A beautiful morning dawns and we are determined to make full use of the day.An early breakfast before heading off to queue for the Anne Frank museum as advised by the information centre who said to get there before nine or earlier but not so.It appears only online reservations are accepted now and you cannot queue until after 3.30 pm.Well you can queue earlier but you cannot enter before three thirty.
A dilemma. What to do? Go back into the Dam Square and join a free walking tour or hike around to the Van Gogh Museum and chance the same rules apply.
I took a chance which was the best option and managed to get a ticket for the first intake after a short queue.Not so bad when it is not as hot as the afternoon one.
I loved the Van Gogh Museum.It was complementary to the one we went to in Barcelona and it also linked to the time we went to St Remy where he was treated for his depression and eventually died by committing suicide.We also saw a light and sound show in France that highlighted his art in an emotional context. His was a huge influence on the art world and still today his work resonates with people.
This exhibition also linked the influences of family and friends to his life and the jewel was seeing the best of the Sunflowers paintings.
I spent several hours here and then walked to the Vondelpark Gardens for some shade and green spaces.I was going to meet Brad for lunch in the park but she finished early and headed back to the hotel.
I hiked across the canals back to the Anne Frank huis and joined the queues stretching around the block.We had to wait until 3.30pm before there was anybody admitted but time passed of course and by Four I was inside and exploring the world Anne lived in for two years of her life.A very emotional place and seeing the graphic reminders of the concentration camps I saw last year it was hard to understand humanity.
In her father's words," To build a future you have to know the past."
What a pity we have not learned from the past.
Eventually arrived back at the hotel about five for a rest before drinks on the canal at a Greek cake where we had pita bread and dips as the sun set.A nice way to celebrate our last night in Amsterdam.....
So glad to escape without injury!Cycles,trams and cars come from every direction and you need your wits about you at all times.
The bikes are wonderful here,all shapes and sizes of bikes, no fashion stakes here,they are a transporting vehicle ridden by all ages.
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Art,history and public gardens in Amsterdam.
Labels:
2016,
Holland,
Netherlands
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