Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Holland Belgium River Cruise 2015
May 1, Friday - Keukenhof Gardens
Posted 2015-05-22
| This morning we docked at Rotterdam and travelled by bus to the famous Keukenhof Gardens for a non-guided visit. While we're visiting the gardens our river boat will makes its way to Amsterdam. After the visit we'll re-board the bus to meet the boat there for dinner and our last night aboard. |
| Aproaching the gardens we see the massive tulip fields of familiar photos. |
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In the gift shop are some displays giving facts about tulips. The name originated in Turkey,
because of the similarity in shape to the Turkish turban. Of the 680 million Euros worth of
bulbs exported from the Netherlands annually, 26 million go to Canada. Of the 20,000 hectares of
land devoted to bulb production, 50% is tulips, 20% lilies, 8% narcissus, 6% hyacinths and
16% other. The Keukenhof Gardens consist of many beds of flowers, mostly tulips but some others as well. The layout is reminiscent of Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, on a larger scale. The Keukenhof gardens are open for only eight weeks in the spring of each year. The success of the display can vary, depending on the weather in a given spring. The weather during our trip was cool, but the flower displays were magnificent. |
| 2015 marks the 125th year since the death of Van Gogh, so there was a disply of flowers depicting him. In the crowd of folks on the platform for a look, we did not recognize him, but on the screen we do see him in the flowers. |
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There are several pavillions in the gardens with restaurant and restroom facilities. A pathway leads from one of them to a restful fountain. |
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Following are a bunch of photos that we snapped of the various displays, with no comment that comes to mind. |
| A pond with fountain near the exit gives a place for weary wanderers to rest and enjoy. There was a man with a mechanical stage show in this area for entertainment, but our camera missed that bit. Back on the bus, it was an hour or more to travel to the ship in Amsterdam harbour. On the bus (either this morning or this afternoon) we passed the huge Schiphol airport, which is about 4 metres below sea level. |
| On the ship for our Last Supper, we took some more photos of the dining room. |
| Bill & John, Heather-Anne & Marg, John & Heather-Anne, Blake & Debbie (a couple from the USofA at the next table). |