After 5 weeks of cruising, we are finally done. Don't get me wrong, the cruising was great...all the different Caribbean Islands we visited, visiting Burmuda for the first time, the six amazingly relaxing days at sea for the Atlantic crossing, the multiple ports of call in Europe (Ireland, Guernsey, France, & England), and of course, all the amazing food and drinks.
However, after 5 weeks of wining and dining, we are ready to start our new travel adventure and head out on our own. First stop is Rotterdam, Netherlands where we disembarked the Holland America Niew Statendam. From the port we took a cruise-provided bus to the Amsterdam Airport. There we mailed our two boxes of cruise clothes to a friend in England and then headed to our hotel. We arrived at the hotel around noon, but our room was ready so they let us check-in early.
However, after 5 weeks of wining and dining, we are ready to start our new travel adventure and head out on our own. First stop is Rotterdam, Netherlands where we disembarked the Holland America Niew Statendam. From the port we took a cruise-provided bus to the Amsterdam Airport. There we mailed our two boxes of cruise clothes to a friend in England and then headed to our hotel. We arrived at the hotel around noon, but our room was ready so they let us check-in early.
Done with the cruise and ready for new travel adventures.
After relaxing for about 30 minutes in the room, we headed out. We are lucky enough to be here in the Netherlands when the tulips are in bloom and when one of the world's largest flower gardens, Keukenhof Garden, is opened to the public. Keukenhof comprised 79 acres with over 7 million planted bulbs and is only opened for about six weeks per year. We just happen to be here during the height of the flower bloom...what great timing.
We took the hotel shuttle back to the airport where there were special express buses to take us to Keukenhof Garden. Upon arrive, there were so many people. By the way...last year there were over 1.4 million visitors in just 53 days (26,500 people per day on average). Today the garden was sold out, so I am assuming there was about 27,000 people here. At first it was overwhelming, but then we let ourselves become mesmerized by the tulips all around us.
We took the hotel shuttle back to the airport where there were special express buses to take us to Keukenhof Garden. Upon arrive, there were so many people. By the way...last year there were over 1.4 million visitors in just 53 days (26,500 people per day on average). Today the garden was sold out, so I am assuming there was about 27,000 people here. At first it was overwhelming, but then we let ourselves become mesmerized by the tulips all around us.
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Wow...what an amazing garden. How lucky we were to be at the right place at the right time.
After about 2 hours of walking around, we headed back to the hotel where Tim watched TV and I started figuring out what we will be doing in Istanbul, Turkey when we get there tomorrow night. I thought I would do the planning on the cruise ship during the Atlantic crossing, but I didn't. I was too busy sleeping in, learning how to play contract bridge, and eating and drinking. I'm sure it will work out.
See you all in Istanbul, Turkey tomorrow!
After about 2 hours of walking around, we headed back to the hotel where Tim watched TV and I started figuring out what we will be doing in Istanbul, Turkey when we get there tomorrow night. I thought I would do the planning on the cruise ship during the Atlantic crossing, but I didn't. I was too busy sleeping in, learning how to play contract bridge, and eating and drinking. I'm sure it will work out.
See you all in Istanbul, Turkey tomorrow!
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