after a jam-packed 9 days we started the journey home. we left lisbon early (7:00 am flight) for amsterdam. i have been in that airport many many times but have never visited the city. the travel rule (my own rule) states that one's presence in an airport does not count as a true visit to a country. so we booked a flight with a 26 hour lay over so that this girl could add the netherlands to the list.
we arrived in amsterdam at noon. we made a quick stop at the hotel, checked-in and then made our way to the train station. a short trip (20 mins or so) into the city.
a climate change from balmy spain and portugal...brrrrrrrrrrrrr
before arriving in the city i told gin that i wanted to leave amsterdam wanting more...at first glance this goal was met...more please...i want some more (good thing i will be back in february)...
our first stop was the anne frank house. i have longed to visit this place for many years. in 1996, i had a role in a production of the diary of anne frank at riverland community college. over the years i have read a plethora of books, watched dozens of hours of holocaust related television and film. my grandfather was a prisoner of war and spent time in a camp, although not a death camp, the fascination has been long standing.
we entered the office building and i began to shmeep...we made our way up to the second floor offices...and then to the back room where we discovered the book case and the hidden door.
there is a large step up and the opening was smaller than most. i had to twist as i stepped up...then down a small narrow hall to mr. and mrs. frank's bedroom. the annex is empty, no furniture remains. otto frank asked that it be this way. in each room there are photos of the space as it was. anne's room was next...the photos and postcards she had glued to the walls are still there...
the wc is also on this floor...i stood in front of the bathroom sink...put my hands on the taps...this room would have been the only solitude for them...i think of mrs. frank trying to escape the sounds of mrs. van pels (van daan).
the second floor of the annex holds the living room/kitchen and the ladder to peter's room in the attic space...i found myself standing at the kitchen sink...hands on the stone counter...even though there were dozens of people there with us...wall to wall people...in this moment i felt like i was alone...tears again...
we left the house and entered an exhibit in the next building. so well done. were were able to read excerpts from the book, watch video clips of otto frank and view paper documentation of the franks and van pels, the destination for each, and their lives/deaths after being discovered in the annex.
a stop in the gift shop resulted in a new copy of the book...am eager to read the diary again after our visit.
we left the anne frank house and made our way to the van gogh museum for a quick visit. I have enjoyed visiting museums dedicated to the work of one. the matisse and chagall museums in nice made an impact and since that time we have seen the picasso museum in barcelona.
i find it interesting to be able to look at the life of the artist, to see the evolution of their work and to get the whole story. van gogh was a nut...woke up one morning and decided to be an artist. no experience....no skill necessarily...self taught...and completely crazy.
two of our favorite pieces in the museum were the potato eaters (one of his earlier and not so great works) and then the almond blossom piece. we did see more famous pieces like sunflowers...but these were most memorable...
a short cab ride brought us back to the train station area...a walk through the neighborhood...colorful?souvenir shops...sex shops...and seeds for the gardener...gin declined :)
our afternoon in amsterdam came to an end with dinner at a dutch restaurant near the train station...a wonderful meal and a chance for us to reminisce a little...what an amazing 10 days...
kir&gin (portugal, spain & amsterdam 2011)
