Day 4 - Van Gogh Museum

Today didn't exactly work out as planned!  It was to be our day trip from Amsterdam to Delft and The Hague.  First blooper...the train station would not accept our credit card without a PIN number.  So off we went to use the ATM machine in the station.  2nd blooper, the ATM machine would not accept either of our cards.  Back to the hotel ... We were directed to the ATM machine in a supermarket near the hotel (our card is with the bank that owned the ATM).... Card rejected yet again!  Tried different ATM card...voila!  Cash.  By now, it was too late to take the train out of town.   Quick change of plans!

Off we went to take a tram to the Rikjs Museum.  Found the correct tram near Cental Staion, got tickets ( reminded to check in and out with our ticket) and had a quick ride to the museum quatier.  

Very long, non- moving line at the museum ...20 minutes til ticket could be purchased, so instead we bought tickets for the nearby Van Gogh Museum for 1 PM entry. At this point, it was definitely time for a Heineken!  

The museum area is lovely!  Several museums and the huge Concert Hall on a beautifully landscaped grassy acreage.  We enjoyed our wait for our 1 pm entry by wandering through the small market area and siting on a bench people watching and relaxing after our " busy" morning.  

       Concert Hall

The Van Gogh Museum was beautiful...nice entry movie depicting Vincent's life, Audio keyed to major works with excellent info, magnificent paintings.  The sunflowers, irises, almond trees, and boats are among my favorites.  Seeing the originals just blew me away!  The gift shop had beautiful momentous which I managed to resist!  After 2 hours, we were off to walk 'home'.  Art, the Map reader, got us back with a detour for lunch and a surprise stop at a market along the way...fabulous tastes of excellent Dutch cheeses ( especially the Baby Gouda) and amazing flowers and huge quantities of tulip and other bulbs for sale, lots of locals and tourists enjoying the markets - FUN!

             Self Portrait

         Irises - we have a print at home 

   One of a series of 15 Sunflowers ( 2 in this museum)

Flowers along the street next to museum

Pictures along the walk from Museum area to hotel

                     House for sale!

  Walking path in museum area

  Looks like Deli for ExPats

Market

Cheese Shop with yummy tastings

Statue that we use for directions

Back to our hotel and happy to relax for a few hours.  Hopefully to do our day trip to Delft early tomorrow AM!