There's still a lot of trash in the city left over from Queen's Day. Unfortunately, a lot of it makes it's way into the canals, which is sad.
In fact, we found a duck on one of our walks who decided "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and made a nest for her clutch of eggs.
But it turns out that they use small barges to clean the canals on a regular basis, but I guess with a city-wide event like Queen's Day, it just takes a while to get to everything.
Of course we had to make a quick "coffee shop" stop, this time at The Blue Dolphin - Bull Dog is just too mainstream for us now. :) Then it was off to our "Coffee Company" store for some real coffee. (Side note for anyone reading this who was involved with the production of All About Eve at Theatre Rhino -- as I sit and type this, they've been repeating the song "Leibestrom," and I can picture is Matthew Martin as Margo at the piano, drunk and angry. Ah, good times. I asked one of the folks at the counter if they knew the title of the song, and he said "I really don't want to." To him it's just really bad elevator music, but I'm sentimental.)
We continued our walk towards the bus pick up, and found this cute little comic book shop. Lots of interesting books and comics, and a few toys, too.
They had a big kitty out front that was really cute. I miss my kitty, too. Besty, you'd better be taking care of her!
We found a small gallery for Marc Chagall, too, but it was closed. Thank goodness there was all that art scattered around the front of it (even it we couldn't touch it). This is also where we found that duck with the clutch of eggs that was pictured above.
We decided that unlike the other day that we would be sure to eat a meal BEFORE we did a big excursion. So we continued to wander around until we found a likely place. I think this one was called "Rookies" or something like that.
The most successful tourist businesses, it seems to me, are the ones that focus on the triple offering - a coffee shop, a cafe/bar and a souvenir shop. You know, smoke out at the coffee shop, then go next door, have a beer then eat everything in sight, then go buy a trinket or three before your buzz wears off. These "triple threat" places must do very well.
We had a ham and cheese and egg sandwich (the egg isn't fried or anything, it's just a couple of thin slices of hard-boiled egg, a nice surprise. The sandwich was really good, and so far, I have yet to find a place in Amsterdam that makes bad fries - they are always golden and delicious. David B. says it's because they are twice-cooked - first to pre-cook, then next when the order is made. So they never sit under a heat lamp and get dry or stale. Nice.
Naturally, after a nice meal and a big beer, I needed an ice cream on such a beautiful, warm day. Need being a questionable word, of course. :)
We then headed to the bus pick up location, but first had to seach for a toilet. Again, because most every business that has a toilet requires at least .30 payment, the one we found was huge and luxurious, and of course, very, very clean. I just love that. And always an attendant on duty.
Being the tourists that we are, naturally David B. made me get into the shoe for a photo. Then it was on to the bus to our destination of Keukenhof.
Keukenhof is a popular Dutch attraction, located a short walk from the small town of Lisse. Visitors can enjoy walking in the 32-hectare park, in which seven million bulbs are planted.
In the early 15th century the site was used as the hunting estate and as a herb garden for a castle, owned by duchess called Jacoba van Beieren. The name Keukenhof means "herb garden". The layout of the park was designed in the mid 19th century by the same landscape architect who created the Vondelpark in Amsterdam, in the style of an English landscape garden. In 1949 a group of bulb growers came up with the idea of putting on a spring flower exhibition here. This proved to be a successful showcase for the Dutch bulb trade, and it became an annual event.
There are several pavilions containing seasonal flower exhibitions: displays may include tulips, chrysanthemums, roses, orchids, begonias, lilies and other plants. Displays are created by different growers, and are judged as part of a competition.
Works of art are spread out throughout the gardens, including bronze statues by various artists represented by Smelik & Stokking Galleries.
There are also children's attractions such as an animal enclosure and a play area. It was so fun to be able to pet them, too - I forgot how much I love baby goats! The chickens were a trip, too - very long, bushie feathers. One little goat kept following us around, begging to be scratched and fed. Very cute.
There's also a labyrinth made from hedges at the park. But we're smart, we just took the side door exit. :)
Our tour guide was wonderful. It was really interesting to hear her give explanations to everyone on the bus during the ride to and from the park because she would say everything three times -- once in English, once in Spanish and once in German. Occasionally she would speak Japanese, but would apologize because she wasn't as good at it. Personally, I think she has a career in voice-over. She had the most beautiful, soothing voice and spoke in each language so beautifully. As a media producer, it was interesting to note that she did all this live -- no prerecordings or anything. I wonder what they do when she gets sick!
Several of the buildings in the park had flower exhibits and places to eat and drink (and toilets with an attendent!)
We also found several food carts, but I'm still not trying a herring sandwich. Bleah.
And of course, lots and lots and lots of gorgeous flowers. We're planning on posting a longer slideshow of photos of flowers on YouTube later. First things first. :)
Then it was a bus ride back to the city. Of course, the camera battery crapped out again - it's all that turning off and on I think because it activates the lense motor each time. Gonna try just leaving it on and see what happens.
On the way back, we saw one of the last remaining tulip crops. Did you know that tulip farmers cut the head off the tulips in the Spring, leaving just the plant in the soil until July or so? It because if you don't, the bulb won't reproduce and you've just thrown away the bulb's breeding potential.
But if you do it correctly, the bulb generally yields several baby bulbs. It was said today that at the height of Holland's tulip bulb trade, that some people would trade a house for a single bulb. One person paid as much as the equivalent of 94,000 euro for a single bulb. Amazing stuff.
We got off the bus at Central Station at the trip (around 7pm) and took a tram back to the hotel for a quick respite, then off to the "Little Lion" for a beer or three and a visit with our favorite pub owner, then back to the hotel for some much-earned rest. Being a tourist can really take it out of ya!
