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From the 1930’s to the present, flight attendant uniforms have changed from military inspired outfits to pillbox topped glamour to psychedelic patterns to modern pieces created by top designers.
Of course I have an interest in these uniforms! I have worn one for almost 27 years!
So, shortly before heading to Rotterdam, when I learned from a friend that the Kunsthal Museum was displaying an exhibit on flight attendant uniforms, I knew that I had to see it!
The Kunsthal Museum, located in the Museumpark in Rotterdam is unique in that it offers no permanent collection, instead, a wide range of temporary exhibits, attracting visitors who may come from one artist and open their mind to another totally different kind of art.
On the day that I was visiting the museum, the uniforms were what I was there to see, however, it was learned upon my arrival that I would also be viewing exhibits on cats, Cat Love, Nine Lives in the Arts, artist Paul Delvaux, Master of the Dream, photographer, Jeroen Oerlemans, and a display on the nominees of the Prix de Rome Visual Arts 2017, Melanie Bonajo (1978), Rana Hamadeh (1983), Saskia Noor Van Imhoff (1982) and Kararina Zdjelar (1979).
The modern structure, sectioned into halls, thoughtfully leads visitors through each of its offerings. Though I was anxious to see the Cabin Crew exhibit, I decided to follow the path marked by the Kunsthal. So…another exhibit on cats was in the cards.
Social media is inundated with fetching felines. Anywhere you look on you YouTube today, you can find countless videos on cats. Check out Instagram and you’ll find cats exposed by their owners. In fact, cats are more popular than ever. Over the years, cats have inspired many artistic masterpieces by Henriette Ronner-Knip, Théophile-Alexandre Steinelen, Karel Appel, Picasso and Wallasse Ting, contemporary artists such as David Shrigley and photographer Marie Cécele Thijs and many of these are on display here. Meandering through the hall, you are offered some insight into how these artists were inspired by numerous felines. In fact, one area of the museum offers a place to experience what it is like to be a cat…creep around on all fours among the bushes, take a nap on one of the “cat beds”, sharpen your nails on a scratching post or take a stroll down the Catwalk. Cat lovers will be in heaven!
As I followed the natural progression of the exhibits of the Kunsthal, the next hall offered what I had come to see. Flight Attendant uniforms.
In a relatively narrow but lofty space, over 200 uniforms are offered from KLM purser, Cliff Muskiet’s private collection. In 1993, his compilation, the largest in the world, was begun and has grown to include more than 1400 uniforms from 523 different airlines. “Cabin Crew. Fashion in the Air” offers a look into the progression of the uniforms over the years from practical and sober to classy and chic, many created by prominent designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Cristóbal Balenciaga and Mart Visser. Take note of the now defunct Braniff International uniform, and the 1965 design by Emilio Pucci, which required flight attendants to change different items of the uniform to surprise passengers throughout the entirety of the flight. This particular uniform included a space helmet to protect the flight attendant’s hair from the rain!
My favorites, however, were those that represented the cultural heritage of the airline, like Thai Airways, Allegheny Airlines, so proud of their name and of course, those worn throughout my own airline’s history! Though I loved seeing the various costumes worn by thousands, the way that they were displayed in a vertical manner, made it hard to inspect each of them at close range. All in all, however, it was thrilling to see such an awe-inspiring compilation of something so near and dear to my heart!
Paul Delvaux, the Belgian painter considered to be one of the most important surrealists or The Master of the Dream, has the honor of having an exhibition on the 25th anniversary of the Kunshal. Ninety of his works were displayed in Hall 2, which focus on the his most important themes, the female body, dreams, mystery, travel, trains and loneliness.
Though I cannot say that he was an artist whose work was one that I had previously sought out, I did enjoy his nude portraits of women from the 1920s and the paintings that incorporated macabre skeletons. The dreamlike quality exhibited in his work was extremely calming!
The next artist showcased in the Kunstal, was photographer Jeroen Oerlemans, a Dutch press photographer, who captured mesmerizing shots from Afghanistan, Chad, Libya, Haiti and Iraq of the local residents, despite the danger he constantly faced. The celebrated three-time recipient of the first prize in the Silver Camera foreign news category was unfortunately killed in 2016 by an IS sniper in the Libyan city of Sirte.
Finally, the display on the nominees of the Prix de Rome Visual Arts 2017 beckoned. While Paul Delvaux’s works were more of a classical nature, the exhibition highlighting the four contenders was a bit more modern.
