Amsterdam Day 4 (Saturday) To the Van Gogh museum and a nearby park

I've been to the Van Gogh museum numerous times before and it never gets old.  There were some new exhibits this time, as well the recently restored Bedroom in Arles  painting.  There was extensive documentation on the restoration process, which was fascinating.

A calliope situated near Centraal Station as I was departing on a tram

It was such a lovely day.

Many people were taking advantage of the weather and spending time in the park.

How cute is this?  Look at the baby's little bike seat on the handle bars!

Inside the Van Gogh museum, a special exhibit on  the underpaintings and substrates of 

Van Gogh's work.  Very interesting.

Read below:

Van Gogh's back

The trees are among my favorite paintings.

I just can't get enough of them.

"Almond Blossom"

This painting reminds me of Yvonne Porcella.

"Field Under A Stormy Sky" (1890)

This reminds me of the Flint Hills of KS.

Newly restored "Bedroom at Arles" 

a replication of the room

info about the restoration and color matching

Another wonderful surprise was a special exhibit of vintage posters.

Amsterdam Day 3 (Friday): wandering aimlessly

I felt better today so I was ready to wander a bit with a friend who came over with her husband from the US.  We decided to hit the Albert Cuypmarket (an open street market in the south part of the city).  This was a very interesting assortment of food, clothing, sundries, and cloth.  I was most interested in the fish market because, after all, we are near the North Sea.  I love to look at local food/produce.
Here are a few random images from the day:

The tram schedule at Centraal Station

a portion of the street market

live crabs

somone's future fish stew/stock?

a bizarre mosaic near the market

a funky little tea shop, where we hoped to get lunch but they only had cake & tea

Bird cake, anyone?

This reminds me of die-cut felt

Love the name of this tea (Earl Gray in disguise)

From the market we took the tram to the Flower Market.  I love this place.  I am always frustrated by the ridiculous FDA regulations about "certification" of bulbs.  Translated, that means the growers must pay exorbitant amounts of money to "certify" their bulbs.  Since it is so expensive they choose to certify a very small amount of their produce.  Therefore, one cannot purchase just anything to take back to the US.  Why is it that I always want what I cannot legally have?  Forget the cannibis starter kits, here is what I want:

so many bulbs and most of them will not grown in Texas.

Aren't these Gerber daisies amazing?  The chocolate centers just killed me!

I'm certain this is a Mandrake from the Harry Potter movie.

Isn't it?!

See the hook at the top of the building on the left?

This is how people move large pieces of furniture into their homes!

Bells on the side of a building...

Another street scene

? I don't know why....

I see this every time I'm in the city:  the facade of a Catholic church,

which seems so odd:  why a parrot?

Another church.

The wires above the metro train

...more later!

Amsterdam Day 2 (Thursday)

I doodled and painted during the afternoon.

A collaged view from my hotel room window....

I stuck close to our hotel today for 2 reasons:  1) it was raining.  A lot.  2) I, er, needed to be close to a restroom.  That is all that need be said about that.  Since I'm an RN and therefore a walking pharmacy, naturally I had all the over-the-counter remedies for said affliction.  By late afternoon, I was regaining my confidence.  So much so, that I was convinced to go to a Thai restaurant with a bunch of Newtek people.  Perhaps not a completely wise decision, but whatever.
The rain stopped and the evening was absolutely wonderful for being outside and walking around.

Two mounted police stand quietly across the road from a trannie or S&M bar.  

I didn't get close enough to be able to distinguish.  

Actually, I'm not sure I could tell if I were looking in the windows.

I really liked the outfits some of the patrons were wearing, though.

We passed that store again that has the cool masks.

Seriously, any place that has a David Bowie "Ziggy Stardust-era" mask

for sale has my vote of confidence.

I shot photos without a flash.  Sorry.

This is a "love lock" on one of the canal bridges.

It made me wish I had brought the ones that our daughter gave us for the holiday.

This cat is guarding a closed restaurant.

The wall of the Amsterdam Museum of Natural History, circa 1660.

It was formerly an insane asylum.  

A very popular "coffee shop" across the road from where we were walking.

A typical street scene in the Leidsplein-area.

Lots of restaurants and most of the side streets are off-limits to cars.

Here I am with my favorite guy.