Shameless selfies at art museum

I spent a glorious few hours at the museum, making sure I caught my favourites..( did I say I did this by myself.. Like alone??? Am I wrong to enjoy being alone in a foreign country so much?)   

As I approached each, i had tears.. just so overcome with being close to these materpieces. I never really 'got  it' till now..i remember travelling with an older guy in Rome. He openly weapt as we went into the Cistine Chapel. I get it niw..

The nightwarchmen was first on the list. Aweinspiring.... Then Waterloo... Which I'm sorry to say didn't catch my breath as the others did. Yes.. Its freaking huge.. Yes.. There is alot of detail, but hetotally  flunked on the horses. Perhaps he'd never see a real live one?

Then The milkmaid.. And finally ghe self portrait of Van Gough.i think if we were here longer, I'd go over to the museum totally dedicated to Van Gough. Age and I went last time we were in Amsterdam and I remember the tears as I stood in front of each painting and nit really knowing why they affected me so much. 

Anyway.. Great morning spent!!!

Tiny Amsterdam - fabulous!!

So blessed to have my beautiful friend Mashenka to stay with while in Amsterdam.

The homes are super cute and tiny.  Rooms are accessed via very steep stairs. The foot treds not wide enough to stand on, so its side on the whole way. 

  With storage at a premium, many things are put in the stair cases. Neighbours have to bustle past.

It really makes me think about how quiet Anne Frank and her family had to have been for thise yearscthey hid away.

Lilly and I have the cutest bedroom way up in the attic. We look over a beautiful park and can hear blackbirds in the mornings.

One fabulous night in Amsterdam

I have so been looking forward to spending an adult night out with girlfriend ,Mashenka. Both of us busy mummas, no time to ourselves or to do things for us.

So a night in the Dam.... Choices choices...

We wandered the red light district. Man.. If I had a body like those girls, damn straight I'd be walking round near naked. We are not allowed to take photos , so you'll have to take it from me.

The Dutch have everything so sorted and normalised. Check out my photo of the vibrator shop.. We had meant to go to the erotica museum, but our time got sucked away in a cafe/ pub - the famous Bebe.

Then we headed off to get some of the best fries ever.. And mayo. OH My!!

Then... We stumbled into The Alto, the oldest Jazz and Blues club in Amsterdam.

It was shoulder to shoulder, but the music was intoxicating.

Just when my legs felt like they were going to be sucked into the floor, two people up the front.. And on seats .. Left.. Mashenka and I grabbed them and then chilled for the next few hours. Wow. Brilliant music.. Dodgy photographs as it was smoky and dark.. But I hope you get the idea.

And off we go again... To Amsterdam now

All packed up in Paris and off to the train.

Monsanto demonstration in Amsterdam

Hmm I am in Amsterdam only ten mins and have wound up in a demonstration about Monsanto and their destruction  Of our environment..such a vibrant atmosphere. Drums beating, dancing and folk airing their views