greetings from amsterdam, where it's been sunny, grey, rainy, hot and cold - all at once at all times. it's light until about 9 PM at night (i guess because it's pretty up there) and it's just a city to be lost in, a city to enjoy everything in smaller scales.

my cold has finally escaped me, thanks to some 500 mgs of antibiotics. and of course, no jet lag due to...NO JET LAG! sure i was a bit tired yesterday but i was fine after a hot shower and delicious pancakes.

i went on the canal cruise, and ate a delicious meal and went to bed at the normal time.

today was a busy day: i woke up naturally to a great dutch b'fast provided by the hotel and headed out to Rijksmuseum and then right next to it, the venerable Van Gogh museum where i saw a stunning painting which i've never seen before. i can't even describe the color correctly. i just wanted to be embraced by this painting. have a look:

it's called the Almond Blossom and this was a present to celebrate his brother & sister-in-law's newborn. it moved me.

after such moving exhibitions, i walked to this hilarious & small exhibition. i will have to post pictures soon, but suffice to say that i was enjoying this museum pretty by myself, except 4 accompanying cats. ha ha!

then i went to the flower market by the canals - so many tulips! flowers! :)

then i walked to the Rembrandt's house/museum. what a great house! did you know that in the 17th century, people used to sleep in box beds...which are about 3/4 length of an average person today. so you may think: were they that short? yes and no: while they were shorter back then, they also thought sleeping fully horizontal meant blood vessels popping in their heads so they reclined while sleeping - how uncomfortable!!!!! i'm glad i'm not in the 17th century right now, i'll tell you that much.

and then i went to the BIBLE MUSEUM in this european sin city. pretty unbelievable knowing that this is a city that's so so open to so many sinful things, yet here it is, an international BIBLE museum. how funny! it was quite informative - heavily on Old Testament. i forgot that the netherlands had a very important reformed movement.

and finally to my last museum outtings...the anne frank house. i highly recommend this tour to anybody going over to europe for any reason. this place moved me beyond words and i was teary the entire time i was there, while i was climbing the stairs she climbed, looking at the pictures she looked (on her walls), reading what she wrote in the journals, etc. it simply amazes me again the ugliness and deranged beliefs by the nazis.

that concludes my busy but relaxing day - interrupted by frequent cafe stoppings.

to be continued as i travel to Utrecht tomorrow!