May 24, 2012

Netherlands! #4


Outside the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam:
Loving the drain spouts!



The "XXX"
The coat of arms
is everywhere in The Netherlands;
the three x's are to represent the three types of
disasters that had plagued the country
X - Floods  (The majority of the country is under sea level)
X - Fires  (Many buildings have thatched roofs - burn easily)
X - Disease (Rats and sewage could sicken a continent)


Also note that many of the city buildings
are tall and narrow;
making moving furniture up or down skinny steps difficult.
Note the support bar near the tops of many buildings -
some are still used for furniture moving!



A short walk from Novotel Amsterdam
to the corner bakery
(yum!)
and back!


Go Colonel!
(KFC's everywhere)


Pumpkin soup on a cold blustery day.



I have a matching bumper sticker, too!



Tony in the tour bus:
On the way to...
not sure.
(The Hague?)
Giving a brief description
of...
well, I can't quite recall.
but it was a good lesson!




Everywhere.


We stopped the tour bus at one
ancient windmill
(with thatched roof and ducks in the pond),
climbed a nearby hill
and discovered some friendly sheep.
We and they...  were amused.




The fishing village where
the Herring Incident
took place...



A house
(from the bus window)
with cement goose
in the yard.
But they get the real ones, too.


For the rappin' cats in your life.


Indonesian restaurant
De Poentjak,
The Hague.
Amazing.
I didn't even think I
liked
lamb.
Until now.
Oh, and it was
David-the-Elder's birthday, too!
(he is 83!)







The Hague
every street.



Tessa


And in honor of meeting
Americans!
She painted her shoes...



And her nails!






-M

May 23, 2012

Netherlands! #3


Notice the unusual item inside this restaurant?
No - not the Coke.
Not the Cafe au lait.
How about the furry guy watching?!
YES!  Dogs ARE allowed!



And during anther evening...
At the most wonderful Indonesian restaurant
in The Hague:





Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
The city's community museum
with a large selection of Mondrian art,
and currently home for
"The Girl With The Pearl Earring"





Tessa
Model for the 5-Day Drawing course.
(Her first modeling job!)





 







-M



May 22, 2012

May 20, 2012

Netherlands! #2

The Ryder Studio School
visited the Netherlands for a two-week session
"The Rembrandt Pilgrimage";
a tour made up of a group of artists
exploring the cities and towns of
Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh and others.
We also explore working in the wonderful light
during a 5-day drawing instruction in The Hague,
and then complete our tour
visiting other historic and artistic sites,
finishing with a colorful stroll through
a very large tulip garden....







Rijksmuseum
Within walking distance to our hotel -
visited many times, thanks to our
"Museumkaart":


Purchased as part of our Tour;
for free entrance to
many museums all over The Netherlands,
and good for a year!

First three days of our tour in Amsterdam;
canal cruise, visiting museums,
Rembrandt's home,



Zaanse Schans
A historical village for some afternoon sketching...


...And where we were tempted,
and yet resisted buying wooden shoes...


And then on to the fishing village,
Volendam for more sketching,
and to enjoy fresh seafood.
(See my next blog under "Friends and Fun"
for specific herring-related adventures...)
And completing our visit of Amsterdam at the
Van Gogh Museum.




From Amsterdam to the Hague
(about 40 miles)
to begin the 5-day drawing class,
meet our model,
explore the ocean and play on the beach,
and continue to explore amazing works of art
in several museums.



-M

May 19, 2012

Netherlands Friends/Fun #1

First Day:

Freedom of speech.

In the Amsterdam Novotel sitting area.
The characters of this adventure:
(Left to Right)
Dory (Albuquerque, NM),
Toby (Seattle, WA),
Cecilia (Mexico City, Mexico),
Celeste (Santa Fe, NM)...


... (Partial view of) David "the Younger", (Birmingham, AL),
Tina (San Francisco, CA),
and her daughter Kasey (San Francisco, CA),
Anwar (Australia),
Emile (1/2 time Santa Fe, NM and 1/2 time The Hague, Netherlands),
Tony (Santa Fe, NM),
David "the Elder" (Albuquerque, NM), (and no relation to "the Younger")



One checked-bag
One carry-on
Two shoulder bags
And enough "stuff" for two weeks for two people.
Items never brought out of the bags?
=Summer capris, short-sleeved top, flip flops, and my sunglasses....




Emile our friend, "local", tour guide and comedian...
Private(!) boat tour through Amsterdam canals.


 

 Need a taxi?




 Have I mentioned all the bikes?



Count the bridges in view...




Tina, Cecilia, Anna (Crystal Lake, IL), Kasey
(and John's scarf...)



Our boat captain casting off for another evening tour
 at an open mooring near our hotel.





Traditional Dutch dinner
Toby and Mercia (Seattle, WA)




Emile describing many of the items on the menu
and Anna;
(probably as thrilled as I
with the thought,
"I'm not dreaming;
I'm in Amsterdam!")



Most tulip views are probably from our final full day in
The Netherlands.
More colors than I can imagine...