is unique. Bikes and trams whiz by at lightning speed, as
you try to get your bearings. Crossing any thoroughfare
is a test of skill and agility. First the bike lane, then the
trams, then the cars...it will keep you on your toes.
I stayed in a beautiful hotel in the canal district. Situated
in a typical Amsterdam row house, the Max Brown Hotel
provides excellent accommodation, first rate service,
and a delicious breakfast included in your room rate. If
you like chocolate sprinkles on your toast, this is your
place. There is a charming little bar on the ground floor
and a breakfast room sous-sol. After a dinner out on the
town, up you go; the impossibly steep, winding staircase
is quintessentially Amsterdam. Luxurious rooms feature
either a window nook with street view or a balcony. With
all the amenities you would expect in a high class hotel,
the Max Brown has the softest beds I’ve ever slept on. Did
I mention extra pillows? I just sank in and didn’t come
up for eight hours. Lovely.
If you like art, the Van Gogh museum is absolutely
magnificent. It can be accomplished in a few hours
and is a bucket list experience. It’s fascinating to look
at his works and ponder his life. A person who suffered
profound mental illness, Van Gogh reflected unparalleled
beauty in his art. He was a master of texture and color.
You can look at prints all day long, but you won’t be able
to appreciate the way he used texture until you see the
original. Absolutely breathtaking.
Vincent van Gogh
The Van Gogh Museum
MARCH 2019
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