Melanie Bonajo’s work on the second part of her trilogy, Progress vs. Sunsets shows how our relation to nature has changed through the popularity of amateur videos in which animals have become actors of human imagination. Cats, anyone?
Lebanese born artist, Rana Hamadeh’s, The Ten Murders of Josephine, explores the constitutive conditions of ‘validity’ within legal discourse. Huh? Yes, I was a bit confused by this one, too.
In the third contender’s display, Saskia Noor van Imhoff, the investigation of how a space might serve as an artificial showcase in which various subjects are connected to each other in an associative way, so as to form a new meaning is presented. I’ll admit, this one was confusing, too.
The final nominee, Katarina Zdjelar’s film, Not A Pillar, Not A Plie, is presented which was inspired by archival documents from a dance studio founded in 1945, in post-war Dresden. The myriad of screens in the darkened room offered footage from Zdjelar’s work and was quite captivating.
After completing my tour of the last exhibit, I took a bit of time to take more of a leisurely stroll throughout the remaining parts of the building and its stunning architecture. Through a timeline on the Kunsthal in the auditorium, I learned of the history of the museum. designed by Rem Koolhaas.
Despite visiting the museum for a specific purpose, I can concede that it was nice to step out of the winter day and enjoy some different types of art that I had not anticipated. Sometimes the best things are the least expected!
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Kunsthal
- https://www.kunsthal.nl/en/#tijdlijn-2018-02
- Address: Westzeedijk 341, 3015 AA Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday, 1000-1700, Sunday, 1100-1700
- Admission: Adults, 14€, Students under 17 years, free
The first thing I noticed about Rotterdam is while there are new buildings and skyscrapers, there are also still some older buildings scattered throughout the city, sometimes sandwiched between newer construction. I thought that this gave an interesting quality to the city…a sort of ying-yang. The second thing I noticed was that sculpture is EVERYWHERE! Following the canal that led away from the train station, I began to see interesting pieces of artwork lining the banks. Each piece was identified by a metal plaque on the walkway advising observers of the name of the artwork, the artist’s name and location and year constructed. Making for a nice leisurely walk, I stopped at each of the sculptures as I made my way south on Westersingel to Eendrachtsplein, where I found the current location of the controversial sculpture by Paul McCarthy, Santa Claus. A shocking statue, it depicts the beloved Santa not holding a Christmas tree but a sex toy. While some people have defended it proclaiming that it reflects the fetishization of Christmas and the prevalent sexuality in consumer society, others declared it vulgar and offensive.
Further on, I gazed upward at the Euromast, the observation tower constructed between 1958 and 1960 and designed by Hugh Maaskant. Though I would have like to visit the observation platform to see the city from the tallest building in Rotterdam, time was limited and I was headed to the oldest part of the city, Delfshaven.
The Pilgrim Father’s Church, dating back to 1417, when the Roman Catholic Church of St. Anthony was consecrated on the site, later fell into Protestant hands in 1574. When a group of English dissenters fled to the Netherlands in 1608, they later decided to make the journey to America so that they might worship in their own way. On July 21, 1620, they knelt in prayer on the quay near the church before boarding the ship, the Speedwell.
The Erasmus Bridge (Erasmusbrug) was completed in 1996 and is the largest and heaviest bascule bridge in Western Europe, connecting the north and south parts of the city. Named after Desiderius Erasmus (Erasmus of Rotterdam), a prominent Christian renaissance humanist, the cable-stayed bridge section with its single asymmetrical pale blue pylon with a prominent horizontal base has earned the bridge the nickname, The Swan.
Finally, heading back toward the train station, I made three quick detours to see some fantastic landmarks, Kijk Kubus (Cube Houses), innovative housing designed by Piet Blom, Grote of St. Laurenskerk (Church of St. Lawrence), the only remnant of the medieval city of Rotterdam, and Stadhuis Rotterdam (City Hall), the Beaux Art style building (with Byzantine, Roman and Art Deco influences) that was one of the few buildings to survive the bombardment of World War II.
After five hours of intense sightseeing and walking throughout the old-yet-new city of Rotterdam, my feet were aching, yet satisfied. I had seen all that the city had to offer and was confident that future travels would be easier, allowing me to explore the city in depth.
It was time head back to Amsterdam and this time, I caught the Intercity Direct! Definitely the way to go! Heck, I didn’t really even have time to catch a nap!
After doing some research on the 2017-2018 Amsterdam Light Festival, I discovered that the land exhibition had been relocated to the Marineterrein area near the Maritime Museum, making it much more accessible to visitors arriving through Central Station.
