We were up bright and early and drove into Amsterdam and parked car at the Hilton Hotel. Unfortunately we couldn't check in because it was too early. So we ended up the hotel to storage our luggage until later on so at least that was out of sight and out of mind.
Paul and I then managed to find the venue where the body painting was getting to take place - at the NDSM. Mehron kindly sponsored the body paints, having sponsored the body painting days for the past two years. Unfortunately there were more models than artists so we had to wait. Despite the wait, it was good to see familiar faces again.
Eventually I got assigned to an artist but poor Paul had to wait quite a bit longer and in the end he started to paint himself. Not long after he started he was assigned an artist. In the end I ended up helping paint Paul, the artist working on the front and I ended up painting Paul's back in yellow that was being used by the artist. After finishing painting Paul's front the artist was able to get to work painting the other side which I had prepped. Just as well because the artist wouldn't have finished in time.
The artist who worked on me painted my face and my front down to my legs but didn't continue. Paul felt that I was unfinished so he ended up painting me while his artist worked on him. Paul had to have a steady hand to that he wouldn't disturb his own artist. What fun!
During the day there was music and entertainment, with acrobats using silk ropes to climb. Unfortunately I didn't have time to watch but others did. There were photographers and someone from the press (you can read the article and see the clip, however it is in Dutch: News article and video.) Lunch was served but Paul and I weren't hungry so we just continued with being painted.
The chap who organised the body painting day unfortunately broke his leg last night so he couldn't attend the event. He he had to have an operation to reset his legs and have a bit of metal work put in 😶. He was missed because most attendees knew him and were looking forward to seeing him again.
At the end of the afternoon, after we cleaned up the mess and put away paints and brushes, it was time for some photographs on the steps within the building. After the photographs we walked to the canal where we boarded two hired boats for a nice ride along the canals in Amsterdam. The boat ride took us a good 2 hours and it was interesting seeing people's reactions as to how we looked. We had a great time. People waved at us, some took photographs and a there were only a few who looked at us disapprovingly but in all, it was a good atmosphere. Once we were back on dry land we went to a venue that was used last year for the after-party. There was music and entertainment as well as food for us. Paul and I didn't stay long because the air turned chilly as soon as the sun set; so we put on our sarongs and made our way to our hotel just down the road.
We must have looked quite quite a sight because of the way we looked, painted and wrapped up in sarongs! In fact the woman at the hotel reception desk did a double-take when we checked in and got our room key.
We retrieved our luggage and headed up to our room, looking forward to getting cleaned up. We had to rub and scrub ourselves down (body buff gloves do the trick!) to get the paint off, Paul helping me and me helping him. The paint black and turquoise are usually difficult colours to wash off but this time they came off very easily it was the yellow paint that was hard to get off this time. After drying off we noticed Paul's skin still looked a bit yellow but it didn't matter. We had to clean up the bathroom because it was a big mess - it looked as if the bathroom had been used for body painting or it had been painted by us but with a watery diluted paint. We could have left it as is but I don't think we would have been popular with the cleaning staff!
Please note that some of the photographs have been taken by us, other were take by other people/photographers.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Painting session
Finished results, canal boat ride and party followed by cleanup time.
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| One of Holland America's ships in the background - MS Koningsdam. |
