Since our Van Gogh Museum ticket was for 11:30 we decided to take a walk to the Lidl supermarket to replenish our breakfast supplies.
Terry and Craig were always at our door at the appointed time.
Somehow I was always in the bathroom. Tsk!
Shopping at the Lidl supermarket was fun. I loved the little rolling shopping basket. It was hard to choose which pastry to buy. So many pastries, so little time.
Here we are, back at Museumplein and the sun was out. Yay!
Even the cherry blossoms were blooming!
They are VERY strict at the Van Gogh Museum. Unlike the Rijksmuseum, photography is NOT allowed and they don't let you into the museum until the exact time of your ticket.
We had a little fun while waiting for our time to go in and then had lunch in the museum.
There was a huge exhibit about the influence of Japanese woodblock prints on Van Gogh. Since Art loves Hiroshige and Hokusai, this was loads of fun for him.
It was fascinating to read about Van Gogh's life. There's so much I didn't know.
There are questions about his suicide and whether it really was a suicide. For one thing, he supposedly shot himself in the stomach and then managed to walk home wounded from the fields. He died a couple of days later with his brother, Theo by his side. Theo died a few months later heartbroken.
The angle of the bullet didn't make sense or the fact that he would shoot himself in the stomach. There is speculation that it might have been an accident and he was protecting that person by saying he'd done it himself.
I guess we'll never know.
I was surprised to see all kinds of souvenirs made with images of Van Gogh's painting of the almond blossoms.
I wrote a post about falling in love with this $10 museum poster and then spending $160 to have it framed because it was a nonstandard size. I don't recall there being so many souvenirs with the almond blossom image on it 10 years ago.
We were drawn to the fancy Magna Plaza and managed to do a bit more gift shopping.
We returned to Dam Square in daylight to explore the famous area.
It was a lucky thing Terry reminded me that I was going to look for Voltaren (topical Diclofenac) in Europe since it's only by prescription in the U.S. and very, very expensive. There are several loved ones who have the occasional aches and pains. And yes, I did warn them not to take ibuprofen when applying the cream.
We passed by this store with a long, long line waiting for oubliehoorn so of course, we had to try it.
It was a light textured mixture of ice cream and whipped cream. Ummm...
It was OK.
Dinner was at an Italian grill. It was quite good actually, and the service was quick and friendly.
And now came the day we were waiting for.
Keukenhof!
We didn't know what to expect because temperatures had still not warmed enough to encourage all the tulips to bloom.
We would see.
Terry and Craig were always at our door at the appointed time.
Somehow I was always in the bathroom. Tsk!
Shopping at the Lidl supermarket was fun. I loved the little rolling shopping basket. It was hard to choose which pastry to buy. So many pastries, so little time.
They are VERY strict at the Van Gogh Museum. Unlike the Rijksmuseum, photography is NOT allowed and they don't let you into the museum until the exact time of your ticket.
We had a little fun while waiting for our time to go in and then had lunch in the museum.
It was fascinating to read about Van Gogh's life. There's so much I didn't know.
There are questions about his suicide and whether it really was a suicide. For one thing, he supposedly shot himself in the stomach and then managed to walk home wounded from the fields. He died a couple of days later with his brother, Theo by his side. Theo died a few months later heartbroken.
The angle of the bullet didn't make sense or the fact that he would shoot himself in the stomach. There is speculation that it might have been an accident and he was protecting that person by saying he'd done it himself.
I guess we'll never know.
I was surprised to see all kinds of souvenirs made with images of Van Gogh's painting of the almond blossoms.
It was a lucky thing Terry reminded me that I was going to look for Voltaren (topical Diclofenac) in Europe since it's only by prescription in the U.S. and very, very expensive. There are several loved ones who have the occasional aches and pains. And yes, I did warn them not to take ibuprofen when applying the cream.
We passed by this store with a long, long line waiting for oubliehoorn so of course, we had to try it.
It was a light textured mixture of ice cream and whipped cream. Ummm...
It was OK.
Dinner was at an Italian grill. It was quite good actually, and the service was quick and friendly.
And now came the day we were waiting for.
Keukenhof!
We didn't know what to expect because temperatures had still not warmed enough to encourage all the tulips to bloom.
We would see.
Hope your arm is better. Can't wait to see your tulips. I missed them blooming here at home because we were on the river cruise. Didn't see much there because it was a late spring.
ReplyDeleteOh my...all this is so wonderful. I hope you are healing and pain free. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteSo enjoyable to tag along
ReplyDeleteThe only blot on my Amsterdam visit was the Van Gogh Museum with its rigid rules. It was the Year of Van Gogh or something like that and all tickets had been sold out--period, forever, to hear them talk. All the way from Hawaii and I can't go to the Van Gogh Museum? Fuhgeddabout it. I go everywhere to every place on my day of choice when I travel and never have any problems. I have sat in the front row of famous and popular plays in London on the spur of the moment. The Louvre? Tchaikovsky's opera, "Mazeppa" at Covent Garden? The Met? The Tate? The Frick? The Rijksmuseum? The Picasso Museum? The Rodin Museum? The British Museum? Easy peasey as pie to go to all of them on MY own schedule, which is the way you have to travel anyway, in my opinion. Away with the rules of the Van Gogh Museum!
ReplyDeleteMuseums are normally closed on Mondays in Europe and here at home.
Deletebeautiful blooms and interesting places to see-so much~
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pink tulips! And another interesting post with yet MORE food pictures. :-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed today's post vicariously!
ReplyDeleteTo me , to just be close to a Van Gogh would be awesome and then I would enjoy the painting.
ReplyDeleteThose tulips are lovely ...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Did not know that about Van Gogh's suicide. Perhaps he was protecting his brother since he also died shortly afterwards. Hum?? Hope you are healed or are healing nicely.
ReplyDeleteWe were allowed to take photos in the Van Gogh museum when we were there eight or so years ago. I love Van Gogh's paintings and was thrilled to be in that museum.
ReplyDeleteWe have two Lidls in my city (east coast is getting them first) and that bakery looks just like ours. I can see that didn't get lost in translation
ReplyDeleteSo, the Voltaren purchase may have come in handy for the broken arm? Be sure and ask your doc first. I remember when insurance companies and hospitals refused to fill it, and docs had to change their orders to something else that doesn't work as well.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I'd prefer the shopping cart so close to the floor, and having to bend over to put things in or take them out. But such aches are what the Voltaren is for. Linda in Kansas
The orthopedic surgeon said he didn't want me to take Ibuprofen because it would inhibit healing of my bones and Voltaren is topical Ibuprofen, right?
Delete