsterdam.  The city is overflowing with canals.  And it is laid out like a half circle, with the train station in the middle of the 180 degrees.  I had trouble finding my hotel the first night.  With a map.  (Interestingly, I did not have trouble finding the red light district.  Go figure.)  I didn't even think that was possible until I visited Amsterdam.



A small sample of a bike station.
I did eat at one traditional Dutch restaurant.  I enjoyed the food.  The Netherland's food critic gave the place a 9 out of 10.  That's acceptable to me.  ha ha  Tom Sietsema of the Washington Post also recommended the place, which is how I ended up there.  I had the cream soup of 'sincere Doesborgh' mustard with leek rings and Haddack from the oven, with a crumb of organic beetroot, mashed with spring onions and a farmer's butter sauce.  The place is known for using local ingredients.  My kinda place.  

A major attraction from mid-March through mid-May is the Keukenhof.  It is a flower exhibition.  Per the website, CNN states that the Keukenhof is one of the world's top destinations for 2012.  Ever since the flower guy at the farmers market started giving me free flowers, I've liked flowers.  But I couldn't even imagine this many tulips or flowers.  


And just because- a church:
Christine 
My favorite part of the Keukenhof:  walking on water.  Yes, you read that right.  I walked on water.  I'm that good.

3 comments:

  1. you sure gave me some laughs today. Lots more interesting things than I would have imagined in
    Amsterdam. Can't wait to see your print....
    love, Mommy

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    Replies
    1. Every American wants to visit Amsterdam Mom. I just found the culture instead of the sex, drugs,and alcohol. Well, it's all there. I just stayed away from all of it. You know work and all. ha ha

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  2. Nice. Sounds like an interesting trip! And so jealous that you got to visit the Anne Frank house. That's so amazing.
    ~Michelle

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