5.5 kms walking
Reasonable night’s sleep, except for the coughing. I think
the antibiotics have kicked in this afternoon, so my sinuses are less painful.
My throat is still sore and lumpy. Still quite difficult to swallow but now it
just feels like pointy rocks going down, not razor blades. I just ate an orange
and you would have thought it was acid!
Today had some highs and lows.
After breakfast, not much again because of my throat.
After breakfast a very quick walk up to the Van Gogh Museum
for my 9 am ticket. Along the way I tried to take photo of the selfie point
outside the Rijksmuseum. My camera would not focus and was giving me an error
message about the lens. It was a short wait in line and then inside along with
many others. No photos allowed in here. I tried to solve my camera issue, but
nothing would work. The lens was not connecting properly. Slightly disappointed
given that Vincent was prolific. I know they rotate and lend some out, but many
of my most favourites were not there. However I did add a new favourite to my
list- “the shoes” 1886 and a wonderful self-portrait, that showed so much of
his torment. It was good to be able to see some of his simple drawings/ musings
too. He was a skilled technician and made numerous studies of parts of the
body. There was an exhibition of his
letters- not much good if you can’t read Dutch?
All done and out of there in one hour.
Then I had a problem. Go onto the Rijksmuseum “next door “,
or walk back to the hotel and pick up my other camera, which I did. NOBODY was
in the queue at the Rijks on the way past but the crowds were there when I
returned.
Again check in my coat and backpack, but you can go crazy in
there taking as many photos as you like. I love the paintings of everyday life
in the Middle Ages - especially the “Hell and Damnation” ones. Definitely one
way to get the locals to church. They also have some lovely wooden carvings
from the era too. Of course my favourite and obviously everyone else’s were the
Vermeer’s and Rembrandt’s. The crowds in those two rooms rivalled the Boxing
Day sales. I felt really sorry for all the kids, who were absolutely bored out
of their brains and just wanted to go.
Two hours at the Rijksmuseum and I was ready to go. I would have gone
back for another refresher, but desperately needed a drink for my throat and
there was a huge queue for the café.
From here I walked across the canal and saw yet another
serious pedestrian/ cyclist prang. Dutch bike riders are lethal. There must be
laws about riding a bike? I know all kids have to pass both a written and
practical test in bike riding. No helmets and many don’t obey the lights, or
indicate, or ring any warning and are clever enough to talk and text while
riding. They also ride on any side of the road or bike lane and even the
footpath. Today I saw a tiny car using the bike lane. Wheelchairs and scooters
use the bike lanes too. So pedestrians are constantly turning their heads to
avoid being hit.
After crossing the canal, I caught the number 7 tram to get
closer to the Jewish Museum. A fifteen minute walk from the tram stop to the
Jewish Museum, but on the way I stopped for lunch. I needed a hot drink for my
throat. Found a really cute little café “Cantrell” for a cuppa. Obviously used
by locals because it was really busy. The meals looked great and were very
reasonably priced. €4.50 for a cuppa and small chips. Lucky I didn’t say a big
serve, because it was enormous and my throat wasn’t in the mood for crunchy
chips. No gf in this area. I was hoping for soup.
First stop on my Jewish quest was the Portuguese Synagogue.
(€13, which is a pass for 5 sights in the town.) This synagogue was built in 1675. At one time
it was the largest one in Europe, modelled on the Jewish Temple. It is a HUGE
building, but quite austere inside. Completely looted by the Germans during the
war. They had a good system using the pod casts for information and it was
interesting learning about their religious practices.
Over the road was the Jewish Historical Museum. Another free
audio commentary. The photo exhibition was good, especially the section about
Holland after the war/ Hunger Winter. Small, but incredibly graphic. I stopped
for another cuppa. It might have the only Kosher café in the city, but it only
had one thing that was gf- coconut balls. I had to buy two? €6.45 for a drink
and snack. There was so much to do and listen to in the centre. It would be
easy to spend two hours in here looking at every item. I liked using the audio
pods.
I left at about 4 in glorious sunshine and headed for the
tram stop. Along the way, there was a memorial to the 200 Jews who lived along
one of the canals and were shot during WW2. I arrived back here from tram 10,
just before 4:30. I tried for a while to solve the camera issue! Not going to
be solved. Had my shower, downloaded and edited the photos, then typed my
diary, eating another delicious egg sandwich for dinner.
Now it’s time to see if I can organise a shuttle bus to the
airport for Saturday morning. Tomorrow is the bus trip to Bruges and then it’s
goodbye Amsterdam.
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