The first main day in the Netherlands visiting my friend Shea, we woke up early and got ready and headed out to Amsterdam by the train. There was a rainbow! This was the only time it really rained. It rained a bit that morning on and off and then never again.
We first went to the Anne frank house. I’m so glad we had the chance to do this! Very moving. Most impactful moments were seeing the book case that hid the door, the magazine photos on Anne’s wall, and a glimpse of the attic windows- the only source of light. Also got to see the actual diary!
We walked a lot! (12 miles that day!) We had a beautiful brunch and enjoyed an antique store where I got real antique clogs.
I went to the Van Gogh museum by myself, since Shea had recently gone. It was a bit busy but really great. I really enjoyed seeing his earlier works, which are not typically shown as much. He is quoted saying how he felt most at home painting in the villages, in “peasant life.” Even after he went on to France and changed styles, he always loved that. I also connected to that. It was really nice to be alone and go at the pace I wanted.
More walking. Saw tons of tulip bulbs at the flower market, and a guy selling “poems for strangers” and I regret not getting one. And we ate French fries with truffle sauce! Then we wandered into an old church and were shocked to turn the corner into it only to have our vision filled with a huge deflated hot air balloon hanging upside down (no basket) (maybe it was a giant parachute?) from the tall cathedral ceiling, draping all the way down to the floor, like someone needed a place to dry it out? As we explored, we found other odd pieces of what we decided must be modern art. But none of it was clever or artful….
We also walked through the red-light district and that was … quite an experience to see prostitutes in windows.
Eventually we made it back home and ate a late dinner and stayed up too late talking. Then I stayed up even later talking to Buck and the kids on the phone.
People seemed to warn me not to "waste too much time in Amsterdam" but I really enjoyed it, maybe because I had low expectations? Or also maybe because it was off season and not crowded at all! I liked it!
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