It's My Place: Keukenhof Trip

Sunday, April 10, 2005

Keukenhof Trip

I bought a pink iPod mini on Friday...how did I ever live without it?? Once again, this was an impromptu buy, but when the stars line up like this:

After checking for about 2 months, the electronics store on base FINALLY got them in
For 2 months, they ONLY had the original white ones
When I checked on Friday, they had 3 pink and 1 silver
The salesman told me it was $245, but when I checked out, it was A LOT less

It mans I HAD to get one. I am in love with it!!! After downloading a few songs from iTunes, and seeing everything that it is capable of, I am really impressed with it, and P likes it, too (you'll see what I mean once you view the picturs from the trip~on sidebar below Paris Photos).
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Our trip to Keukenhof was great! Although it was a tad windy in Volendam (the city sits ON the North Sea), and it rained later, once we got to Keukenhof Gardens, we still had a good time.

We first stopped for a buffet breakfast in a city about 2 hours south of Volendam. This was the BEST buffet styled breakfast we ever had! Most places that serve breakfast do not serve 'American' styled breakfast (they usually serve bread, cold cuts & cheese, and something to drink). This one served the norm, plus cold cereal, fruit, fresh scrambled eggs, meats, yogurt, juices, coffee, tea, and milk. Of course, the Eating Machine got her money's worth. After breakfast, it was back to the bus for the short ride to Volendam, home of the wooden shoe factory.

Lots of people in the Volendam area still wear wooden shoes, mainly because they are waterproof. With the right socks, I'd wear them all day. P didn't want any wooden shoes, but she did pick out a pair of matching comfy house shoes for us:

After the shoe factory, we went to the cheese farm, in the city of Edam (where Edamere cheese comes from). After the demonstration of cheese making (they make cheese from goat, sheep, and cow's milk), taste testing, and spending a little cheddar on some cheese, it was back to the bus and we were headed to the city of Volendam.

Volendam basically sits ON the north sea. Fish from the sea is a staple of their diet, with smoked herring being the most popular. While there, we had lunch, did a little shopping and played in the rain.

After Volendam, we were off to Keukenhof Gardens. I have been to the award winning Botanical Gardens in St. Louis more times than I can count, but I must say that the gardens of Keukenhof puts the Botanical Gardens to shame! There are millions of flowers blooming, and millions more that will bloom by the end of the season on May 20, a small animal park, a maze made from 7 foot shrubs that P successfully guided us through (this was no small maze. P declared herself the leader as soon as she saw it), and 4 pavillions with flowers on display inside each. Some of the flowers were almost as tall as P.

While at Keukenhof, we saw this cute couple about 28372765 times:

All photos from the trip can be found here.
P was REALLY concerned that Opa (Grandpa) had to carry Grandma's purse (I guess because I make her carry her own bag).

After Keukenohof, we were back to the bus for a dinner stop somewhere in Holland, then back to base to get the car and go home. We got home at 1:35. I must admit, that was the best 24 hours we'd had in a LONG time.

Next up...Disneyland Paris (unless we find something to do in May).

1:19 PM |

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