ALMOND BLOSSOMS - AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - DAY 10
We woke up early, and we got TRADITIONAL stroopwafels for breakfast this morning. It was the only place open and it was so sweet, I could feel the cavities coming through! I walked to the Van Gogh Museum from there. It was spectacular! I really wanted to stay longer, but Kay and I promised to be back at the hostel at 12:30PM sharp to catch our train.
I rushed through the gallery, but tried to soak in everything like a sponge. I saw all of my favorite pieces. I took my time, going fast haha! I tried to pick up every brush stroke, color, paint mixture and contrast- Each painting more beautiful than the last. It was really cool how they arranged his work as well. The first floor was all of his self portraits, and then it carried through with his earliest works, to his last works as you continued up each floor. I was happiest with seeing my FAVORITE, favorite painting, "Almond Blossom". He painted this for his nephew just after his birth. I looked at it so long, I even found a few incomplete spots. I think I'm particularly drawn to this one because of its various shades of blue. With the contrast of the white and pinkish almond blossoms in early Spring, it gives you this blissful feeling of purity, serenity, peace and innocence. It actually made me well up. I felt if I could stay longer, I would’ve gotten my money’s worth and had my fill, but with the museum’s WiFi, Kay and I were keeping tabs on each other. She had already eaten and I’d have to get a meal, buy stroopwafels, and walk 30-45mins back. She also found an earlier train and wanted me to head back a tad early. Meanwhile, she’d been sitting in a cafe next to the Anne Frank Museum to try and get tickets.
I also wanted to swing by the museum with Banksy and Lichtenstein art next door, but I poked my head in before buying a ticket and it was everything I’d seen in a gallery with my friends a few years prior. Plus I had no time.
I swiped a small bag of stroopwafels for three euros and then got my last two FEBO kip burgers for lunch on the way back. I got back an hour early and met Kay. She said that she kept texting me but I was out of the Museum already, and away from the WiFi.
She got Anne Frank tickets last minute and we’re taking a slightly later train into Bruges. She asked why I didn’t stay longer and I got a little frustrated with that because we had both agreed to stick to schedule and she had asked to meet even earlier, so I rushed back. Truthfully there was no way to tell that Kay was going to snag tickets later, and we just missed each other for communication. It turns out, I could’ve stayed in the Van Gogh Museum longer after all, and she felt really bad, especially since it was so expensive.
I was honest and told her that there was no way we could’ve guessed her being able to get tickets, or the timetable adjustment thereafter, or me being just out of reach with wifi the moment I left. Also I was stressed to leave because I didn’t know how long it was going to take me to get back, get food, the tram situation vs. walking, and getting through the queue at coat check for my bag when trying to leave the museum- It was long and slow. In the end, we both agreed that if we really like something, we’ll just try to communicate with WiFi when we have it, and ask to stay longer.
I’m sitting in a café right now, and Kay is in the Anne Frank house. Hopefully the trains are okay, and Bruges will be nice in the evening and not too cold.
My cold does feel better. We’re staying warm, eating and sleeping well, but the sleep never feels long enough, and my ears are still blocked- Just need to be careful. I took half a DayQuil today and maybe half a NyQuil tonight just to sleep all the way through without getting woken up by hostel bunk mates.
Overall, still a majorly successful time since we both got everything we wanted- All my favorite foods, seeing my uncles and going to both of our desired museums!!
Love you!
-eM
