I had tried to visit the Museum on a previous occasion, but long lines and two little kids with me, discouraged me from going in. This time around the lines were even longer, as Van Gogh's letters were on exhibit for the last time, before going on tour (I presume). Angela's two travel companions stood in line, while I walked Angela up to the front door to ask if she might be permitted to go to the bathroom seeing as we would have to wait 40 minutes in the cold before we ever got inside. While she was in the bathroom, I noticed that there were two cashiers open, but the long line only was behind one of the cashiers. After a moment of indecision I decided there was nothing wrong with standing in line behind the 4 people in the second row, and so it happened that I got all four tickets within 5 minutes (and right before the mass figured out that there were two lines and converged on me).
The museum has a ground floor and three stories above it full mainly with Van Gogh's works, but it also had works of famous artists he admired. I didn't think his letters would be all that interesting until I saw that he had painted in astonishing detail sketches of paintings he admired, or works he planned or had already produced. The intricacy of his tiny sketches were fascinating. There was one painting I immediately fell in love with, and although clearly one of his most famous, I had never seen it before to that date. It is the almond blossom painting.
It is so beautiful. They have a canvas reproduction of it, and I plan to purchase it as my souvenir of our time in the Netherlands. We chose to walk through the museum starting on the top floor and moving down. His most famous and latest works were on the last floor we visited, the first floor (if you go visit, it will certainly have changed again). It was a shame that my favorites The Night Cafe, and Stary Stary Night were not among them. I admit that I was only familiar with his latest works. It was amazing to see the sunflowers in person. The most impressing thing to me was not the paintings though. The order I chose to view the works was pure chance. In the last room I visited, there was a quote from Van Gogh, saying how he felt like a complete failure, and that his life had no meaning. I had just seen over 500 paintings and sketches. From what I read he produced over 2000 artworks. His works influenced the way painters after him chose to express themselves. 120 years after his death people line up all day long, every day of the year just to see his works with their own eyes, and then go nuts in the gift shop buying postcards, umbrellas, mugs, plates, napkins, pens, trivets, coasters, bags, anything with a replica of his art on it, so they can carry a piece of his talent with them every day. I do not think that being admired, famous and recognized are guarantees to a serene, happy life, but for artists to feel like a complete failure, even ending their own life because of it, is such a waste. I wonder who the Van Gogh's and Mozarts of our day are, and if they too are being rejected.
We concluded our Amsterdam visit with an Oliebollen and a drive through the ridiculously narrow streets. Except for a canal tour to amuse the kids in the boat I shall not wish to visit that city again.
The long lines here deluded us into thinking these were exceptionally good. They were not.
These aren't actually olieballen. There were too many people in front of them to take a picture. These are apple fritters.
Spending time with a singer friend from Bloomington after six months alone in the Netherlands was like magic healing balm on an infected wound. Returned to Best, we spent the evening giving our very best belt impressions of Les Miz, Miss Saigon, and the entire Disney album, and finished off the impromptu concert with some classical sacred works, which are remarkably difficult to sing with finesse after one has been belting for an hour (not to mention that they seem a bit dull after Disney). After that we made our former voice teacher's day, by calling him at his home in Indiana, and rounded out the perfect evening with Star Trek, my favorite movie. Thanks to our enormous front room windows with 240 degrees view, we were able to enjoy 45 minutes of fire works in our warm living room.
