Rijksmuseum

Thursday

We awoke to very gray clouds this morning.  Headed for breakfast before selecting the necessary coats for the day.  What a smorgasboard...eggs, sausage, bacon, fruit, cereal, croissants, bread bins, cheese, meat, orange juice and hot beverages..a delightful surprise! (sorry Sheryl, but it was good and unexpected, and we need a good start to our touring days!)

Impressive Grand Hall

Decided that jackets should be taken just in case. 

We hopped aboard a tram right at central station. Our first stop was the Rijksmuseum which had been under renovations on Pam's last visit.  We had ordered headsets a along with our tickets on line and were able to enjoy the artwork at our own pace.  By arriving by 9:30 we were well ahead of the tour groups. The Rijkmuseum just reopened April 2013 after a 10 year renovation.......what an amazing place.  Each display of art and artifacts were displayed in such a way that the lighting to the display was enough to take a good picture.  My favourite parts were the library and the doll houses.   A short coffee break part way through allowed us to observe the new lobby, which had obviously had been an outside courtyard but now was under a beautiful glass covere that enclosed the entrance features (tickets, information, bag checking, meeting places and the coffee shop)  Outside in the gardens we took another break to enjoy the serenity and the kids playing in fun water feature.

See the spiral staircase!

Doll House

A delft porcelain collection above a fireplace

Covered courtyard

There are kids in the centre

A walk through Vondelpark for a cache was lovely until the rain began.  The showers came and went as we cached on this area.  A carved woodcutter on a large tree (a cache) was a highlight.  As the rain continued steadily, another tram ride was in order.  Back to Central station and our hotel to have late lunch, dry out and rest.

Art in the park!

 

Woodcutter in the tree!

As the sun came out, we headed toward Chinatown for a cache. Met a nice young couple from Nebraska at this cache.  Next was the smallest house in Amsterdam...where we arrived just as the garbage was being picked up..we assume the garbage strike is over!  Working our way to Dam square, an Argentina restaurant caught our eye and we enjoyed a very filling meal(yes S. food again!)  We are trying to walk along as many different streets and canals as possible to experience the vast array of architecture within the city.

Strike is over....garbage being picked up in rush hour!