Experiencing the Best of Europe
Day 2: The Dutch Way
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
Best Moments
1. Skipping lines to enter the Anne Frank house
2. Seeing Anne's glued cutouts on the walls and realizing we all search for normality in troubling times
3. Chocolate filled AND covered croissant
4. Van Gogh Museum-big grin after seeing familiar places
5. Canal cruise
6. Wine, cheese, and crackers with two great sisters in our courtyard
Daily Recap
*Our morning began with a peaceful train ride into Amsterdam. We left the train station on a tram to our first stop: the Anne Frank House.
*Everyone always comments on the small size of the house. I felt the darkness was symbolic of the dark times. I can't imagine staying inside for 25 months.
*We gathered afterwards at a memorial on the canal to discuss Amsterdam and the Dutch. I loved how knowledgeable Jennifer was. She made the sights more real by teaching us about the culture.
*We had a bit of free time, so I ventured to the Van Gogh Museum. What a gem for Van Gogh fans.
*The red light district seemed quite tame to me. I've seen far worse in Pigalle and Bourbon Street. Perhaps a visit later at night would reveal a more risky scene.
*Our afternoon was filled with a scenic cruise of the canals of Amsterdam. It is always a good idea to see a city from multiple perspectives.
Personal Connections
*I love capturing images of people with my camera. Looking back after a trip, it reminds me of the interactions I've had and insights they can provide.
*Sometimes observing the daily life provides a more holistic view of a culture. When I looked at the people of Amsterdam, I saw people that are not much different than I. That is one of the elements that makes travel so enlightening. It is a powerful thing to know that we are all human and we share so many of those human characteristics. It makes one feel not so alone in a big world.
*One of my favorite scenes I captured was a woman restoring a painting. I've seen that on shows before, but never in person. What a steady hand and persistent mind. It seems like a trade that takes a lot of patience, but I imagine it can be very rewarding.
*I still cannot get over the bike-friendliness of Amsterdam, or Holland in general. I think there should be a show called "Amsterdam's Bike Apparel Model." They were dressed so fashionably for an activity that usually encourages most Americans to put on the spandex.
Stub Hub
We took the tram after arriving at the train station. The transportation is very efficient with rails crossing on the streets. I enjoyed a conversation with Jennifer about pugs and Provence as we made our way to the Anne Frank house.
Seeing a city from the water is a unique way to gain a new perspective. Amsterdam has 165 canals, so there is much that can be seen from the water. Weaving through the city, we got to sneak a peak at the people. Families giving bread to ducks, people riding bikes in dress apparel, and couples snacking as they look over the water. We passed several historical sights, even the largest floating pagoda in Europe.
The line leading to the Anne Frank house was growing each second. We waited maybe two minutes while our guide came to get us to sneak us past the line. We were allowed to take our time walking through the museum. I wish that the room could have been recreated to look like it did while she was there. It would have helped me understand the size and how confined it would have felt. I was impacted by a video interview with a survivor. She was a friend of Anne's on the other side of the fence. As she was questioned, she reflected on whether or not Anne would have had the strength to survive if she had known that her dad had survived.
In this postcard you can see a replica of a photograph of Otto Frank. I see the weight of knowing he was the sole survivor of those that resided in this room for two years and one month. How troubling for a father.
The Rijksmuseum is full of work by Dutch masters. I knew of Vermeer and Rembrandt, but was limited on knowledge about other Dutch painters. I enjoy the simplicity of their work. Rather than an overabundance of symbolism, we saw reality.
I was so thrilled to have enough time to visit the Van Gogh Museum. I had spent time in Provence that spring, so to see many of his pieces of work of Arles and other areas in Provence was fascinating. I couldn't help but think that I had stood in the very place that he observed his inspiration, and the product of that was now in front of me in Amsterdam. I didn't make it to the Heineken museum, but this was a better choice for me.
Our train ride to Amsterdam was a peaceful beginning to the day. I sat across from a few individuals heading to work. The train seemed silent as a woman put on her makeup and others read the paper. I took the time to work on my journal.