Paintings in Amsterdam

My dear Friends

The Rijksmuseum is in the middle of being renovated but you can see most of the best paintings, especially 'The Night Watch.' This painting by Rembrandt is full of burnished reds and golds. When it was originally hung, it was on a very long wall, which gave it much more depth-today it was in a small room, but the colours still stood out.

Virtually next to it are the Vermeers, which of course are much more homely. Vermeer's colours are also bold, and he adds yellows and blues, which are intimate and attractive. I bought a card for a friend with his painting of 'The girl with the pearl earring' (which has been made into a film). but I couldn't see it actually in the gallery. Despite the smallness of the current space in the gallery, you could still appreciate the stunning beauty of the paintings.

Dazzled by all this, Liesbeth and i decided to treat ourselves and go to the art nouveau cafe called the American. It was very near the museum and you have to dodge several fountains in front of the building. We sat in the corner on two armchairs and enjoyed a nice lunch with a glass of wine. At the next table ws a very nice retired Swedish couple-they had heard me telling the waiter that my family was Scottish, Swedish, Russian and Polish. and, of course Jewish.My Swedish grandmother came from Karlstadt, in the middle of the country and on the lake. this nice couple came from near Malmo, where my mother used to go for holidays and which is across the 'Sound' from Copenhagen.

I have to admit that i feel rather tired after all the walking and sightseeing-I leave tomorrow-but it has been a wonderful opportunity to catch up with Chava and Liesbeth, and meet all their children at last.

I am left with one impression which I want to share with you, but tomorrow is my last day and I will wait until returning to england. In the short term, I look forward to the final breakfast and one more conversation with the nice man from Vancouver (originally turkish) who I met a couple of days ago in the hostel dining room.

A bit too early to give you the following greeting, but here goes-

Wel te Ruste-Sleep well.

Shalom from Gila