And now for something completely different….

August 28, 2011



Van Gogh Museum







And now for something completely different….

Part II of our European vacation saw us traveling from Sicily to Amsterdam and in the process switching not only locations but somehow switching seasons as well, from the height of summer in blazing Sicily to the much colder, windy and rainy fall of the Netherlands. It was amazing what a couple hour flight north can do.





We departed Trapani early, after bidding the crew of the R/V Hercules adieu, they were scheduled to leave the following day to Malta as the season is concluding. We caught a bus for the trip back to the airport in Palermo, then to Rome and on to Amsterdam using low cost EZ Jet airlines. It all went smoothly and we arrived in Amsterdam and after a short train ride to Amsterdam Central Station we walked a couple of short blocks to our hotel in the heart of the Central district, the Crowne Plaza.



Kathy



It was a nice totally modern hotel which was quite a culture shock from the apartment we had in Trapani. The city itself was quite a culture shock in itself, the bustling central city section, with the Red Light district, crowds of diverse people and the incredible frenetic energy of the place were in stark contrast to the quiet simplicity that we had enjoyed in Trapani.







We immediately took to the streets to explore the craziness of the Red Light district only a couple of blocks away. It is really impossible to describe to someone that has not experienced it. Rest assured that most everything you may have heard about the city is true, and to actually see it is somewhat overwhelming. Kathy & I walked around taking in all the crazy sights to get an overview of the area.







We were up bright and early the next morning to really begin to explore the amazing beautiful city. We bought a transit pass that allowed unlimited access for the wonderful public transportation system of trams, buses and subways and headed over to check out the incredible Rijksmuseum, the Dutch National Museum on the Museumplein that is home to artworks by all of the most significant Dutch Masters.





It houses an amazing collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden age including masterpieces by the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Halls and Jan Steen. Famous works like the magnificent “Night Watch” by Rembrandt and “The Milk Maid” by Vermeer are on display. It is a truly amazing collection.







Just across the museumplein is yet another museum full of Dutch masterpieces, the Van Gogh museum is home to a huge collection of works by Van Gogh, his influences and contemporaries. This modern and fascinating museum is home to the largest collection of paintings and drawings by the famous Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh. It was a great museum day as it was cold and rainy outside and we were able to explore the collection in warmth and comfort until the rain abated.













Van Gogh Museum

Rijksmuseum