We got up a little late hoping to get out and actually see inside some buildings in Amsterdam. Well it wasn't long before Jen needed food and a foot rest but we did make it to the Rijksmuseum and the Expressionist show at the Van Gogh Museum.
It seems that travelling in Europe in January and February has seen construction at every major museum and cathedral offering stunted if any exhibits at all.
The main entrance at the Rijksmuseum was closed and barricaded with fencing, scaffolds, and cranes. It is an amazing building, to see it open would be amazing. We entered in the back to a limited viewing of historical paintings and artifacts. I got to see some amazing Dutch Master paintings firsthand including a large array of Rembrandt drawings & paintings and VanEyck paintings. It was inspiring to think that centuries ago, during times without running water and electricity, that life seemed so beautiful and simple. But to know Europe in winter is to realize that it would certainly hqve been anything but simple when you could not get warmth or find food or shelter, and have to buy/trade for supplies daily.
The grounds behind the Rijksmuseum are amazing. A huge field lined with saplings and the enormous 2 building VanGogh museum prominently in the middle. Jen hit the wall and went for a foot rest and warm up... I went in for a 30 minute tour of 50 years of expressionist POW. Again, inspiring, to say the least. Waiting for a call from Sophia, oh her way to meet us and spend some more time on the train with Tigo. By this time, Tigo was starting to show signs of his cold getting worse and I believe was moving to a stronger course of antibiotics and Jen and I avoinding direct contact or at least washing our hands often to keep from getting sick.
Sophia met us by the old Mint or Muntplein, which Jen and I struggled to find on our tram map. She met us with hot turkish food in hand and we headed bqck to the apartment for some spicy treats.
15 January 2007
14 January 2007
Touring Holland "Properly"
Friday:
After spending the night with Cassie and Lorenzo, newlyweds with a baby on the way, we got up, ate some lekker breakfast, then, rather late, went into Haarlem to meet Sophia and have some lunch. I drank some good beer, Hertzog Jan. We walked around Haarlem with the light fading. Saw the old city hall and bought some fresh "bio" fish and vegetables to make paella. We were so late we missed the spanish store before closing and I decided to make a Pad Thai. It was soggy.
We drank some wine, enjoyed a late meal, then back to Cassie's for bed.
Saturday:
Got up early for a day of touring. Went for a walk along a canal. The River rather, that joins the coast to Amsterdam. They used to pull boats with horses and mules along the river the entire 20 miles or so. We enjoyed their company and hospitality and their beautiful neighborhood before getting picked up for a day of site seeing and evening in Utrecht.
First thing was to visit an old wind mill. It was the first patented saw mill. The blades moved so fast and the mill rocked so, I thought "in the states, they would shut this down in a legal fit." Then we drove past some amazing countryside. We saw an old house where the foundation went straight into the water. WWII bunkers were all around, evidence of a brutal war cluttering the ancient beauty of brick and mortar estates and wooden thatched roof homes.
Henri was telling us about the technology behind the dykes and polders. The nature of wind mills to act as pumps, making the land aerable, the dutch perseverance, and the beautiful villages.
We made it to Utrecht right at sunset. Just enough light to photograph a catherdral that the wind blew down as it was being built. The pillar markers still on the street. We saw the canal, one story down, and wondered as Henri spoke if the catacombs went thru the entire city. You enter businesses on upper level, find some stairs into odd tunnels, then pop-out on the canal with summer-time cafes all closed up for winter. We can only imagine the amazing beauty of this place in summer!
Back to Amsterdam for some fresh clothes and a night sleep.
Sunday:
We get up a bit late, but READY for a day of driving to the north to experience another packed day of travel, Henri style.
We go first to this old village. Windmills and homes in old fashion selling wares and tourist crap. There was a chocolate factory up wind and EVERYONE of us wanted hot chocolate. Not one place selling hot cocoa... it was an easy sell. Where is the dutch entreprenuerial spirit?
We then went to the end of the earth, Marken, and I ate some fish that was so thin, a cat would have balked. The bones were right out of cartoons.
I shot some of the most picturesque photos of my life today.
After spending the night with Cassie and Lorenzo, newlyweds with a baby on the way, we got up, ate some lekker breakfast, then, rather late, went into Haarlem to meet Sophia and have some lunch. I drank some good beer, Hertzog Jan. We walked around Haarlem with the light fading. Saw the old city hall and bought some fresh "bio" fish and vegetables to make paella. We were so late we missed the spanish store before closing and I decided to make a Pad Thai. It was soggy.
 |
| From Haarlem |
We drank some wine, enjoyed a late meal, then back to Cassie's for bed.
Saturday:
Got up early for a day of touring. Went for a walk along a canal. The River rather, that joins the coast to Amsterdam. They used to pull boats with horses and mules along the river the entire 20 miles or so. We enjoyed their company and hospitality and their beautiful neighborhood before getting picked up for a day of site seeing and evening in Utrecht.
 |
| From Haarlem |
First thing was to visit an old wind mill. It was the first patented saw mill. The blades moved so fast and the mill rocked so, I thought "in the states, they would shut this down in a legal fit." Then we drove past some amazing countryside. We saw an old house where the foundation went straight into the water. WWII bunkers were all around, evidence of a brutal war cluttering the ancient beauty of brick and mortar estates and wooden thatched roof homes.
 |
| From Travelling to... |
Henri was telling us about the technology behind the dykes and polders. The nature of wind mills to act as pumps, making the land aerable, the dutch perseverance, and the beautiful villages.
We made it to Utrecht right at sunset. Just enough light to photograph a catherdral that the wind blew down as it was being built. The pillar markers still on the street. We saw the canal, one story down, and wondered as Henri spoke if the catacombs went thru the entire city. You enter businesses on upper level, find some stairs into odd tunnels, then pop-out on the canal with summer-time cafes all closed up for winter. We can only imagine the amazing beauty of this place in summer!
 |
| From Travelling to... |
Back to Amsterdam for some fresh clothes and a night sleep.
Sunday:
We get up a bit late, but READY for a day of driving to the north to experience another packed day of travel, Henri style.
 |
| From Noord Holland |
We go first to this old village. Windmills and homes in old fashion selling wares and tourist crap. There was a chocolate factory up wind and EVERYONE of us wanted hot chocolate. Not one place selling hot cocoa... it was an easy sell. Where is the dutch entreprenuerial spirit?
 |
| From Noord Holland |
We then went to the end of the earth, Marken, and I ate some fish that was so thin, a cat would have balked. The bones were right out of cartoons.
 |
| From Noord Holland |
I shot some of the most picturesque photos of my life today.
 |
| From Noord Holland |
 |
| From Noord Holland |
 |
| From Noord Holland |
 |
| From Noord Holland |
 |
| From Noord Holland |
 |
| From Noord Holland |
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