TRAVEL THROWBACK: AMSTERDAM'S KEUKENHOF GARDENS

"There are places I'll remember......"

For some reason, I've been humming that tune

for the last few days.

I'm not sure how or why it popped into my head,

but it's actually apropos as I think about our visit 

to Keukenhof Gardens during tulip season eight years ago. 

Memories of exploring this glorious park outside of Amsterdam haven't faded; 

in fact, they're as vivid as the colorful riot of blooms
which blanket the grounds. 

I'd like to say that it was cleverly intentional on my part 
to plan our trip to Amsterdam during tulip season,
but, nope, it didn't even occur to me.  
There was no flexibility in our travel dates........
we went during Junior Goo Shoes' spring break from school.

The fact that we ended up in the Netherlands during 

peak tulip time just happened to be a lucky coincidence.

Seeing Keukenhof Gardens in full bloom, 

if I might humbly opine,

has got to be one of the most lovely sights the world has to offer. 

I'd go as far as calling it one of the wonders of the world.......

okay, not one the top seven, 
but certainly high up there on the "Wonder" wheel.

Perhaps most spectacular of all was the rainbow panorama 
of endless tulip fields growing outside the park.

It was Flower Power to the nth degree.

When I planned this family excursion to the park,

I was more than a little concerned that Junior Goo Shoes 
would be bored out of his 11-year old mind;

and frankly, I wasn't so sure about 

Mr. Goo Shoes' interest level, either.

I'd have bet the farm that after half an hour

of tiptoeing through the tulips, 
I'd be hearing, "Are we done yet?" in stereo.

But, to my surprise.......and delight.......my boys were enthralled!

After miles of walking through the park,

 we worked up an appetite, 

and stuffed our faces with Dutch treats, 

like stroopwafels and poffertjes, 
readily available at the park's kiosks.

If you know me, joy of travel 

is equal parts sightseeing and eating. 

Okay, 60/40, with food getting a slight edge. 

Hey, if the wooden shoe fits.......

Or not. 

Surely, I jest.

Seriously, the essence of why one travels is

to see things we can't see at home, 

like medieval architecture, or other-worldly natural landscapes.

In this case, it was a floral razzle-dazzler of epic proportions. 

Sometimes, we need pictures to remind us of what we've seen,

 and then, there are those gems 

that are etched into our memories forever. 

Keukenhof Gardens in tulip season is such a place. 

 "There are places I'll remember...........

In my life, I've loved them all."

 

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LINKING WITH:
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Our World Tuesday

TODAY IN NEW YORK CITY: SPRINGTIME IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER

I was in New York City for all of two hours today,

just to go to the dentist.

While I would normally want to prolong my visit,

I had to hurry home to prepare for the Passover seder tomorrow night.

My route to the dentist took me through Rockefeller Center,

where I had a few minutes to admire 

the Channel Gardens, adorned in spring splendor.

An oversized birds nest,

with giant blue "eggs" made for a whimsical exhibit.

There was also a clever shoe display in the Kate Spade window

that made me smile.  

Wishing you a Happy Passover, or Happy Easter,

whichever you may celebrate.

 

LINKING WITH:
Our World Tuesday

PHOTO DIARY MARCH 2019: FROM LION TO LAMB

Actually, March was more like lamb → lion → lamb.

On March 1, we left balmy Florida to make the long drive home.

 Two days later, in a move that I'm sure was intended to bust our lamb chops,  

New Jersey welcomed us with a roar.

And by the end of the month,

the lion slowly yielded to the baby sheep.

Temperatures climbed higher........

Daylight grew longer.......

Daffodils poked their little bulbous heads through the soil........

and the landscapers filled the neighborhood doing cleanups.

Hello, Spring! 

450 miles from Florida, and six hours later, we were back in Savannah for fried green tomatoes over pasta at East End Provisions.

Crossing the Delaware Memorial Bridge meant we were in the final stretch of our 3-day drive.

 Hello, NJ Turnpike.......the on-ramp to home.

Not quite the welcome sign we were hoping for.

At least we made it home a few hours before the snow storm. The next morning, a broken limb awaited us. Fortunately, it spared the new mailbox.

Couldn't argue with the fact that it sure was pretty.

Trying to hold on to that Florida feeling once we were home, I had the crazy idea to take pictures of seashells in the snow.

Mad photography skills continued........as I snapped photos through the skylight while riding through Manhattan (yes, I was in the passenger seat).

At a cooking class/dinner at Unico Restaurant in Westchester County, the chef showed us how to make fresh agnolotti with mushrooms and brown butter sauce. (Note the lion mural.........an appropriate backdrop for a freezing day in March).

The new Tappan Zee Bridge, now formally called the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, was finally showing its true colors.

No laps for me around the Central Park reservoir. I was happy to stand in one place on 5th Avenue and 90th Street admiring the views across town.

The Guggenheim Museum, on the corner of E. 89th Street and Fifth Avenue........people either love the look or hate it. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, it's one of seven museums on what is known as Museum Mile.

Scaffolding on the sidewalks of New York City is a common. albeit unsightly site.

Tickets are in hand for three more shows to be seen over the next six months. The Sunshine State is nice, but it's great to be back in the Big Apple!

Spring is finally in the air and on the sidewalks of New York City.

Till next time.........