And the journey begins. The minute I stepped out of customs I could feel the European atmosphere, and by that I mean cigarette smoke. The airport isn’t that special, but as soon as your our you get a real taste of what this place is all about. Entrances to 5 different train stops all funnel out directly to to front entrance of the airport. Within minutes I had shady looking characters asking me if I was looking for a taxi. Yes, as a matter of fact I am, but there isn’t a chance in hell I’m letting you take me to one.
The first thing I noticed about the taxis is that they aren’t a Toyota Prius. Mercedes Benz all the way. This sleek black coupe was ripping down the freeway in a heart beat. Where we headed from there I really have no idea, but we ended up at the flat I’m renting. I grabbed the keys, dropped my bags, and headed off to explore. Having just travelled for the last 11 hours it was either take a nap, or head out.
The streets are narrow and cars are everywhere, parking is expensive, if you can even find it, so a bicycle is the dominated mode of transportation. Bike lanes everywhere (vancouverites would go mad!), there is even traffic lights specifically for them.
I took a quick browse into the Heineken Experiences, basically their brewery and show case, on my way to find the Rijksmuseum. Having been closed for 10 years for reconstruction, the executive director of the museum is bringing it into the 21st century, unlike other museums of its kind. From the aesthetics and architecture of the building, to the collection it holds.
Want to take a picture of a piece?? Go ahead. It’s one, if not the only, museum where you can actually do that (without a flash, of course). The idea behind this, along with releasing multiple images of the collection digitally, is that the more exposure the museum and the collection gets, the more popular it will become. I’m not going to lie, this sits very will with me. It’s not that I can’t use my mind to remember, or words to describe what I’ve seen to my friends and family, but like they say… A picture is worth a thousand words, and I plan to take lots of picture.
