December 3rd – Amsterdam!

December 3, 2012

It’s really scary to take trains when nothing is written in English! Restaurants and many other things are written in English, but not Train tickets, etc. But, got it figured out and, with the help and company of Sara, whose mother is here on the study tour, we found our way to and from Amsterdam which also required the switching of trains and coordinating of schedules. The hi-speed train was not so bad as they announced the stops; but the Belgium train was really scary because they said NOTHING and on the way TO Amsterdam we were really worried; but, by the time we returned, we were OLD PRO’s!!!!

We took a hop on/hop off canal boat tour but, honestly, after we hopped off the first time, at the Rijksmuseum, we never managed to hop on again! Sara is a double-major graduate of CWRU and one of her majors is Art History and so she is a wealth of knowledge in architectural history as well as art history and our first hop off was so she could see Vermeer paintings. I feel badly that we didn’t/couldn’t spend more time there, but I did so want to see the Ann Frank house and I know she very graciously rushed through the museum so I could accomplish that. The Vermeer paintings were spectacular as were so many of the exhibits. Especially gorgeous was an Asian made baby crib that was incredibly ornate and obviously made for a wealthy family.

The museum exterior grounds were under construction so access was funky and it took longer to get in/get out so we ended up taking a cab to Ann Frank House/Museum. It was everything I thought it would be. I climbed up all the annex steps as they got thinner and thinner; thinking how these 8 people had to do this and hide away themselves. Original writings of her diary were on display as were video interviews and even concentration camp records of Ann and her family. I have done quite a bit of background studying on Ann Frank and her diary, but really didn’t know she had written other writings including 5 chapters of a novel as the beginnings of a story she hoped to publish “The Secret Annex”. Sara toured the whole house as well. I wasn’t sure she was going to or even wanted to; as I said she was a very gracious young lady. She spoke to me afterwards and said, very poignantly, that it became real to her as she gazed into the bathroom mirror and realized that this young girl gazed into the same mirror. Somehow that touched me. I ended up at the “book store/gift shop” as most tours end up. I was sad but also thrilled that I made it to witness this site. I wish I had purchased her other writings now, but when I was in there and done, I couldn’t think of what to get. I got postcards and a book on how the annex/museum came to fruition.

We went in town to a recommended place for a bite to eat. It was nice and we were finally warmed up a bit. I hadn’t mentioned much of the weather…but it was doggone cold in Amsterdam today! And wet! A lot of wet cold going on! Great for recovering from a bit of a bug and sinus infection!!! But everyone is cold and wet so it somehow doesn’t seem so bad!

We missed the hop on again for the canal boat to get us to Amsterdam Central Station, so we opted for a cab again. Wow were we in for a surprise during “rush hour” at the station. It was MOBBED!!! People were everywhere and walking at crazy paces! We navigated some of the shops and picked up some fruit to crunch on for the 3 hours train rides back and thought we’d have a stop at the loo before heading to our platform. It was 50 cents to get in! Fortunately Sara had a 1 Euro coin and we were both admitted by a very nice man. I have to say it was very odd to have a man in the bathroom with us! He was right there as I exited the stall to wash my hands!!! Some things are very different!

Our trip from Amsterdam to Mechelen in Belgium was the longest part of our trip and it went fairly quickly. It was so much busier than when we went in the morning. Then we had only 4 minutes to switch trains from platform 10 to platform 1. We moved really quickly and ran down and then back up the steps to our platform and made the train with probably under a minute to go before they shut the doors! I was pretty proud of that accomplishment! That bit of the ride was only another 20 minutes or so and we were back with just a short walk to the hotel.

Tomorrow’s plan is to train to Bruge and Gent; supposed to be lovely and unspoiled and hope I have the energy to see lots of both!

When I got into my room and took my shoes off, I got ahold of Pat and she had just returned from the final meal, etc. of the day’s study. We decided to meet down in the lobby again for another shared beer (or two) and a “catch up” chat before heading back to our rooms for the night. We’ve tried 4 different beers together now I think and they’re pretty good. She is a great person to chat with and so I am so glad I came to Europe this way. I don’t mind going off and doing the things I want to do, but it is nice to chat a bit with a pal at the end of it all!

Last confession for today….I’m a little homesick. I miss my poodles, my house/home, my sons, my friends, my sisters…(and brother). Was sick over Thanksgiving so I really didn’t see my family like I’m used to and that feels very WRON to me. Looking forward to the family gathering at Nina’s to make up for it.

Hope my sons are crunching the pretzels so I can make pretzel crunch bark when I get home!

It’s very late here as I finish off today’s blog 2:37am (I was behind so I decided to stay up and catch up! You can do that when you’re all alone with no one to be courteous to!).

To those who know Hebrew I say, Lilatov {good night!}