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Amsterdam, Day 4
Jan. 19th, 2011 09:46 pmOur neighborhood
Today was museum day. To get to the museumplein, we tried a new tram into town. This required us to turn the other direction when leaving our hotel.
First, here is a picture of a window just like ours. (Remember, I told you it would be smaller than it looked.)
Here's an interesting building just down the street.
And remember how we're in the area with the zoo? It's also the area with the aquarium and quite a few other things we didn't see. But I couldn't resist this stegosaurus, perhaps my favorite dinosaur.
And this apotosaurus (aka brontosaurus). Not usually a favorite, but totally irresistible here.
Lunch
The first thing we did when we got to the Museumplein was to get hot drinks. Yea! They came with cookies!
We almost forgot to pay. We went to several places where you order at a counter and then they don't take your money. Then they serve you. Then you go back to the counter to pay. Disconcerting.
Then Robin couldn't resist this burger stand.
Look at their truck (for catering?)!
Speaking of cute little motorized vehicles, check this out.
There's actually plenty of room inside for two people. And Winnie-the-Pooh.
We spent time time in a gift shop and then headed for the Stedelijk Museum (City Museum), a really big art museum. But it was basically closed. A guy in the security area said no paintings were available for viewing but the Rodins had been moved to the Van Gogh museum.
Van Gogh museum
Vincent Van Gogh and his brother started life working for an art dealer. Vincent had to be let go when a new-found religiousness interfered with his job duties. Then he decided to make art himself.
The museum exhibits were very well done. There were lots of interesting descriptions, plus they included artwork that inspired him (sometimes with quotes from him) and art by people who were inspired by him.
I found out the reason he did a lot of self-portraits was because it was a way to practice doing portraits without having to pay for models. He also practiced by re-doing other paintings and even Japanese prints.
We also got to see an actual vase his sister-in-law saved that was pictured in several of his paintings, and it was displayed next to one of those paintings.
It was during Van Gogh's lifetime that it became reasonably possible to paint outside for the first time. For example, paint became available in tubes. Later, one could paint from photos, adding color back in, and still being able to change the emphasis, exaggerate things, change the time of day, etc.
He thought it would be cool to start an artist commune where the residents would be an inspiration to each other. To lure one of his friends to join, he painted several paintings for his rooms. His friend stayed something like three months before they argued and split up, and that was the end of his commune.
He always tried to really say something special with his paintings and always felt that he had failed, partly because everyone told him so. He was mostly made fun of during his lifetime. At best, he was considered a crude imitation of other, better painters. He attempted a masterpiece with The Potato Eaters (several different people all in one painting), but when it flopped, too, he decided never to do another.
All in all, a really great museum, even though I'm not much of a Van Gogh fan.
(Note: we could find only one Rodin in the Van Gogh museum.)
Lunch
Next, we hunted for Wagamama, recommended highly by Robin's friend, J.O., as his favorite noodle house ever.
On the way, there was an unexpected lizard.
And this building has very interesting windows, both in the corner and on the side.
The one we were looking for was said to be near the Hard Rock Cafe. We were getting warmer.
Score!
I tried a potsticker thing and a fried noodle thing. They were whole grain, tasty, and interesting, and probably the healthiest thing I'd eaten so far, but not a favorite of mine. So sad. (Though the nearest one to me now is in Boston, so maybe it's just as well.)
Here is a nice bicycle. Check out the basket, leather handle grips, leather seat with spring, reinforcements. This one also has a mesh reinforcement for the rear fender.
Rijksmuseum
We spent an hour at the Rijksmuseum (State Museum) (pronounced sort of like RIKES-museum) before it closed.
(Robin liked this next building better--you'll hear more about this company later because we signed up here for a canal tour the next evening.)
The Rijksmuseum was full of fabulous paintings from the Dutch masters. We also saw two dollhouses that were each so big that we were provided step ladders so we could see into all the floors. And we saw a huge model ship.
Dinner
We wandered around a bit more, then ate groceries from yesterday's trip to the store. I learned that I quite like Swiss cheese at room temperature. Who knew?
