Tiptoeing Through the Tulips

Julie: I trust that your Easter was one full of blessings. There is no greater gift than that of sacrifice and forgiveness, yet Jesus gave me kisses all day. From the morning concert of church bells to the intoxicating perfume of hyacinths, I was overwhelmed with gratefulness to be here in the Netherlands.

Delft is quintessential old world Europe. Most of the buildings are original, and the clock tower bells chime every half-hour. I wonder if the locals even really hear them anymore. I'm sure that the novelty would wear off, but how cool would it be to hear them every day?

Today we went to the world renowned Keukenhof Gardens. Every tulip, daffodil, and hyacinth imaginable were arranged in brilliant displays. Everywhere I looked was eye catching. The daffodils, or narcissus, ranged from miniature to nearly as large as my hand. Their colors were white, pale yellow, dark yellow, and two toned. Tulips of every color, and color combination, were arranged brilliantly. Some were teeny tiny, and some were as large as my hand! Their smell also varied from not much at all to a rich, pleasant scent. Hyacinths were interspersed throughout the garden landscape, and I could not get enough of the smell.  I now want to create a Dutch garden!

On our way back to Delft, we took our time in Leiden. Because it was so late in the day, most shops were closed. However, we found a Pannekoekenhuis, where we ate dinner. Pannekoeken translates as pancakes. They are very different from the American pancake.  These taste much like a crepe with toppings added.  Some are sweet, but most are savory. My pannekoeken had bacon, ham, onions, and mushrooms in it, and it was topped with mozzarella cheese. Lekker!! (Yummy). During dinner, we met a very nice young couple. We learned that Leiden is very safe, and a great city to live in, and Amsterdam is crazy, crowded, and a poor picture of the Netherlands. The lady who owns the boat, in which we are staying, said the same thing, so we are rethinking our day there.  After dinner, we wandered around Leiden. It was beautiful! I was surprised to see a Pearlevision and a Claire's there.  I wanted to eat Leiden in Leiden, but the cheese shop was closed. I'm sure that the cheese shops here, in Delft, will have some.

Jake: I wish everyone had a blessed Easter. I noticed at the churches here in Holland where people go in for a quick blessing and then go on with there day.  It is interesting to see how the same concept in America of a holiday is the same in Holland.  It is very sad, but true of today.

They do get to celebrate Easter for two days, so today is Easter Monday.  The markets will be open and music will be playing as people eat, drink, and enjoy family and friends.

The Keukenhof is an amusement park sized landscape of art.  The designs and colors paint the garden full of beauty the typical mind cannot comprehend.  As your senses see, smell, and hear the beauty as the garden speaks to you with a tulip, daffodil, or the trickling of a waterfall tucked in among the hug of thousands of flowers, it was a site that a picture cannot truly define unless you experience it personally.

We did get to see some of Delft yesterday as we were getting lost in trying to find a place to eat breakfast.  There is a lot of modern design in the buildings near the center of town, but you sometimes find a small plaza of buildings nestled in with gardens with little European restaurants to satisfy any appetite.
We are going to see more of Delft later, so I will speak more if it when I am donr enjoying time with some family.
Yes, I said family.  I will be meeting some cousins at the market in Delft this morning.

Let us talk about Leiden: a city full of life with modern and old mixed in from building to building.  The architecture was amazing.   As Julia stated before, we ate at a pannekoekenhuis.  The outside was colored with canopies as they hovered over a setting of tables and chairs a few feet from the channel with the carnival noise in the background.

As you go in, you instantly see the European flair of wood, cobblestone, and ambiance fill the room.  Your nose picks up on the smell of pannekoeken and beer. It was a good smell as my stomach grumbled with joy.  I ate a pannekoeken filled with cheese, mushroom, onion, ham, and salami topped with olive oil, basil, and seasonings.  Every bite melted in my mouth while my stomach thanked me.

We walked the channel laced with bicycles and cobblestone.  It is amazing how you find beauty nestled in the most unusual places.  Julia and I found two small beauties of a garden and a private plaza;  the greenery, the flowers, and the old European architecture captured within the city.  It is another day in paradise.