Contrasts

 We had 4 rather severe storms in a row lately and when we got on the train to go to Amsterdam last monday, the last one was still blowing my hairpins out.

It happened to be my birthday and I was in for a day out. First we went to the Stedelijk museum (mainly modern art) and then we visited the Rijksmuseum. We skipped the Van Gogh this time; it was too busy and crowded to my taste. Next time Vincent!

Matisse

Chagall

Mondriaan, all at the Stedelijk

And Vermeer, Breitner and Asselijn at the Rijksmuseum.

Amsterdam being pretty as always

Then on Wednesday, we took the Ladies to Naturalis. What a contrast! And such a beautifull exhibition of thousands of animals. The Ladies fav were the dinosaurs, ofcourse..

They were allowed to hold a piece of dino poop and a genuine piece of triceratops skin.

Another day for the books!

Yesterday the carnaval festivities started here in the southern part of the country, after 2 years of cancellation due to Covid. It lasts untill Tuesday night and everywhere there are people in silly costumes, cheerfull music is playing, bars are crowded etc

At the same time there`s constant tv coverage of the war in Ukrain. Footage of fathers saying goodbye to their families, people seeking shelter, bombs, tanks…This time it`s not from WW2 or something like that, but 2022 in our backyard, in Europe. It`s horrible, heartbreaking and all because of the delusion of one man.