Rijks Museum

 After a night of recovery, John and I felt ready to take on the Rijks Museum that was just a block from our hotel.  We set the alarm for 8:20, but didn’t need it because the sun rose at 3am I think and the birds were very loud.  No AC and while it is cool enough without it at night, 

the birds are even louder with the window open.  So, we were up and had some custard cakes that we bought the night before for breakfast.  Better than buttah bread even.  Thankfully these things aren’t available at home because I would have even more trouble with my weight.  We got some great pictures in front of 

the Amsterdam sign, of the museum district and playing in the fountains around the museum.  We got our ticket and went straight in.  It was different than all the lines that we stood in throughout Italy.  I asked our ticket taker where everyone was and she said “asleep”.  We had read in our book that you 

couldn’t take pictures here, but they told us just no flash.  So, there are finally some pictures of a world class museum and it’s incredible art.  John and I spent 6 hours here.  That included a 30 minute lunch in the museum café which was our only stoppage throughout the day.  The only thing that I can say with perfect conviction as some advice for anyone visiting this museum is: don’t go to the 3^rd floor where they have their 20^th century art.  I did not know that there was something that could

make me say, “Wow, we have great ______ art in America.” (add any genre of art in the blank)   But that is what happened.  This was the worst modern art I’ve ever seen.  And yes, mother, there are levels of good and bad modern art.  There was one Warhol, but it was down on the same hall as the Rembrandts and Vermeers because it was their only good modern piece and it wasn’t even that good.  They had some Appels, but they were the worst Appel’s I’ve ever seen.  I will include one piece that just made me angry, so if the purpose of art is to create emotion, this one did.