Setting out during an extremely cold evening, I walked from Central Station along the water, following signs marking the way to the exhibit. Information booths were located at both ends of the exhibit, where you could obtain information about each of the light displays and purchase information guides.
Okayyyyy…
The next display, Innersense had me waiting for at least twenty minutes. I was admitted into a small space where I was instructed to step onto a small round platform under a “shower head.” Two Dutch ladies looked over at me and asked if I was feeling anything. Anything? No, just a shower head with lights changing color, giving me a “light shower”. Hmmm.
Another confusing one…Fields of Frequencies. Ushered into a small room there were benches and a screen. The light on the screen changed color to different frequencies. Exciting.
One of my favorites, however, was the small tin building with millions of small holes drilled into it. Brocken 6 A. After entering, we were subject to a smokey interior which reflected the light entering from the outside, offering thousands of rays of light. Another, Save Our Souls, was a projection onto one of the buildings which showed a stormy sea with an SOS light in the distance. I think we were supposed to wonder who might need help? Still, the projection was pretty awesome.
How many kinds of tulips are there? One. There is one kind. The tulip. This statement is quite misleading, however, because there are many different groups of tulips each with their own specific characteristics and classified into a system of 15 different groups, broken down into shape, heritage and flowering season.
Should bulbs be dug up every year? In warmer climate zones, digging of the tulip bulbs is advised after the flowering periods and new bulbs planted during the following fall season. For zones 3-8, the bulbs do not need to be removed.
Can tulips be brought to your home country (USA)? Ensure that the bulbs have been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Flower bulbs remaining within the European community can be exported throughout Europe with no problems.
The audio guide led me up the stairs and to the various parts of the theater, including the VIP room, the secret, almost-hidden Moroccan room and the main theater, the Grote Zaal.
The beautiful details throughout the building…the light fixtures, the stained glass, the woodwork…all lend to the opinion of it being considered one of the most beautiful cinemas in the world. However, not just a place of beauty, the theater in its time was considered to be revolutionary with its unique heating and ventilation system which kept an even temperature throughout the building and the state of the art Wurlitzer organ with 850 pipes that could make just about any sound, including voice.
Over time, the theater underwent many changes including one to its name when it was retitled “Tivoli” during the Second World War and began screening German made Nazi anti-semitic films. Sadly during this time, Abraham Tuschinski and most of his family were deported to Auschwitz, never to return. The theater name was changed back to Tuschinski in 1945 and used for many concerts starring big names of the day such as Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, Dizzy Gillespie and Fats Domino. More changes came in more recent years when the theater was renovated to its original style between 1998 and 2002 and expanded to add more auditoriums. Today, the theater goes by the name Pathé Tuschinski and the Grote Zaal has a capacity of only 784, however, five additional screens can accommodate 105 to 191 more patrons each.
As I walked through this incredible, historic theater, I was moved at how much attention to detail and thought could be put into a place of business and I imagined that I would see movies more often if I could come to a place so extraordinary.
As I returned my audio guide and collected my complimentary cup of tea, I checked the time schedule and discovered that “The Greatest Showman” was playing later in the day.
What I did find, however, is that the Katten Kabinet offers a look at the role of the cat in art and culture throughout the centuries, displaying hosts of art in the forms of posters, original paintings and sculptures paying homage to cats. The most interesting display, however, was a host of letters written to the museum and its cats from other cat lovers expressing their love of felines!
Founded in 1990, by William Meijer, a wealthy Dutchman, the museum pays homage to his feline companion, John Pierpont Morgan (1966-1983) and is housed in a structure that commands more attention than the collection displayed in it. Built in 1667, for William and Adrian Van Loon, the museum faces the historical Museum Van Loon, an identical floorplan, just across the canal. After a draw, which decided which of the brothers were to receive either of the homes, it was William who acquired the property at 497 Herengracht. Throughout its history, the house has hosted several famous people, such as the Mayor of Amsterdam, Jan Calkoen and former American president, John Adams. It has been rebuilt and redecorated several times, though most of its current state represents the 19th century.
After walking through a couple of the rooms in the museum, I finally did encounter two of the five cats that are reported to live on the premises. Stretched out on a window sill, a black and white feline stared impassively at the visitors wandering through its home. A short while later, another mostly white cat paced back and forth behind a glass-pane doorway, obviously hoping to be released from its confines by the owner who currently resides on the top floor.
One museum, the Sexmuseum Venustempel, located on busy Damrak Street, has been around since 1985, welcoming curious visitors by the thousands. With its convenient location near Amsterdam’s Central Station and many of the city’s hotels, plus its relatively cheap admission, it has evolved into one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands, with 675,000 visitors in 2015 alone.
