Beyond the fact that it had always been my dream to visit Amsterdam, I am a crazy tourist (at least I admit it:)---I always have a detailed list and schedule of attractions to see in a place I'm visiting. In this case, of course, it was much worse since Amsterdam has so much to offer to its visitors and I only had about 30 hours to see as much as I could; I was barely able to sleep the night before my "Amsterdam day" and got up at the crack of dawn to catch the bus from Volendam to the Amsterdam Central Station. The day greeted me with cold rain, but I was determined nonetheless. So, after getting to the city and purchasing a tourist pass for the day, I embarked on my tour.

Amsterdam Centraal (central station)

Since the museums had not opened yet, my first stop was the Beguine Convent---a collection of houses around a pretty courtyard that still houses women who dedicate themselves to helping the poor and doing other good deeds (but these women are not nuns---some of them had been married and had lost their husbands). Next up was Neiuwe Kerk (New Church)---a Cathedral which used to be a Catholic church, but was converted into a Protestant church (and thus stripped of all the figurines and crucifixes) when the Netherlands became Protestant after the Reformation. The church is now a place of coronation for Dutch royalty and also the site of various exhibitions. The current one was on the Kingdom of Oman, so I got to learn a bit more about this interesting middle-eastern country.

Unfortunately, the Royal Palace was undergoing reconstruction so I couldn't see it, so I decided to leave Dam Square (city center) and walk a bit around the beautiful canals that cross the city similarly to those in St. Petersburg, Russia. Amsterdam is a relatively small city, even smaller than DC, so I was able to cover a lot of ground on foot, even though the nice Dutch people who kindly gave me directions always suggested that I took the tram.


Next on the agenda was Rembrandt House, where the great painter lived and worked. I learned that at the time, it was a very extravagant purchase, and Rembrandt ended up going bankrupt so the house was repossessed---it's a miracle that the things that belonged to him, such as his collections of paintings and objects from around the world, had been preserved. I also learned that he was a very talented and prolific etcher (?), or maker of etchings, and actually had all the equipment to make those in his house. He also had a number of students who worked in his house and whose paintings Rembrandt sold in addition to his---he was a successful art dealer as well.

On my way to the Rembrandt House I had spotted a perfect place for lunch overlooking a canal, but after the house tour, wasn't quite ready to eat and decided to walk around and admire some more views as the weather had improved from the morning downpour. However, I got terribly lost and wandered around for a while before locating my lunch spot:)

Next was the boat cruise along the canals. I couldn't remember the names and the history of all the canals we passed, but it was fascinating to see the similar, but different houses lining the canal streets. Since the city is built practically on water, the houses are leaning either forward or to the side---I tried to capture it, but of course, you have to see it to believe. The gables of the houses are also unique and are made in several distinct styles.


On our cruise, we also saw the Southern Church, first protestant church built in Amsterdam after the conversion, the numerous "water houses" (homes floating in the canals), and the buildings that used to belong to the Dutch West Indies Company. It was this company that sailed upon an island in North America and build a city there naming it New Amsterdam, which is now known as New York.
The Southern Church

Former building of the Dutch West Indies Company (see initials on the building)

After the cruise, I decided to transfer my suitcase from the locker room at the Central Station to my hotel, which was located in the Museum District in another part of Amsterdam. I took a tram to get there, which in itself was a cultural experience. The Dutch are so organized that you can only enter the tram through 2 doors and then exit through the other 2 doors. It took me a while to figure it out, but once you get it, it surprisingly makes sense. My hotel was in a quite residential area near Volden Park, and, as it turned out, was managed by a Russian guy with a Ukranian receptionist who gave me all sorts of helpful tips about the city and the quirks of the Dutch people:).

My last stop of the day was also by far the best---the Van Gogh Museum. I have seen his works here at a visiting exhibit in Washington, but to have a whole museum dedicated to my favorite Post-Impressionist painter...it was beyond words. In addition to the paintings, the museum displayed Van Gogh's numerous letters to his brother Theo and his friends, other artists in France and Holland. It gave a glimpse into the painter's sensitive and somewhat conflicted nature, and revealed his long struggle with mental illness---he did cut off the ear of his friend and fellow painter, Paul Gauguin. Van Gogh worked in both France and the Netherlands and drew his inspiration both from people, mostly peasants, and nature. Even though the subjects of his paintings are quite simple, the choice of color and the art of the painter evoke an emotional reaction that touches the heart and leaves a big impression on the mind. Unfortunately, Van Gogh ended his life at the age of 37---I can't even imagine how much more he could have created had he lived longer.

After this amazing visit, I simply crashed back at the hotel reflecting on all the things that I had seen during the day. There was still so much to do, and only a few hours of the morning left before my flight back to DC.