Day Two Afternoon - Amsterdam

After our morning walking tour (2 hours), we ran by the hotel for a bathroom break and then we started our long walk to the Rijks Museum. I think I mentioned this already, but our cruise guide told us it would be about a 15-20 minute walk. We were trying to use google maps and we were using Mark's phone and it was almost dead . . . and it took us 55 minutes. Then we had to navigate through the marathon that was literally on the street in front of the museum. We finally made it inside and by then, we were almost too tired to enjoy the museum. I would like to go back when I'm rested!!

There were so many interesting things in the museum. This is from AI.

The library in the Rijksmuseum is called the Cuypers Library, which is the largest and oldest art history library in the Netherlands. It was designed by Pierre Cuypers and opened in 1885, featuring a neo-Gothic design with soaring bookshelves and a large skylight. Visitors can view the library from a balcony without a reservation, and appointments are required for in-depth study. 

I would like to get on that library ladder and peruse everything in this room.

 

The following excerpt is from the Rijks Museum website:

'The Night Watch' by Rembrandt van Rijn

This ensemble portrait was the first painting to show the members of a city militia (or citizen’s police force) in action. They’re brave men, no doubt, but what makes Rembrandt’s painting so interesting is the fact that he’s made them all seem human rather than unapproachable heroes. Some are bleary-eyed, others possibly a bit drunk (one hiding right at the back might be Rembrandt himself); they all seem in good spirits as they get ready for the night ahead, despite the heavy darkness that envelops them.

It is amazing to me how much symbolism is in some of these paintings.

We also saw some Vermeer paintings and two Van Gogh's. Van Gogh had traveled to Amsterdam and he visited the museum. He painted one picture while in Amsterdam . . . and then began painting after he moved to Antwerp (or Paris?).

There were a couple of really unusual paintings. Mark saw one from a distance and said, "I think that is Lot and his two daughters." We walked over to the painting and Mark was right. It is a painting of when they were seducing their father.

There was also a painting of a daughter breastfeeding her father in prison.

Cimon and Pero: "Roman Charity" When the aged Cimon was forced to starve in prison before his execution, his devoted daughter Pero secretly visited her father to nourish him at her own breast.

We lasted a couple of hours and then I was done. We had not eaten anything since breakfast nor had we been drinking water. We waded back through the racers - they had a system much like one would use with cattle. They moved the racers over and we surged through a "cattle chute."

When we made it to the other side, we saw this beautiful home and grabbed a selfie.

We had realized that there was a shorter way back to the hotel. Mark kept telling me to pick a place to eat. We finally ducked into a tiny restaurant. I love all of the tiny places! We both ordered a burger of some sort. I loved the little baskets they used to serve fries. I ate the meat and cheese and a few fries.

We went back to the hotel and rested a few minutes, but hated to miss Amsterdam because we were tired. If you walked out the front door of our hotel and turned left, you were in the red light district. You are not allowed to take photos of the windows where women are advertising themselves, but I took a couple of long shots.

Walking around the red light district feels a little like Mardi Gras in New Orleans. There are people out and about everywhere!

I love these old streets.

I was standing in front of our hotel and snapped a quick photo of the moon over the train station.

Then I turned around and snapped a quick photo of the Barbizon Palace where we were staying.

I was lagging behind Mark but the revolving door is the biggest one I've every seen with gorgeous flower arrangements.

We crashed in our room -- 22,632 steps that day. Not bad for a couple of old folks :-)

And we were out for the night!