Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Keukenhof, The Hague Holland/St Vith Belgium

A few days after we got back from Turkey, Daniel drove to Frankfurt Hahn Airport to pick up Marylou and Jim for a Spring time visit!

One of the biggest things on my bucket list and places to see while living here are the tulips in Holland in the Spring.  Keukenhof is one of the largest flower gardens in the world.  It has over 7 million flower bulbs and covers almost 79 acres!  The absolute best time to see the tulips is in April.

The kid's favorite part of the gardens were its playground, petting zoo, and tree maze.  The highlights of the visit were Liam's chicken round-up, Rowan getting head butted by a goat, and Patrick seeing the pigs mate.  Liam could not stop chasing the chickens.  He was actually really good at it and not afraid to get down and grab them.  He asked one of the attendants if he could keep the chickens he caught.  She said, "No, the chickens live here."  Since our trip he has not stopped asking for a pet chicken.  Rowan went in for a photo op with a goat and the thing turned around and head butted her!  Patrick went over to check out the pigs and got a first person view on how piglets are made.  We also all tried the fresh herring.  It is all locally caught and served raw with onions.  It is delicious!  

The tulip fields that dot the country side along the North Sea are absolutely incredible.  It looks like someone spray painted brightly colored lines along the countryside.  

Marylou and Jim made this 5 hour journey with us.  We spent the night about 45 minutes south in the capital of Holland, The Hague.  From what I have read, some of the most prosperous as well as some of the poorest neighborhoods in The Netherlands can be found in The Hague. 

We ate dinner in at a local seafood stand down by the beach.  The best part of the meal was the sunset on the beach.  The food was all deep fried and to be honest, we have all had much better!  The freezing wind was whipping off the Atlantic, however from the car it was a beautiful night with an incredible sunset.  

The next morning we all piled in the car and headed home.  We took our time.  

Our first stop was at The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial.  Here lies the soldiers that helped liberate The Netherlands in 1944-1945.   

It was a gorgeous Spring day so we decided after our drive through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium to make a pit stop in St. Vith Belgium. St Vith is a medieval town at one time was part of Luxembourg.  It was almost completely destroyed during World War II.   We had a wonderful meal at an outdoor cafe before heading home to home sweet Weilerbach!


Rowan smelling the blumen


Kids in Keuenhof


Keukenhof


Keukenhof


Tulips in Keukenhof


Climbing in the windmill in Keukenhof


Do these wooden shoes make me look fat?


Wooden shoes


Wooden shoes


Teddy and Pop in Keukenhof


Keukenhof Gardens


Herring and a beer.  Got somethin' on your face there, Daniel.


Paddy Pumpkins


Teddy trying out the herring in a sandwich


Patrick enjoying a waffle with powdered sugar


Marylou & Jim in Keukenhof


Amazing fields!


Marylou and Jim with the tulip fields


tulip fields


Rowan and the tulips


Yummy Liam


Tip toeing through the tulips


Traveling with Oma und Opa


Tulip fields


Playground in Keukenhof


Teddy in Keukenhof


Rowan getting headbutted by that NASTY goat!


Patrick studying the pigs


Goats.  Be careful!


Liam and the chickens!


Caught one!!


I hope he does not snap that poor bird's wings!


We win!  Running through the maze and up the tower


Daniel practicing his new European poses.  There was a woman in this spot posing.  We sat
down next and he mocked her pose.  Unfortunately she turned around and saw him mocking
her. 


That is better!


Boys in Keukenhof


Keukenhof


Wooden shoes


Welcome Spring!!


Keukenhof


Keukenhof


Every color you can imagine


American Cemetery in The Netherlands


The Netherlands American Cemetery


Medal of Honor winner



Rowan at the monument

Rowan at lunch in St. Vith


Patrick and his Fanta


Liam and Grandma sharing a toast

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