Eyeflare - Travel Articles and Tips

Posted: 04 Dec 2011 01:00 AM PST

Have you ever thought of touring a retirement home on you vacation in Amsterdam? No? Well thatâ€™s OK because the retirement home is no longer in existence, it is now the Hermitage Amsterdam Museum. The building itself was opened in 1682 as a retirement home for elderly women and then in 1817 men also started living there. The building remained a retirement home for many years until the healthcare field changed some of itâ€™s regulation and the build was no longer sufficient to accommodate the elderly. In 2007 the remaining residents were released from the home and in June 2009 the Dutch Queen Beatrix and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev opened the building as a museum for everyone to enjoy.

While visiting the museum you will be able to see one of the finest collections of 19th and 20th century French painting. The collection holds masterpieces of Matisse, Derain, Van Dongen and Picasso. Russian collectors started the collection.

Alexander the Great appeals to the imagination of everyone and the museum has a full section devoted to him. The display follows him through many countries â€" Syria, India, Persia, Egypt, and Mongolia. You will see paintings, decorative art and tapestries depicting his history and life.

Spend the entire day exploring the museum and enjoying the paintings and artifact before returning home.

Hermitage Amsterdam address and hours

Hermitage Amsterdam Museum
Amstel 51
Amsterdam

Open: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays to 8 p.m.

Admission is Euro 15 for adults

Photo by taÑ•uki on flickr

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/hermitage-amsterdam-museum/

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Mission Bay, San Diego, California

Posted: 03 Dec 2011 01:00 AM PST

With more than 4,000 acres of bicycle paths, public parks, and bay, San Diego's Mission Bay is a fun, family friendly destination that you're sure to enjoy. There are also all types of boating activities with boat docks and launches available. Other water sports available include waterskiing,rowing, sailing, jetskiing, windsurfing, and swimming; with rental equipment also available and there are sesonal life guards on duty between Spring and Autumn.

If you want to enjoy the water without being in or on the water, there are also picnic areas to utilize, grassy areas for sunbathing, and bicycle paths that stretch around the bay for miles, as well as other sports activities such as volleyball and basketball. There is also a playground at Tecolote Shores (1500 East Mission Bay Drive) that has accomodations for physically challenged kids. If you are interseted in Mission Bay's animal and plant life, visit the nature reserve at Crown Point in the north. For your convenience, Mission Bay also offers showers, picnic shelters, barbecues, and public restrooms. Mission Bay truly offers something for everyone.

Mission Bay directions

Mission Bay Park is right off I-5 at Clairemont Drive, a 10-minute drive from downtown San Diego and Mission Valley. From Mission Valley, take I-8 west to I-5 north. From downtown, just get on I-5 north.

Photo by slack12 on flickr

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/mission-bay-san-diego-california/

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