Amsterdam First Full Day

With the guide book and maps, I had planned out first day out, and Vicki was very happy with my choices.  We started off by taking the tram and got off at the Sarphatipark, and walked towards Albert Cuypstraat for the market.

We would have stopped in one or two of the lovely cafes with their beautifully decorated cakes in the windows

but we had the treasures of the Rijksmuseum to explore.

I could have spent all day there.  I loved these two Delft jardiniers,

and what a spice box from the 1680s

and how about the use of the Old Man's Beard motif on this superb tall standing vase.  It dates from 1908 by Leonard Gebleux and comes from Sevres. 

The tall vase decorated with the stylized old man's beard, which is wild clematis, with thistle in the background and it sits statuesquely in the middle of the floor in its one glass cabinet.

there were tulips around

and I was delighted to find the characteristic glass rummers in the still lifes. You could see the damask weave in this one.  I love damask, this was just so crisp with its fold lines.

This Still Life with Turkey Pie by Peter Claesz  dates from 1627.  And there is a bread bun just so similar to one I recently baked.

We had a delicious lunch, mine was some thickly sliced smoked salmon on a bed of salad beneath which was a slice of excellent sourdough bread, Vicki has a mustard soup.  There is absolutely no need to go out if you are peckish as the service and quality is excellent.

I just had to go and see some of the Vermeers.  My fancy was taken by this one:  The Milkmaid. 

We then went on our Canal Boat Trip.  This again was included in our card, and it gave us a great tour of some of the main canals, and we were in the warm out of the cold biting wind.

We enjoyed out walks along the canals looking at the wonderful facades, and went out in the evening for again another delicious meal.