Vincent and the Vondelpark

The next day, after making reservations online, we walked over to the Museumplein again.  Vincent Van Gogh died at the tender age of 37. What amazed us was the vast collection of paintings on display.  He must have been cranking out one a day to accomplish so much in so little time.  His use of color and subject matter was a paradigm shift that would change the art world forever.  (Fun Fact: History records that he committed suicide by shooting himself.  It turns out that two youths were taunting him and shot him.  Van Gogh in a attempt to protect these two hooligans from justice claimed he shot himself.)

Van Gogh museum in the sun

Self-portrait in grey felt hat

One of his early paintings of a peasant woman

Famous Sunflowers

The yellow house

Trees outside of the asylum

Wheatfield and blackbirds....his last painting is so ominous

Self portrait with bandaged ear

Kathy's favorite

 After visiting the museum, we bought a hot dog for lunch and rested our feet, then explored the west side of Amsterdam including the West Church.

Fancy shopping center

The west church--near the Anne Frank house

West church

Grocery

Rainbow over tilted buildings

Sunset on the buildings

Glad for our down coats

Outside a coffee shop

How do they stand up??

So photogenic

That sky!!

Our last day in Amsterdam was meant to be spent jumping on the train for a visit to a nearby city of Leiden.  Upon awakening, I realized that we had the day from hell coming up with our journey back over the pond.  I really did not want to stress, so instead we chose to explore a nearby park that we had seen from afar.  Now marijuana is strictly enforced where it is only meant to be consumed within the confines of a coffee house.  Turns out most of the park users had not been informed of these regulations as a person could get a contact high just strolling through this beautiful green-way filled with fountains, ponds, statuary and happy people.

New canals on the way to the park

The back side of the Rijks Museum

As we walked through the tunnel through the building we heard beautiful music

Created by these musicians.  In the echo of the tunnel, it was mesmerizing

Front of the Rijks Museum. 

Backside of the "I Amsterdam" sign

And the front side

Into the Vondelpark

Peaceful ponds, streams, bridges, paths and people

Wild parrots at their nest hole

Smokers and heron

Some kind of strange duck

Happy to be in the sun, together!

What a amazing adventure we were privileged to experience.  Every day was filled with joy and wonder.  Around every corner lay buildings and architecture older then our country.  Waterfalls and mountains and 86 shades of green that left us in awe.  So many people from the four corners of the world that shared experiences, stories and insights.  Culinary delights that lit up our taste buds and various wine, spirits and sodas that not only slacked our thirst but added to the ambiance we were ensconced in.  To be able to have a travel partner who relished the challenges that travel can have and not have a harsh word between us in six and a half weeks.  We are happy to be home in our snug comfortable cottage with our kitties enjoying the laps they claim as their right but we already find ourselves considering our next adventure.