Day Two in Amsterdam

Today started out with an 11:00 AM wake-up. After a lazy morning with the kids and Leslie, I set out for downtown Amsterdam via the 51 Metro to visit the Hermitage Museum. I got on the wrong train and got very lost upon exiting the Metro. In angst, I almost abandoned the plan for the museum visit to spend a few hours in a coffee shop rather than continue to wander around lost holding several maps. But, I had a Eureka moment and found the Amstel River and from there found the Hermitage only to find......a very long line to get inside the museum! I was shocked that people would be waiting in such a long line in the freezing weather at 2:30 PM to get into a museum that closes at 5:00! I made it inside with freezing feet being the only sign of being worse for the wear after standing in line outside for 45 minutes.

The Hermitage is a first rate museum contained in a 350 year old building. It is an extension of the Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg and is filled with art and artifacts from the days of Russian royalty.After leaving the museum, I walked around and enjoyed the sites, particularly the bridges. Then I did a bit of retailing at de Bijenkorf then made my way back to Runmoolen 30 and taco dinner, trip planning, and card games. We enjoyed the rest of the wine that the Continental flight attendant sent home with us. We were treated to snow that began falling this evening and continues to fall.