The weather has changed to light rain interspersed with heavy rain and some teasers of beautiful sun light, and still Amsterdam is beautiful. (Visualize P&D scurrying in and out, changing plans, futilely trying to stay ahead of the changing skies.)
We've donned our hiking clothes and set out for the shelter of museums. The Van Gogh Museum has a comprehensive collection of you know who, but we missed the great ones we love in the Musee D'Orsay like the man and woman sleeping in the shade of the haystack. The Reijksmuseum has beautiful old Dutch masters, but only two Vermeers. Wim told us the best Vermeers are in New York and Washington, and the famous "Girl With a Pearl Earring" is in The Hague. We might take a train there, but with the rain it seems like an ordeal to figure out another public transit system. (We think we have Amsterdam's nailed.) The Stedelijk (modern art) is closed for renovation but directed us far across town to temp quarters which had some beautiful vibrant and sad African photography, and some video art some, in our humble opinion, more successful than others. We went back to the Olde Kerk (church) to see the grand organ, which was obscured by renovation, but saw a very interesting modern art show. Some meager examples follow.
Danice and clinging men on wall.
Everybody loves a parade.
We went to the Anne Frank museum, which is a beautiful memorial to her and all persecuted people. I'd read the book and seen the movie years ago, but still found myself shedding tears over her innocent hope and faith in her future and mankind's basic goodness that was not to be rewarded. No one knows who made the anonymous phone call that led to their arrest, as the Nazi's were starting to lose the war.
Now that we've located the street market and the super market, we are eating at home more. Mostly salads, pasta, some cheese, fruit, roasted chickens, focaccia with tomatoes, smoked mackerel and halibut - all quite tasty.
We've nearly grown accustomed to the rocking of the houseboat when a big boat passes - a bit like a small San Francisco earthquake. It's very cozy here and we sleep well.
No comments:
Post a Comment