Chapter 4: Day 3 in Amsterdam

 Hi Koko, 

I told you about our second day's experience in the last post. On the third day we were going to the Van Gogh museum, which was honestly the one thing that I was super excited about. You not so much, because - how many museums are we going to see Ma! :( 

I mean look at that people pleasing smile of yours - I know it very well, it seems to convey - Ok, I'm here, but I'd much rather be somewhere else.

And the museum junkie that I (& your father) am, I wanted to know about everything at the museum so I took up the audio guide. But somehow, within the time that we stepped in and we were at this first painting (The Potato eaters), something happened. Suddenly there was a shift, till now you have seen paintings of kings and queens, in their livery and luxury, and here was someone painting some ordinary people during a very ordinary mealtime. Absolute kudos to the wonderful storytelling and the thrill of finding different paintings on different walls. Suddenly chancing upon that painting he gifted his brother, or finding out that the driving force of bringing Van Gogh to the world was actually his sister-in-law. Also, I'll never forget how you first reached this painting, rushed back to us and declared this is the Sunflower, it's one of many paintings in the series, and do you know the amazing thing about it has all kind of flowers painted, even the droopy ones. You didn't know it was one his most famous works, but naturally drawn to it. Such is the essence, I guess!

After spending a brilliant morning here, it was time to bid adieu to this beautiful city. As we slowly rolled out of the station and the large windmills on the horizon flitted across the windows, you said if you have to move somewhere, you'd move to this city. Chewing on some Stroopwafels, we made our way to the next destination of Brussels. 

As we alighted from the train at Brussels Central, there seemed to be a shift in the very air. Coming from the relaxed and friendly vibe, this city was a rude shock to all our senses. I may be biased, but this is one city I would not want to go back to. The first thing you notice about the place is its people, everyone seemed to be in an immense amount of rush. The place was humming with a shuffle of a million feet at the same time, everyone running to catch the next train or the next meeting. It was a typical bureaucratic city, every next building was a headquarter of something or something. People in uptight suits, with their unpleasant squeaky shoes and disagreeable attaché cases or files, or absolute ragamuffins loitering about every corner. And the police, the place is teeming with uniformed officers! Even the dogs in the city seemed snooty and pugnacious. All in all, I was not impressed. It didn't help that the city square was under renovation and some of the places truly resembled the metro construction site here. 

It was only after tasting the fries (the same ones which we call French fries but were actually invested here - every Belgian will tell you this story but we will still call them French fries!) and churros was my heart a little satisfied and pacified.