22 April ’04, Thursday. Today our first stop is The Van Gogh Museum. This is one of the most modern buildings in Amsterdam and has the world’s largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh in the world. It was really great to be able to see over 200 paintings by one of the worlds greatest artists. As it was looking at Rembrandt’s works, seeing a print or picture of one of the “Greats” work has nothing to offer as does the original right there in front of you. My personal observation was Van Gogh had his good days and he had his other days and his work would show it. When he was in the grove he was really in it…. Van Gogh had a troubled early start in his adult life. He started out working in a gallery but was fired. He then gave the ministry a go as his father did and he failed at that. He really wanted to paint so he fought hard and long and finally sold his first painting. After a little success, experimenting with different lighting and color mixes, a long fight with a rare type of epilepsy with a long stay in a hospital, staying with his brother over and over again he took his own life at an very early age. What a tragedy.
We needed lunch so we headed for the deli and got what we would need. Out the door to a close by park and enjoyed a wonderful picnic. Then off for a tour through the canals of Amsterdam. We have heard over and over that we “had” to take this tour because it is one that even those that live here never tire of. The countless, lavishly decorated facades standing side by side boarding and somewhat protecting the canals. The unique bridges, each and everyone unique to the other, crossing at all angles and making those that go under them feel like they must duck or loose their head. The greenery of all the trees whose branches hang low over the water help make these 17th Century canals a wonder of their own with the lure to come back because you didn’t see everything. Then heading for the tram and back to “Bumble Bee” for a great barbecued dinner, a bottle of good wine and making plans for tomorrow.
We needed lunch so we headed for the deli and got what we would need. Out the door to a close by park and enjoyed a wonderful picnic. Then off for a tour through the canals of Amsterdam. We have heard over and over that we “had” to take this tour because it is one that even those that live here never tire of. The countless, lavishly decorated facades standing side by side boarding and somewhat protecting the canals. The unique bridges, each and everyone unique to the other, crossing at all angles and making those that go under them feel like they must duck or loose their head. The greenery of all the trees whose branches hang low over the water help make these 17th Century canals a wonder of their own with the lure to come back because you didn’t see everything. Then heading for the tram and back to “Bumble Bee” for a great barbecued dinner, a bottle of good wine and making plans for tomorrow.