Tiptoe Through the Tulips

We went to Amsterdam over the Easter break.
We got so very lucky with our timing, as the tulips were in bloom while we were there. There is only a 2 week window that they bloom every year, and no one knows when it will be. It could be anytime March-May, so we were so thankful that we could see them in all their splendor. We took a trip to Keukenhof, the royal flower garden about an hour outside the city. All around Keukenhof are the commercial growers, and the tulips, hyanciths, and daffodils were literally just like a carpet of vibrant color.



Kate is really into making these funny faces for pictures lately.

We took a ride in the canal boats:



We also did a bike tour out into the countryside, which was really fun.
We stopped to learn about windmills, the national symbol of the Netherlands. This particular one is well known because it used to be sketched by Rembrandt.


We also went to a Clog Factory, where they made the clogs. The clogs were traditionally worn because the city is below sea level, and made up of dikes that get very swampy when it rains. The clogs enable one to walk on top of the mud, instead of sinking into it. Now, rubber wellington boots are used instead. However, clogs are still worn by farmers as a means of protecting their foot from an errant foot stomping by the odd cow or horse.







There was also a cheese factory, which we really enjoyed too. They had the cows they use for the milk on site, and both of the kids really liked them. There was this small calf who liked to eat bread right from your hand.







Michael did his usual trick of falling asleep on the bike.



At Keukenhof, they had a small petting zoo that my animal crazy kids loved. There was this little 2 week old lamb:



the Easter Bunny:




and a turkey:


Michael thought the turkey was really funny, until it gobbled. Then he didn't think it was quite so funny.




We also passed this Hilton Hotel.


It is kind of hard to see in the photo, but on the third window down on the left side is some writing.
This is the room that John Lennon & Yoko Ono held their famous "Bed-In" after their marriage to promote world peace. The writing they did is still there, and you too can stay in this room for the low price of 1800 Euros per night!


But Kate's favorite thing about the whole trip? Getting to use her new suitcase.