A Walk in Vondel Park

Just out the door and across the street is an entrance to Vondel Park and the Film Museum. Vertigo, the musuem's cafe is open until midnight. People are still riding their bikes through the park at that time. These bikes are mostly beat up English racers or Schwin-like bikes from my childhood that are rigged up to transport all of your needs. Men in suits, women in platform shoes, small children in seats mounted on the handbars, large saddle bags draped over the back wheels. People talk and text as they ride. Alas, there is no cup holder--at least that I've observed so far.



Bike riders in Vondel Park





















I've been looking for the things to do in addition to taking in the sights and have found some places to practice yoga. Right on the edge of the park (on the 5th Avenue side where all the swanky stores are) is de Roos--a New Age Center that has 10 yoga classes a day, astrologists, massage therapists and so on. I'm off this morning to sample some yoga and an organic breakfast.

Last night I went to a yoga class around the corner from Steven's. Yogatha teaches in a studio that holds six that is in her apartment. She asked the others in the class if it would be all right to teach in English. In an hour and a half, we did about eight poses. Her focus was breathing through the spine (or the chakras) The intention of my breath and not my flexibility moved me through the series, allowing me to open up.

I went to the Bible Museum today. I've always been fascinated by comparative religion--our need for a supreme being or beings that gives some credence to our existaence and our need to belong to something that sets us apart from others. The museum was created by Reverend Schouten in 1860 He was wanted to give historic weight to Bible stories. There are archaeological finds from Egypt, a model of of King Solomon's Temple and a bible collection that dates back to 1453. there are this lovely aroma rooms where you can lift the lids on jars and smell the essence fragrance and read the reference to it in the bible.
The current exhibit about religious diversity in Amsterdam is a photo-narrative profiling 10 teenagers. They shared their connection to their faith-Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhist, Hindus. Photos of celebrations, charitable work, etc for each young person stretetched out along a wall create a mural/collage/mosaic of the tapestry that is Amsterdam.

Later that day, when I was rambling around, I stumbled on the Buddhist Temple that was described at the museum. I haven't visited and churches or temples yet, but I climbed the steps and lit a candle.