You may have noticed a previous entry recommending museum night, but I wanted to tell you about how my museum night 2006 was.

First off I march to the beat of a very different drummer when it comes to entertainment after dark. People in this town talk of pubs, clubs, discos and concert halls, while I say cafes, parks, squats and my backyard. So it may not be surprising to hear what I love most about museum night.

Out of all the places you can go, and I did visit at least 5 museums during the course of the night/morning, I noticed alot of people end up at the Stedelijk CS building. It is an unmistakable white towering complex that used to house the Post Office headquarters. In that one building alone you can visit the Mediamatic people who put on a hell of a show, the museum of modern art, and more famously.. club 11.

Club 11 is all the rage among the nightlife hipsters. Located on the eleventh floor, it has stunning views over the city, and its very own overpriced minimalist style restaurant/cafe. Lots of DJ's with annoying names play there. Basically anyone who's anyone goes there, and I don't fancy myself anyone at all.

Yet by some twist of fate I ended up there, and made the most of the music, drinks and excellent views.

But the second my friends looked remotely as bored as I was, I suggested they join me at my absolute favorite museum night location: the Portuguese-Jewish synagogue!

Mhmmm.. I said synoggogue! Picture it (above actually): no electricity, only candles everywhere. People seated staring around the magnificent and ancient building. Couples walking past the wooden seats, admiring the Portuguese writing on the wall, engaging in curious conversations with local guides who are there to answer any and all questions. It is - in effect - the exact opposite of club 11, and for anyone who admires history, peace and quiet, and meditation... it is the pefect place at 2 oclock in the morning.

I spent some time walking about the beautiful interior, stopping to read and re-read the text written in the language of my heritage, picking out my own family's last name and other familiar Portuguese names. Eventually walking out as staff began closing the doors and calling it a night.

Thats the best of museum night for me... to sit in a crowded, trendy night club, and leave to sit in the silence of a sacred and historical place.