Summer 2021 in Amsterdam

Vondel Park

The Netherlands is open to US travelers and flights to Amsterdam from the US have been full. But despite the new arrivals, Amsterdam is still a sleepy town compared to past summers. You can really enjoy the city without crowds jostling for space and attention. It’s the best time to take it slow and appreciate the many attractions Amsterdam has to offer.

Tourists from green listed countries including the U.S. may enter the Netherlands if they have proof of full vaccination or a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of their flight. The vaccine must be one of approved vaccines by the European Medicine Agency (EMA) and the last dose must have been administered 14 days prior to arrival. There is also a health declaration form to be submitted to Immigration Control at the airport but the officer who handled my documents at Schiphol International Airport didn't bother to check my form. Face masks are required in public transportation, at airports, in the aircraft, train stations and bus stops. You will find details on entry requirements at this link:

https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad

Fish. Pablo Picasso. Vondel Park

Vondel Park is right in the heart of the city. There are so many trails and plenty of benches to enjoy the natural surroundings. And the bonus is finding a Picasso in the park.

Street art is alive and well in the city center. And what do you know? I used to eat at the Pancake Corner as pannekoeken is my favorite local delicacy.

Noorder Amstelkanaal

On soccer Sunday, I walked to Apollolaan to see some of the pieces of sculpture from the Artzuid Sculpture Biennale 2021. And because everyone was busy watching the game, it was peaceful outdoors. And I had this view to myself.

Dam Square with the Royal Palace

and de Nieuwe Kerk

I took my favorite walk from the Leidseplein to Dam Square and found the stores on the Rokin open. There were a few people strolling in the pedestrian only street. But it wasn’t crowded as you would have expected in July. Dam Square was relatively quiet. I had planned to sit and have late lunch at de Bijenkorf Department Store but staff make you wait in line to control the number of people entering the store unless you had previously made an appointment. So I decided to pick up some food at Albert Heijn and made my own dinner instead. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that Albert Heijn (beside the Apple Store) is cashless as well. It’s all about avoiding handling “dirty” money in these pandemic times.

Plantage Restaurant

My friends and I found the courage to dine at a restaurant during my visit. It was our first time in a while. The restaurant was busy as locals had just started to resume normal life again after months in lockdown. The Plantage is a beautiful restaurant next door to the zoo. They have an outdoor terrace where we would have wanted to sit but early diners got there first. Reserve in advance if you prefer outdoor seating.

Schiphol International Airport

Arriving in Amsterdam, I didn’t expect this empty square outside one of the busiest airports in the world. I caught the bus from here to the center of the city. The kiosk selling bus tickets is no longer there. I had to buy my ticket from the driver who was patient enough in helping me manage the card only payment machine. The ticket cost 6.50 euros. I counted five passengers in the bus which is normally standing room. There wasn’t much traffic on the road and it was an easy commute to Leidseplein, the final stop of Bus 397 which passes by the Olympic Stadium and Museumplein.

*****

Images by TravelswithCharie

Filipino Struggles in History - Carlos Botong Francisco

In 1968, Antonio Villegas (then Mayor of Manila), commissioned Carlos "Botong" Francisco to paint the history of Manila for Manila City Hall. The series of large scale paintings was called Kasaysayan ng Maynila (History of Manila). The paintings deteriorated over time and no attempt was made to preserve these historical canvases until 2013 when Mayor Amado Lim sent them to the National Museum for extensive restoration. Four years later, in 2017, Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada and the Manila City Council signed an agreement with the National Museum to leave the paintings at the museum so they may reach a larger audience in exchange for museum grade reproductions to replace the originals. Kasaysayan ng Maynila was later renamed Filipino Struggles in History and is now on display at the Senate Hall of the National Museum . Carlos "Botong" Francisco died in March 1969, a few months after completing the paintings. He is one of the first Filipino modernists and

The Art of Carlos Botong Francisco - Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

Pre-colonial period Pag-unlad ng Panggagamot sa Pilipinas (The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines) is a group of four large-scale paintings depicting healing practices in the Philippines from pre-colonial times to the modern period. Carlos Botong Francisco was commissioned in 1953 by Dr. Agerico Sison who was then the director of Philippine General Hospital (PGH) together with Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing of the National Museum, Dr. Florentino Herrera, Jr. and Dr. Constantino Manahan. These oil on canvas paintings measure 2.92 meters in height and 2.76 meters in width (9.71 ft x 8.92 ft) and were displayed at the main entrance hall of PGH for over five decades. Owing to its location, the artworks were in a state of "severe deterioration" at the beginning of the 21st century from exposure to heat, humidity, dirt, dust, smoke, insect stains, grime, termites and an oxidized synthetic resin used in an earlier restoration. These canvases were restored three times, the last was

8 Heritage Houses of Iloilo

Lizares Mansion The province of Iloilo on the island of Panay has a rich trove of heritage houses, left over from the sugar industry boom in the 19th century. Iloilo also had the largest port in the Philippines at that time which facilitated the export of sugar to foreign shores and deposited money in the hands of the sugar barons. The barons dropped their earnings into the acquisition of properties in Negros and the construction of beautiful homes in Iloilo, many of which are located in the vicinity of the Jaro Cathedral. The Lizares Mansion was built in 1937 by Don Emiliano Lizares for his wife, Concepcion Gamboa and five children. The family fled to safety when World War II broke out and the house was occupied by the Japanese military. The family returned to the house after the war but left once again after the demise of Don Emiliano. It was sold to the Dominican order in the 1960s and was converted in 1978 to a private school, Angelicum School. The mansion now houses the

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