The Netherlands, Part 1

Azaleas, rhododendrons, tulips and daffodils have long been dead back home in North Carolina.  Here the end of their blooming season is just beginning.  And so we wandered through Keukenhof Gardens, among the colorful patches full of the famous Dutch flowers.  Tulips of every imaginable color - I had always wondered whether there were flowers with green petals.  There were even grape hyacinths that I have only ever seen growing wild in Grandma's yard.  Unfortunately, we were too late to see the fields full of tulips flowers.  Overwhelming rows upon rows of color.  We saw how it should look on the postcards and we were jealous.  Andrew finally found a "labyrinth" to wander.  There were also buildings full of orchids and lilies.  The smell of the lilies slapped us in the face.

Tulips and Grape Hyacinths

Andrew's favorite flower

Tulip patch

Go NC State!

Yesterday we biked through Den Haag.  Everyone bikes here.  Apparently you can get away with pretty much anything if you are riding a bike - so, Andrew and I are considering robbing a bank (wink, wink).  Bikes have the right-of-way almost everywhere and there are even bike traffic lights!  Bikes are the main form of transportation for locals.  Makes me miss downtown Raleigh.

Andrew with the bikes

We spent the morning wandering through the Escher museum.  Really interesting stuff.  Andrew said that his mind hurt by the end though.  Then we wandered about the town, biked past the Peace Palace, and ended up on the beach where we enjoyed some frites (french fries) in a cone and then tested the waters of the North Sea.  Just our feet though.  And it wasn't that bad after the couple seconds it took to go numb.

Outside the Peace Palace

Standing in the North Sea

Today, after a brunch of pannekoeken (Dutch egg pancakes), Aunt Dodie took us to Delft.  Cute little Dutch town.  Aunt Dodie told us that during the summer when the duck weed abounds, kids fall into the canals because they think it is a grassy surface.  Also, in regards to the canals, I would not want to try parking beside them - a tree in front, a bike rack behind, and a canal full of water on the side - seems like a tricky maneuver.  Walking back to the car, we got to see a twist bridge.  The bridge pivoted open from one end like a door.  And then all the boats in the canal that had piled up at their red traffic light went through while a traffic jam of bikers waited on each side of the bridge.  We also went to the Royal Delftware factory and museum.  Interesting stuff.  Expensive stuff!

Canal parking in Delft

City gate in Delft

We are having a little trouble adjusting to the time here.  It stays light until 10:30 at night, so our minds are not ready for bed until mid-morning.  And then, of course, we sleep through our alarms...slamming them on snooze, throwing them under the bed, or muffling them under our pillows.  So many of our days have been late starts.  And now, goodnight.  We are off to Amsterdam tomorrow.  Hopefully we will be able to wake up early and catch our train!