Tulips in Holland

My mother had a flower shop in Houston for a few years when I graduated from college. That inspired me to go to floral design school and when I completed the program I worked at a florist shop in Denver and helped my mom for years at her little shop on holidays and when she went on her vacations to Las Vegas. She always made a big deal about getting her tulips from Holland. And of course I always saw pictures of the tulips in Holland and couldn't imagine seeing that beauty in person. Two years ago when I took this same cruise I was signedup ahead of time for the tour of Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. Before we reached Rotterdam they made an announcement that the tulips had bloomed early and weren't there so we could change our tour. I decided to go to Amsterdam instead and although I enjoyed it a lot, it wasn't tulips in Holland, so that desire was still inside. This time I knew that nothing would stop me from seeing tulips in Holland! (Of course if the weather had prevented a landing, I know that would have delayed that dream becoming a reality.) But weather decided to cooperate this time and we reached the dock with no troubles at all.

This was my 3rd visit to The Netherlands, and I know the terminal well and right where to go to find the things I want to take home. This was another tour that started in the afternoon and I just couldn't wait all morning on the ship. I had also taken the ship's shuttle into town here too and didn't find a lot to do so I knew I had a couple of hours and needed another new adventure. What was there to do and see? Well the only thing I kept thinking of was the area called Kinderdijk (spelling?) In this area there are many original windmills along a dike. I decided to try to take a taxi to see them. I am a little nervous about doing that alone, but it was worth it to see original windmills in Holland! After all, windmills, clogs and tulips are what Holland is all about, right? And I see a man making clogs in the ship's terminal each time I am there, so that I've seen. Time to see the rest! I had to talk to the taxi drivers about getting me there and back and after they found out I didn't have 3 hours, nor would I pay 300 euros, I was able to find a man who would take me for 2 hours and charge 110 euros. It is a lot, but seeing the windmills was a desire that just had to be satisfied. So off we headed. Turns out he had only been there once years ago and had to call his father for directions. We had to drive onto a tiny ferry to go across a small waterway, held about 6-9 cars at a time and took less than 5 minutes. We finally found them and how exciting to see 2rows of windmills! They were along a narrow waterway and beautiful although I am sure the pictures did not capture the beauty! I didn't spend long there, I knew we didn't have a lot of time and I wanted to get back to the ship in plenty of time for the tour to the tulip gardens. I got 'home' safely and with such an exciting new experience to tell about!

I had a quick lunch and headed out to the buses for the tour about 20 minutes early. I got to the parking lot on the shore and was shocked, all 5 buses were already filled with people! My friend, the tour manager, told me that people had been there almost an hour. I know so many people were excited to be going to the tulips and they were on the ship all morning just waiting. He assured me 2 more buses were coming and they were late, but did arrive and got filled and we were on our way. We got to the gardens much later, the traffic was terrible, and we still had to meet at the same time that the other buses who arrived way before us had to meet. I requested a few extra minutes and was told no, we had to get back to the ship in time to sail. I walked as fast as I could the whole time, less than 2 hours, and still didn't see everything. (My legs are very sore today!) I even missed seeing the famous windmill there!! That was disappointing, but I did get a calendar with a picture of it so that will have to do for now.

The tulips were incredible! You could see where probably half of them had already been cut back, I cannot imagine the beauty just a few weeks ago! Such beautiful colors and a variety of sizes and heights. The pinks, reds, yellows and purples were stunning! There were a variety of other flowers around, but tulips were the focal point! There are millions of bulbs there, from all over the world. I didn't hear this, but the gardens are open on the first of April and close by the end of May. Two short months for acres of gorgeous flowers. The gardens were filled with people, but it was not as crowded as Monet's Garden was. A truly spectacular sight! I am not sure how much earlier one should visit the gardens to see the fields of color on the drive to the gardens and to see the gardens at their best, but I am sure someday I will make a trip to Amsterdam and take a whole day to enjoy the gardens, earlier in the spring.

And until then, the visit to Oslo will have to be enough to enjoy. So tomorrow we arrive there and I will once again be driving through the countryside to the Hadeland Glass Factory, set in a valley next to a lake at the foot of a mountain. Tomorrow, Norway splendor!

Before I know it, I will be flying from Copenhagen to home, via D.C. And in my mind will remain the incredible sights of this vacation, so many beautiful things to see in the world!