Another Spring Day in Amsterdam

Springtime...sunshine...pink blossoms and our last day in Amsterdam! 

While walking to the Rijksmuseum, we saw a number of trees filled with pink blossoms. I'm not sure what kind of trees they were but they did remind me of visiting Melissa in D. C. in the springtime.

Happy thoughts!

Here we are at the entry way to the Rijksmuseum.

It is considered one of the richest museums in the world ... and the most complete of any Dutch art.

The museum has been under reconstruction for almost 10 years.  There are about a million items in this museum but currently, only 400 are showing from the Dutch's Golden Age. 

Inside are displays of masterpieces ... works from Rembrandt, Vemeer and other artists from the 17th C. 

We were not disappointed as we took another self-guided tour and learned much about the art work, artists and culture in this Dutch land.   

Pieces of Delft pottery

Also called Delftware...blue and white ceramic pieces that are hand-painted. Many were created near the town of Delft in the Netherlands.

Mark is learning about some very unique Delftware flower vases. We saw similar but smaller vases in a number of shops on the streets. The holes at each level and on each corner are for where the flowers are placed...often tulips.

These unique vases come in different sizes...but I still think I like my tulips displayed the traditional way.

The doll houses were amazing!
These were not toys for children...but serious hobbies for some wealthy women.

You actually could stand on a ladder to peek inside for a closer look.

The items in the doll houses were made to scale....often using the finest craftsmen to create the pieces.
Some of the dollhouses were so expensive...that with the same amount of money one could have purchased a real home!

Here is a statue of....Cupid....in a whispering .... "shhh be quiet pose". 

"The Milk-Maid" by Jan Vermeer

A self-portrait by Rembrandt

One of my favorite paintings by Rembrandt... The Prophetess Anna reading from the Bible....a passage from Isaiah.

Rembrandt's most famous art work..."The Nightwatch".

Here we saw a very unique clock...someone actually draws the hands on the clock,

erases the minute hand...

and then finally draws the new minute hand and you have the correct time!

What a job!

Sunshine and a small treat were needed before heading back to our hotel and homeward bound.

My choice...waffles and icecream...Mark...raspberry/lemon muffin! Yum!

 Another great day in Amsterdam...

So...good bye to thousands of bicycles...

and bike riders...

Good bye to Dutch menus and restaurants...

Good-bye to Dutch cookies...

Goodbye to train stations, Metros and trams in The Netherlands.

After we went through security at the airport, and walked across 6 moving sidewalks, we came to an outside terrace. We continue to see and learn that Europeans love the outdoors and love to relax! 

We had never seen anything like this at an airport in the US!

Good bye Amsterdam...we have loved visiting this beautiful country!