Amsterdam Canals

Three main canals semi-circle around the Amsterdam city, and are pleasant to walk along, however, if you happen to step onto the cyclist's lanes that run alongside the pedestrian's anywhere in Amsterdam, be prepared to be run over or sworn at, they are very expressive, these cyclists. "I HATE ZHE TOURISTS!".

Basically, when crossing a street, it pays to turn head fast both directions many times. You will be crossing a lane for trams, a lane for cyclists, and a lane for cars, all in two directions, so that's six lanes. After two days, we were lao shous (old hands) and road cross like the locals.

Traffic boo boos, Jit F wanted to press a traffic button so that the lights will change in our favor, and it was awhile before we realized she was pressing on a small acrylic traffic light meant for cyclists' sight instead.

The drivers sit on the left hand side of the car. I forgot. When we arrived at the airport, we got a taxi and I promptly took the driver's seat. Everyone was amused...parents, taxi driver, people standing in the taxi line, the taxi line guide.

The Rijksmuseum is located at the end of our B&B street. It's undergoing renovations so only major works were shown, which worked out for us, I LOVE Vermeer's use of colours. Rembrent, OK Lah. But Vermeer, I like alot, maybe because of Colin Firth. I was disappointed that the Girl with Pearl Earring painting was not shown. Maybe the museum doesn't own that specific painting.I really liked the paintings at this specific museum, not alot of religious art, but instead, tons of stuff which showed how the extremely wealthy and the bourgeoisie led their daily lives and their fashion in the 17th? or 18th century. The ladies sure liked their pearls.

P.s. in Vermeer's The Kitchen Maid, the lower side of the painting showed old Dutch kitchen tiles. The same tiles can be bought at the 9 streets for Euros 35 up.

We visited the Van Gogh Museum as well. Again, disappointed that Starry Night painting was not displayed. Perhaps the museum doesn't own a copy of it. (Googled: there's one at MoMA, NY, and another at Musee D'Orsay). The Van Gogh museum was informative as it shows the then contemporary influences on Van Gogh's art. Theo was a good brother.

Well, we know what happened to VG, he cut his ear off and shot himself in the chest only to pass on two days later. Rembrent died poor. Vondel, also poor, ended up as a pawn shop doorman. I conclude alot of prominent Dutch who later became tourist attractions had tragic lives. Anne Frank comes to mind as well.