Museums and friends

Yesterday it was wonderful to meet with Rien who made a train ride in from Eindhoven to meet Nico and I for the afternoon. It was great to see my two camino friends again - it had been a year and a half. Rien showed us the flat where he lived in the 1980s, studying and listening to New Wave music and being ultra cool! He also gave us advice on what to see and do. We ate at his favourite pub and then wandered around. When we checked in to the Amsterdam Downtown Hotel finally, I was happy to find that my violin was still there in a corner of the dining room where I had left it. Those of us who arrived too early to check in had to leave our things and go for a walk until they opened. Then we three wandered some more and ate some more, this time at a restaurant serving traditional Dutch food, much like Rien's mother used to make.

Last night, we shared a dorm with two other men, one who came in really late, snored a bit, left for several hours, came back, and continued to snore until after we left the room at 8:30am. The other room mate received phone calls from some woman (yes, you could hear her across the room his phone was so long) every 30 minutes or so, at least 5 or 6 times during the night. And his phone was NOT on vibrate. We resolved to speak with him if it happens again tonight.

This morning we enjoyed the hotel's  complimentary breakfast and hit the road for a Beguinage - a courtyard or park area the surrounding houses of which were occupied in the 1600s by women who wanted to live in community but not be nuns. In modern times 93 women still live in the flats and it is a safe and peaceful place for them. There's a chapel there and religious art and simple statues in the courtyards. It's a very peaceful and beautiful place, particularly with the light snow dusting the green grass.

Then we found the Amsterdam Historic Museum just a block away. Then we met one of my Iceland trip friends, Jan from Leiden for lunch and ate at an Italian resto ina less touristy area. It was really nice to see Jan again and remember our epic hiking trip in the west fjords when he and Ruurd had worn jeans and got completely soaked. I had loaned one of them my mitts to stay warm. We had a wonderful visit and then had to head to the Rijksmuseum of Art (many, many Rembrandts) before it closed. Huge line-up, as there's airport-like security inside. Rembrandt's The Nightwatch is the featured artwork. The gallery is undergoing repairs but there's still a good collection on display.

Waiting in line at the Rijksmuseum. Nico in his usual guide-book study pose.

Then out to find another resto. We settled on a Nepalese place which gave Nico the opportunity to tell me about his trip to Nepal last spring. Really good food.

Now, wandering the town. I haven't practiced since the Winnipeg Airport and hope to sneak in a few minutes in the Hotel cafeteria this evening.

Didn't get to! No noise allowed after 11pm! Except for the loud snoring and phone-ringing in the rooms. So not fair!