Koekenhoff 1

One of he days that we were in Holland we went to Koekenhoff. It's a beautiful park with lots of tulips & other flowers. It's hard to explain how beautiful it is without being there. Here's Patricia & Christian on a cycle. I found the VanderHoeven clan rooming the premises. They are enjoying the beauty.

I'm trying to figure out what Jack has found. Typical Dutch wonder!

We are about to leave the park. As usual they have souvenir shops at every tourist place & Koekenhoff is no exception. I almost bought bulbs & had them shipped straight to me but!!! I had to be careful with he funny money, "The Euro!"

Train ride into Amsterdam.

After Pam figured out how to get the tickets, we're on our way. Since I loaded this picture 1st, I need to talk about it. Ady was judging who was the "The best of the West." We would clap for the person he would say. The loudest applause won. I wonder if he really knows that people were laughing and mocking us as we were leaving? The ride into town was pleasant. It beats driving in Amsterdam, trying to park and all. We saved time not having to try and find parking!

After we got there we had a WC break. NO Cokes for you!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are3 talking and waiting for the train. That day we say the Ann Frank house, The red light district, passed a few Coffee shops. Now it's time to get on a train. We need to get the scrooges on board.

It was a very pleasent day. We all enjoyed it.

A trip to the city of Amsterdam.

When we went to Holland we decided to divide Amsterdam up. We decided to stop outside the city limits and take the train in. Well it took us about 20 minutes to figure out how to use a machine that didn't take $20 notes. here's how it looked when we were buying tickets.

Proud to be an American!

I wasn't there to hear the story. But, let me repeat it for those who did hear the story. We were at the American Cemetery at Margraten, The Netherlands. We were there during their version of Memorial Day. Some saw an elderly man put some flowers on a grave. Ady asked the gentleman in Dutch, "Sir, why did you put flowers on that grave? Why that soldier?" The gentleman replied "I was 9 when the Germans took over Holland. I was a teenager when young Americans like this one gave up their lives so I and my fellow countryman can live in peace. I have adapted this grave to put flowers on it to pay my respects for the youth of Americans who sacrificed their lives for us willingly." For the first time I didn't want to take a picture. It's times like this that makes you swell with pride And thankfulness for those young men. Maybe on Memorial Day next year we should reflect the real meaning before we start our fun.