"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." ~George Bernard Shaw

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn


Wednesday, September 28, 2016

A Day to Remember at the Rijksmuseum September 28, 2016

 
Russell outside the Rijksmuseum

 
Aspiring artists...

 
So many people.
One has to be patient to see the paintings...

 
 

 

 
largest public art history research library in the
Netherlands. Pierre Cuypers was the architect selected for
designing the Rijksmuseum.

 
 

 
 

 
In the lowest floor of the museum there was a room
where one can make their own renditions of
Rembrandt's art. Some are posted here on the wall.
 

 
Our last dinner before leaving tomorrow!
Good vacation but it's time to go home!
~~~~
 

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Wordless Wednesday! September 27, 2016

Hello Amsterdam!
We caught a train from Zaltbommel yesterday
morning to Amsterdam and now after checking
into our hotel we wandered and found a
good place to eat before wandering around some more!
We bought our tickets for the Rijksmuseum
and will explore and enjoy after our breakfast!
Tomorrow we fly home-so we will make the most of our day. Our weather is perfect so we will walk everywhere!
Here are a few photos from yesterday...
 
 
Leaving Zaltbommel

 
Arriving at Utrecht Centraal where we transferred
to the train going to Amsterdam Centraal
 

 
Rijksmuseum is only a block from our hotel.
Hotel Cornelisz is a nice hotel with friendly people.
 

 
Rijksmuseum gardens...

 
Bicycles are the main way for the locals
to commute and you need to look out for them!

 
 
 
 
 

 
Cheers!

 
I love all the canals and houseboats alongside
and all the different boats...  

 
Have a lovely day today!
~~~

Yesterday's Walk to Zaltbommel September 27, 2016

With only a few days left before we fly home-
we walked a few kilometers to Zaltbommel...
 
 
Walking along the dike path... 
Everything is so orderly- even the power lines are all buried...


 
Had a delicious lunch here...

 
 

 
Swimming after dinner...
Rens and Mauri go 3 times a week
and will be competing starting this weekend!
 

 
Here's Mauri! 


 
Breakfast with cats...
 
 

 
And everyone rides their bicycles to school and work!
 

 
 

 
Even their mom- Chantal!

 
Bye bye- we hope we'll see you soon!
 

 
Now it's just us and the cats until
our cab comes to take us to the train station!
We'll be off to Amsterdam until we go home Thursday.
 
 
Our train tickets- note the "Toeslap" tax added
on the lower right hand corner!
(It actually says "Toeslag"- but "Toeslap" is funnier!

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Awwwsome Sunday and Now it's Monday! September 25, 2016

 
Sunday we visited Chantal's parents.
Chantal's family runs a large dairy in Deurne-
about a 30 minute drive from Zaltbommel.

 
Their next door neighbors have lots of pigs.
I think one of these piglets is out of place! 
 
 
 
Next door was also an old motorbike show.  
 
 
 
Rens and kitty
 

 
Russell and I thought this kitty was the prettiest...

 
We counted about 6 cats at one point...

 
They followed Russell around the farm...
 
 
We had a great lunch and afterwards
we enjoyed being outside and visiting.
A lovely sunny and warm day.
~~~

 

In the Netherlands visiting good friends! September 23-24, 2016

We flew into Amsterdam late Friday night and are now in Zaltbommel until Tuesday. Very fun being with the family!
It's been 10 years since we were here.
Mauri is now 10 years old and we had never met
7 year old Rens!
Go to this link to see my post from 2006!
Here are a few photos of yesterdays tour of
Loevestein Castle built in around 1360.
You can read about the castle's history here .
 
 
Walking towards to castle...


 
Gunpowder Tower

 
Interior shots

 
Chantal and Rens dressed up
as a knight...
 
 
More interior shots...

 
 

 
Subject matter for a painting...
 

 
 

 
Looking out one of the windows...
in the past this castle was used as a prison...
 

 
 
 

 
Sheep everywhere!

 
 
 
 
Windmill spotted on the way home!
~~~~
Have a great week!