As you make your way up the stairs, plastic body parts line the stairwell and each floor offers encounters with various exhibits including Asian Art, Sex Through the Ages, Sex and Artists (with a depiction of Rembrandt painting a nude subject, Demons and Sex and numerous phallic representations, displayed singularly and in groupings. In the architecturally compelling atrium, which houses the Venus Gallery, make sure to look up at the window where a leather clad sex worker perches asymmetrically atop a stool.
Though not for those easily offended, the museum is both amusing at times and quite compelling. Judging from people’s reactions when I mentioned that I visited, it is also probably not what most people imagine it to be. You’ll definitely get your five euros worth (and maybe more!).
Sailing into the Bay of Maimon, early in the rainy morning, we had our first glimpse of the port with its overwater cabanas, pristine shopping area and resort-style pool complete with waterslides and lazy river. The port also offers a great transportation hub in which visitors can access rental cars and taxi services.
Meeting our guide, Daniel, we were soon on our way to the province of Montecristi, to the small seaside community of Estero Hondo, home to the country’s Marine Mammal Sanctuary. The sanctuary, a natural refuge for the endangered manatee, is about a two hour drive from Amber Cove along narrow, winding roads, through vibrant and colorful communities.
After a bit of paddling, we entered a larger part of the estuary where and we noticed the other members of our group on the observation deck on the shore. Scanning the mirror-like surface constantly, we were disappointed to only see a manatee minimally break the surface twice. Extremely difficult it was from our vantage point at the waters surface, it was a bit of a letdown to not have seen more of the amazing, docile creatures from a closer distance.
Quickly making our way out of the grove to the other side, we found ourselves in a protected area; waves crashing on the other side of the reef and calm waters surrounding us in clear, swimming pools. Languishing in the beautiful, clear waters, we rested a moment and admired the view.
We then boarded an open-air safari truck and headed down the overgrown road to the observation platform. From the high vantage point, we soon saw the water’s surface breaking. Though the manatees did not stay at the surface for very long and we mostly saw only their backs or noses as they came up for air, we did see many during our time observing the water’s surface.
As you make your way around the church, however, there are two famous reliquaries to take note of. The tomb of Juan Ponce de León, the first governor of Puerto Rico, most well known for his search for the Fountain of Youth, has been laid to rest in the cathedral. Though, the conquistador’s remains were originally interred at the Iglesia de San José, his family’s place of worship, he was moved here in 1912, to commemorate the 400 year anniversary of evangelization. The white marble tomb, created by Spanish sculptor Miguel Blay, near the church’s transept, is not to be missed.
Another interesting shrine within the cathedral is dedicated to Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago, the first Puerto Rican and the first Caribbean-born layperson to be beatified.
Cisterns: These extremely large cisterns were used for the transport of water during the times of the Spanish Colony and also used as bomb shelters during World War II.
Flags: Check out the flags blowing in the breeze, the United States flag, the Puerto Rican flag and the Cross of Burgundy flag. The latter is a white flag with a red X and was t he Spanish military flag used from the 16th to 18th centuries to identify warships, forts and regiments of troops loyal to the king of Spain.
With so much to enjoy here, take your time to see all parts of San Cristobal. In addition to the photo opportunities it provides within its walls, its city and coastal views are incredible! I could see both the Carnival Sunshine and Royal Caribbean’s ships docked as well as other beautiful buildings throughout the city. Make sure to stand along the water side and take in the panoramic views of the coast from Old San Juan to Condado and beyond…truly spectacular!
After leaving San Cristóbal, it is approximately a one mile picturesque walk to Castillo San Felipe del Morro along Calle Norzagaray. Since I wanted to stroll through the center of town, doing some shopping along the way, I used Calle Fortaleza then, Calle Clara Lair to the Old City Gate. Walking along the outer walls on the Paseo de Morro, I walked along the water, looking out to El Canuelo, another smaller fortification on Goat Island, and made my way through the grounds of Castillo San Felipe del Morro to the front entrance.
My favorite part, however, is the restored lighthouse. Sitting 180 feet above sea level, the lighthouse was completed in 1908. On the upper levels you can also see the same three flags flown on San Cristóbal…the U.S. flag, the Puerto Rican flag and the Cross of Burgundy flag.
Looking out at the massive grounds, the property spreads out along 70 acres, including the killing grounds and the esplanade. Nearby, you can see the nearby Cemetery of Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzi.