European holiday......Amsterdam

After a day of R and R, we decided we would visit Amsterdam again, so another very early start was in order. Our first problem arose when our chipkaart would not register as we passed into the station at Leiden. After enquiring, we were informed that we needed a balance of €20 before we could travel. Our balances had gone down to €18, so we deposited another €20 each, and off we set.

On arrival in Amsterdam, we knew we had to catch the number 2 tram to take us to the Rijksmuseum.
As a pedestrian, I have to say you take your life in your hands when you want to cross the road. It's difficult enough to remember that the traffic comes from the left and not the right as it does in Australia , but added to that, there are cyclists everywhere, and they seems to have rules just for themselves. People cross the road wherever they choose, and the trams come along quite quickly, and seem not to even stop,at pedestrian crossings.

We found our tram, boarded using our chipkaart, and by following a map as we went along, and being very alert, we alighted at the right stop for the Rijksmuseum.
The Rijksmuseum, which in English means – The State Museum, has existed for more that two hundred years and today belongs to the most breathtaking museums in the world.
It was amazing, we spent several hours looking at the numerous exhibits, which included many works of Rembrandt , including his most famous "the Night watch"



There were large printed cards available with information about the painting , and there were many people standing around admiring it.
It is a truly magnificent painting!




The Dirck Hartogh dish ..pewter C 1600-1616.
The message on this pewter dish translates as : "arrived here on 25 October 1616". En route to Asia , Dirck Hartogh veered off course and so discovered the west coast of Australia. As proof of his presence there, he nailed this flattened dish to a pole.

It was a lovely sunny day to watch the outdoor ice skating, and pose on the large AMSTERDAM letters as most of the tourists were doing.





As we had purchased a museum card, we decided to visit the
Van Gogh Museum as well.
This also was wonderful, it was amazing to see the improvement and change in his work as he sketched and painted. I think my favorite was this one, entitled "Blossoming Almond Branch"




Of course, his "Irises" are very famous, and it was interesting to learn that the iris had been purple, but the red pigment of the paint has faded over the years, so they have become the blue we see now.


A wonderful museum, and an experience that we all enjoyed very much. Aysha, being just fifteen, has free admittance to most museums, what a bonus for families here in the Netherlands.

Our second problem of the day was on our return journey when we boarded the wrong bus. The number was right, but not the destination.

By the time we realized we were not going towards the Winkelhof, we did not have any idea whatsoever of where we were. But, intrepid travelers that we are, we alighted at the next stop, found a stop on the other side of the road, and took another bus back to the Winkelhof, via Leiden, all of which added an hour to our journey.

It was well and truly dark by the time we arrived home, weary, but having had an enjoyable day.

Location: Leiderdorp,The Netherlands