I leave you with this image of neon mammals from somewhere in Leidseplein.
Today was museum day. To get to the museumplein, we tried a new tram into town. This required us to turn the other direction when leaving our hotel.
First, here is a picture of a window just like ours. (Remember, I told you it would be smaller than it looked.)
Here's an interesting building just down the street.
And remember how we're in the area with the zoo? It's also the area with the aquarium and quite a few other things we didn't see. But I couldn't resist this stegosaurus, perhaps my favorite dinosaur.
And this apotosaurus (aka brontosaurus). Not usually a favorite, but totally irresistible here.
Lunch
The first thing we did when we got to the Museumplein was to get hot drinks. Yea! They came with cookies!
We almost forgot to pay. We went to several places where you order at a counter and then they don't take your money. Then they serve you. Then you go back to the counter to pay. Disconcerting.
Then Robin couldn't resist this burger stand.
Look at their truck (for catering?)!
Speaking of cute little motorized vehicles, check this out.
There's actually plenty of room inside for two people. And Winnie-the-Pooh.
We spent time time in a gift shop and then headed for the Stedelijk Museum (City Museum), a really big art museum. But it was basically closed. A guy in the security area said no paintings were available for viewing but the Rodins had been moved to the Van Gogh museum.
Van Gogh museum
Vincent Van Gogh and his brother started life working for an art dealer. Vincent had to be let go when a new-found religiousness interfered with his job duties. Then he decided to make art himself.
The museum exhibits were very well done. There were lots of interesting descriptions, plus they included artwork that inspired him (sometimes with quotes from him) and art by people who were inspired by him.
I found out the reason he did a lot of self-portraits was because it was a way to practice doing portraits without having to pay for models. He also practiced by re-doing other paintings and even Japanese prints.
We also got to see an actual vase his sister-in-law saved that was pictured in several of his paintings, and it was displayed next to one of those paintings.
It was during Van Gogh's lifetime that it became reasonably possible to paint outside for the first time. For example, paint became available in tubes. Later, one could paint from photos, adding color back in, and still being able to change the emphasis, exaggerate things, change the time of day, etc.
He thought it would be cool to start an artist commune where the residents would be an inspiration to each other. To lure one of his friends to join, he painted several paintings for his rooms. His friend stayed something like three months before they argued and split up, and that was the end of his commune.
He always tried to really say something special with his paintings and always felt that he had failed, partly because everyone told him so. He was mostly made fun of during his lifetime. At best, he was considered a crude imitation of other, better painters. He attempted a masterpiece with The Potato Eaters (several different people all in one painting), but when it flopped, too, he decided never to do another.
All in all, a really great museum, even though I'm not much of a Van Gogh fan.
(Note: we could find only one Rodin in the Van Gogh museum.)
Lunch
Next, we hunted for Wagamama, recommended highly by Robin's friend, J.O., as his favorite noodle house ever.
On the way, there was an unexpected lizard.
And this building has very interesting windows, both in the corner and on the side.
The one we were looking for was said to be near the Hard Rock Cafe. We were getting warmer.
Score!
I tried a potsticker thing and a fried noodle thing. They were whole grain, tasty, and interesting, and probably the healthiest thing I'd eaten so far, but not a favorite of mine. So sad. (Though the nearest one to me now is in Boston, so maybe it's just as well.)
Here is a nice bicycle. Check out the basket, leather handle grips, leather seat with spring, reinforcements. This one also has a mesh reinforcement for the rear fender.
Rijksmuseum
We spent an hour at the Rijksmuseum (State Museum) (pronounced sort of like RIKES-museum) before it closed.
(Robin liked this next building better--you'll hear more about this company later because we signed up here for a canal tour the next evening.)
The Rijksmuseum was full of fabulous paintings from the Dutch masters. We also saw two dollhouses that were each so big that we were provided step ladders so we could see into all the floors. And we saw a huge model ship.
Dinner
We wandered around a bit more, then ate groceries from yesterday's trip to the store. I learned that I quite like Swiss cheese at room temperature. Who knew?
I leave you with this image of neon mammals from somewhere in Leidseplein.