Art,history and public gardens in Amsterdam.

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.

Exploring the old city of Amsterdam

What a lovely day I have had today. It started with breakfast where we were sitting at street level,windows open,sun shining and watching the world go by as we ate our eggs and croissants.
Later it was followed by a Hop on Hop off bus tour and a boat trip  around the city sights. I started early so it was not very crowded at the beginning but by lunch time the boat was very crowded and it was difficult to take photos because heads kept popping up when you least wanted them to.
I really enjoyed the boat cruise around the canals with a moving spectacle of fascinating styles of housing alongside the canals.The house boats were fascinating too.I thought it would be a cheap form of housing but not so.The boats are all connected to sewerage and pay rates and water taxes which put this form of living into the well off fraternity.Some have been architecturally designed and a lot come with a motor boat as well as outdoor living,BBQ and a few pets on board as well.
The tour went out to sea briefly and we mixed with the cruise ships briefly before heading back to safer waters. The bridges are a feature too and a variety of locks and systems operate the water levels to keep the system safe for boats.
The old houses along the canals are beautiful too,all feature decorative embellishments and heritage colours.Apparently there are very strict planning laws here and if you own one of them you cannot alter anything with out permission.
I did a tour of the diamond cutting factory where we saw operaters polishing the stones with diamond dust and producing gems for the international market.We also were taken into the show room to see the settings used for selling diamonds and how they were classified for sale. Not in my league though.I had to avoid temptation big time.
The old city is easy to explore on foot and the tour groups cannot take buses into the old part of the town so if there is time I might do a walking tour tomorrow.It will depend on how long the queues are for the Ann Frank museum and the Van Gogh.
I spent the afternoon at the Rijksmuseum looking at Rembrant's,The Jewish Bride ,Vermeer's The Kitchen Maid, and the very famous The Night Watch (1642) as well as Rembrant's portrait of a married couple which is shared with the Louvre and on show here so that was a coup.There were other memorable treasures on display too such as the Delft ware and some impressive dolls houses ( on the grand scale).
Brad had spent a lot longer here than I but we met for lunch at the cafe and shared favorites. Before we left we managed a visit to the outdoor gardens where there was a sculpture display by Peroine (???) of trees in all shapes and in varying stages of conservation.
Later in the evening we tried out the tram system to go to what we were told was a free concert at the Concert Theatre but sadly a bit misinformed so wandered along the canals again to find an authentic place to eat. I had a hot pot dish similar to bubble and squeak and Brad had a calves liver dish - very hearty fare.The beers are good here.
Finally time for bed but it is so hot in our cell I am not sure if it will be possible to sleep however an excellent day and more to come....