Today was the day I had been looking forward to since we planned this trip...we are going to see the tulips and hyacinths at the gardens today. The weather forecast is saying rain with a chance of rain and cold with a probability of high winds and an arctic blast. Even to those that live here, this weather is unusual the girl at the front desk told us. But then she also told us that bus #50 Leiden Central, would take us to the Keukenhof Gardens. We bought the tickets and started our walk to the bus station which is directly across the street from the Haarlem train station...a 3/4 mile walk from the hotel. It was cold, windy and started raining on us as we walked.
The station is very efficient as has long raised walks that are alphabet numbered and a big LED board that tells you what bus number will be in which alphabet letter lane. We board the bus and about 40 minutes later we figure we are there since everyone with cameras were getting off so we did too. Much to our surprise, we were on a road about a mile away. Now the wind is howling, it is now sleeting and raining...we are hiking and can't even see the entrance to this place yet! Kay thinks it was just a mile but I swear I think it was more than that as we had to hike across the parking lot and a construction area where they are building a new entrance and finally through where the handicapped buses were parking. The number of people here was unbelievable...bus loads of them! After I regrouped and we started into the gardens it was all worth it though. I will let the pictures tell you how excited I was to see this.
The weather was freezing cold all day but we would have brief periods of sunshine followed by downpours and the wind was brutal. We walked practically the entire place (we missed the orchids somehow) but it was the most beautiful display of flowers I had ever seen. I took over 400 pictures because each display was prettier than the next and it just went on all day.
 |
These were fields we could see when the bus dropped us off...the wind blowing
across this open field was brutal...then the sleet started...OMG! |
 |
| These Cala Lilies were gorgeous |
 |
| The sun came out after the rain for a minute and the raindrops looked so pretty on the tuplips |
 |
| Don't know what these are but so unusual |
 |
| We laughed,,,What's happenin Hot Stuff??? |
 |
| These colors together were so beautiful |
 |
| My favorites! |
 |
This hill was made into one giant tulip boquet and was beautiful but sad that
you couldn't get the full benefit of it in a photo because of where it was situated. |
 |
| I was in heaven and the air was full of "hyacinth" as they call them |
 |
| They had little rooms set up in different themes...very cute |
 |
| They do this to these trees everywhere here...don't know why? |
Finally it was time to go and Kay's knee was really hurting and mine wasn't great either and we both looked at each other and thought of the walk back to get the bus. Once you were out on the road the winds were just horrible so we were so cold but at least we made it to the bus before it started raining again. Now my Fitbit was showing for the second time this week that I was over 15,000 steps and when we got to Haarlem station we still had another 3/4 mile to walk back to the hotel. Both of us were dying by the time we got back here. We went to a restaurant just a block away for dinner...we both had a great tomato soup and the cheese fondue which I loved but Kay not so much. By the time I went to bed my Fitbit had registered 18,362 steps for the day...whew was I tired!
4-27-16
We turned in early but realize that there is a lot of partying going on. Kay looks it up online and finds out that this evening and all day tomorrow is celebration of their "King Day". Everything is closed and they gather at the market square down from us with live music and a lot of partying. We were going to go into Amsterdam today but it is a country wide celebration which also fills the canals with boats. We had no idea when we planned this trip or we could have come here first. I hate it that we didn't get to do a canal cruise or see Amsterdam completely but the weather just made it hard to do what we had planned.
 |
| Biker in training...mom was holding on to her bike as they rode |
 |
| Double child with saddle bags |
 |
| Kay is letting the drawbridge down...NOT! |
 |
| We couldn't stop laughing when we saw this sign |
 |
| Houseboat on canal |
 |
| The fair in the market area |
 |
| Mercedes edition of child carrier |
 |
| Someone was selling this at the flea market...sorry Paige I didn't have a way to get it home. |
 |
Ok..the gray thing in the photo is a urinal...I was standing by one waiting for Kay...
not know what it was...I was horrified and they laughed. |
 |
| This is funny |
 |
| Our fav place for waffles and strawberries |
We walked around and enjoyed the carnival atmosphere here today then came back to start organizing, packing and weighing again. We have our pickup scheduled for 7:30 in the morning and have done our check in which was confusing since it is a Delta flight. We tried to check in and their website said KLM would be checking us in...why? So now we are both panicked about the weight of the carry on again...yikes. Anyway, we think we are fine since it appears that KLM rules do not apply when it is a Delta flight..thank you Lord! We had another good meal around the corner and now it's time to shower and finish up tonight so we can close up the big pieces and weigh them again.
I just want to say thanks to everyone for reading and following this wonderful trip. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to do this trip to begin with and double lucky to have had Shrekie (aka Kay) as my travel companion. We lived and traveled together for 28 days now and with few exceptions it was easy and fun. We had our times but quickly got over them and moved past them. She is a joy to travel with and I'm in awe of her driving capabilities while we were in England! In another 24 hours I will be at home and be able to see my family and sleep in my own bed for the first time in a month. I enjoyed every minute of it! Thanks Kay!
