Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands

I thought I got up early on this morning, then was puzzled that I didn't get to the bus very early.  Turns out that Anne and Jori had left later than usual, which fooled me into thinking I was early too! Caught the bus to the airport, then the bus from the airport to the gardens. Keukenhof gardens are incredible. Stunningly beautiful with all the spring flowers including the tulips, the gardens should be on everybody's bucket list!  I'm not going to write much - just let you drink in the colours and beauty...

After wandering around the gardens for a couple of hours, I decided to hire a bike to the flower fields as I \really wanted to see them.  I was really nervous for two reasons - Firstly, I hadn't ridden a bike for 30 years, and secondly my balance. Having no balance makes me somewhat dangerous on a bike, but I was determined not to let it get in my way.

On my ride, which was really wobbly, the first thing I noticed was the number of tour buses inside the gardens.  Where fields of flowers should have been, fields of tour buses were there instead.  I've never seen so many tour buses all in one place.

The flower fields were stunning as I thought they would be.  The hardest thing about biking was starting off - was very unbalanced and wobbly, but once I got going and into a rhythm I was find.  I had one mishap though - my camera blag fell out of the basket and whent down with a crunch.  Miraculously it still seems to be working fine!

I rode the bike for about an hour, then headed back home by bus.  I'm so glad I went, and today was my only chance due to the fact I was heading away again, and the gardens close the day before I come back.

Jori met me at the flat then we all went to meet Sue, Annes lovely friend from South Africa, and her parents.We met at this amazing restaurant in the middle of the water.

Queen's Night - Queen's Day

I stayed in bed most of the morning as I was still sick with a heavy cold and miserable. Anne texted me from work reminding me to buy the lotto ticket for Queens day before midday to make sure I was in the dreaw, so I wandered over to the lotto shop and bought one.  I am hoping it's the 33m euro winner!

Jori and Anne cooked dinner, then we headed out to walk around the streets.  Everywhere we went were people partying on the street..  Bands/music played from trucks.  The whole of Amsterdam was Party Central!

We had our cameras so played around with some night photography.  I managed to lose my prescription reading glasses around here somewhere. They must have fallen out of my bag when I lifted the camera out.

The Red Light District...

We headed to Dam Square where people wee already camping out to get the space up front with a view to the balcony where outgoing Queen and the incoming King would wave from..

Some went all out with their costumes...

The next day we headed out again. Now instead of parties on every corner, market stalls had sprung up everywhere, and everyone was wearing Orange - including Anne...

 Boats went up and down the canals filled with party goers.  Load music was pumped out of these boats and people were dancing...

Even the dogs were dressed up...

Seems to me the whole day was the day to let your hair down and just have fun...

Cupcakes beings old complete with iced crowns...

The streets were awash with the colour orange..

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 More cupcakes for sale, but right next to these, two young girls were selling pancakes.  The competition was very tough.  We bought the pancakes!

We headed back to the apartment for a late lunch, then packed the backpack up with beer and headed down to Vondelpark.  I took my big 400mm lens with me for the birds...

But also got the crocodile! The wind was freezing. It wasn't that warm, and this would have been cold.  No doubt he had been drinking beer so probably coudn't feel it!

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Did catch this black faced gull in flight as well.  We had a great day!