A Cultural Weekend

PICTURE OF THE WEEK - Rain doesn't stop play in Amsterdam. 

The Swine flu vaccine arrived at the clinic last week, so via letter I was invited to participate in the vaccination programme between 15.30 and 18.30 to have my Mexicaanse Griep Prik (Swine flu or H1N1).  I trundled along on my bike around 16.00 thinking I would just pop in on my way back from shopping.I couldn’t believe my eyes, it looked like the whole of Amsterdam was queuing for the jab, a line snaking down the canal and around the corner at least 100 people!  What’s going on asked a passing antipodean cyclist doing the school run, Oh just the flu jab I responded, no worries, (as they say down under).

If you haven’t had it yet, the needle is big enough to inject a horse, so be warned.  Actually the clinic did a terrific job of “priking” everyone.  Seven staff on duty, all the practice Doctors along with a few others. There was a general feeling of jollity as everyone squashed around the tiny waiting room awaiting their turn.  The vaccination comes in 2 parts, so after my second jab I should be ready for my imminent trip to Mexico, where, according to my source, there have been very few cases of the flu at all.

There has been so much rain lately in Amsterdam, it has been difficult to plan outside activities, but last Saturday was glorious.  A last minute plan  was decided, we would walk around the streets taking in Rembrandts' house en-route. We definitely want to get our money’s worth out of the Museum Card which is one of The Netherland’s best deals if you are spending time here. Two visits to any museum/gallery in the scheme and you have practically covered the original outlay for the card.   Rembrandt’s house is well worth the visit, built in 1606, perfectly restored and laid out in exactly the way it would have looked in the 15^th century.  Wood panelled rooms, walls covered with “The Masters” paintings along with those of his students, as well as other artists’ work he was selling at the time, you get a real feel for what life was like in those times.

The top floor of the house was HIS studio and there was a very interesting craftsman showing visitors how Rembrandt mixed his paint from powdered coloured stone and oil as well as another demonstrating the printing press showing how he prepared his etchings which were also very fashionable at the time.

On zondag (Sunday) Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) arrived in Amsterdam.  It’s a wonderful old tradition especially for the children.  Sinterklaas arrives with Swarte Piet (black Peter) and the parade goes through the city to the delight of all the children.  Click on the links to get the full story particularly the Wikipedia as it appears that the Canadians changed the story slightly when helping with the celebrations after WW11.  Unfortunately we missed this year’s parade because we had accepted an invitation by Dutch friends to drive to The Hague to see an Art Exhibition.   As we left in the pouring rain on our bikes to meet up with our friends (and the car) the street and the canals  were full of children dressed in the Swarte Piet beret (with feather) making their way to the parade.  We must make a note to stay and watch it next year.   The Exhibition in the Hague was paintings by Wouwerman,  an Artist I don’t know but who became famous through his paintings of horses.  Interesting enough, but the highlight of the visit, to the “Mauritshuis” as far as I was concerned was the wonderful Vermeer “Girl with a Pearl Earring”.  She is really beautiful.  Maurithuis is a stunning 17th century Palace, built on a lake in the old part of The Hague and home to some of many great artworks of Vermeer, Rembrandt, Holbein, Rubens and Van Dyck.   I was amazed that you can get so close to these works of art, although rules (written on your ticket) apply:  Visitors are not allowed to sit on the air conditioning grates or obstruct others from looking at the paintings, fair enough!  Bags larger than A4/letter size not permitted, wet coats MUST go in the cloakroom and only small pocket sized umbrellas allowed in if you keep them in your pocket!. Visitors must maintain 50cms distance from a painting – well I saw people touching them! You must not point pens and pencils at the paintings (for obvious reasons I suppose) magnifying glasses are prohibited, and finally for my Tour Guide friends out there, you must not ask people to move away from a painting??  Having read the rules we could now enjoy the works of art.  We definitely need to go back to The Hague and spend more time there.  A longer visit will be included in the tour we are planning for 2010 when we hope to take some holiday discovering the rest of The Netherlands.

There has been so much rain recently that our bicycle seats are permanently saturated.  Strange, because they are plastic but somehow the water seeps through to the middle so whenever you get off your bike you are soaked through to the skin, very uncomfortable, leaving you soggy in the nether regions.  Now I know why the local bikes are all sporting interesting looking plastic seat covers which look something like shower caps, I think I will head off to market and buy one before the next downpour.