I finally made it...

to the van Gogh Museum. My awakening was greeted with rain and greyness, but I took my time with getting ready for my day, had a leisurely brunch and got my ass on the tram. Exit at Museumplein, walk along the quad, turn the corner and see lots and lots of folks heading up the stairs to the ticket booth. Was I daunted? No. I am not going to leave this city without visiting the van Gogh museum. I paid my 10 euro and headed in to see art.

I realized today that one of the things that made me so uncomfortable at the Rijksmuseum were the colors. Dark - steel-blue grey, dark seafoam, stained wood, black pedestals, maroon, navy - the walls and floors all seemed dark, aged, oppressive. Dead. The van Gogh museum (and the de Pont museum in Tilburg) is airy and deceptively full of natural light. The floors are of light wood, the accent walls are vibrant pastels of yellow, purple, green.

There were lots of people. Lots of people. I popped in the earbuds, started Holst's The Planets and wandered. Luckily for me I came to the paintings I most wanted to see when there was a gap in the patient line of visiters following the little black cord. The little shin-heighth cord to keep you from getting too close. I always wonder at what point the alarm will go off - when I lean to close or do I actually have to touch the painting? My leaning didn't set off any alarms. I am fascinated by his mad brushstrokes. Brilliance.

After the three floors of primarily van Gogh, I stopped for a slice of Dutch-style apple pie and a cup of Earl Gray tea with milk.

The temporary exhibition is Fierce Friends - depictions of animals from 17something to 1900. Kid focused, but adult friendly. A fun exhibit.

After my cultured experience, I hopped a tram and went to the Nijntje store. I didn't spend much money, but did have to stop myself from buying a watch. It's fantastic, but I don't need to spend $60 on a watch I wouldn't buy if I could buy it at home. I bought color your own postcards instead. Twelve Nijntje images. The store is on Beethovenstraat; now I know where to go for high end items. Even the bikes parked on the street were of a nicer quality than you generally see around town.

Dinner tonight was with a partial gathering of the "swimming club" -- only K. and S. and I. I made burritos. They did go swimming so I did the dishes and wrote postcards. After swimming they returned and we had hot chocolate and cookies. For some reason, I've got the munchies. It's 12:30 and I'm getting up early tomorrow. Just because. I want to clean the kitchen floor and tidy so that I don't have to worry about doing everything Sunday before they get home.

I think tomorrow I will do some touring of churches and photo ops. I hope the weather is good. If the weather is crap, I'll go to a matinee. I love a weekday matinee, it's as decadent as a daytime beer. Maybe I'll have one of those, too. No. I'll save my food indulgence for fries after the movie. Mmmm. Fries covered in mayo. It's nice to be here with that particular preference of mine - no one looks at me as if I'm crazy, it's the first topping on the menu. After is spicy peanut (satay) sauce.