As I mentioned in one of my earlier "travelogue" posts, my sister and I chose our travel dates based on our own convenience and schedules, not based on where we were headed. It can only be serendipity, then, that put us in the Netherlands during the peak of . . .

Tulip Mania!
Yes, we arrived in Amsterdam during the peak weak of "tulip time." So we boarded a charter bus and traveled about 35 miles to Lisse, the tulip capital of the world, to visit Keukenhof Gardens (I like to think of it as The Disneyland of Tulips). My sister and I are NOT the charter bus types. At all. But we just . . . went along for the ride. . . ignoring the schmaltzy charter bus tour guide schtick. . . and laughing with each other. . . about How Had It Come to This? But, then, we caught a glimpse of this out the bus windows. . .

and remembered why we got on the bus in the first place!
Keukenhof Gardens really is an amazing place.

Acres upon acres. . .

upon acres upon acres. . .

of amazing tulips. . .

and bulbs. . .

of all kinds!

But wait! There's more!

The garden incorporated the most wonderful collection of outdoor sculpture!

Truly delightful. . .

and a fabulous way to mix the art of gardening with . . . art!

But wait! There's more!

Not only were there tulips and bulbs and sculpture at every turn. . .

There was also a Spring Garden Show. . .

an Orchid Show. . .

frequent glimpses of surrounding tulip fields. . .
treats . . .

and lots of Dutch heritage!

Trust me, you haven't fully experienced Keukenhof until you are munching on a "Warme Beenham" (basically, a bacon sandwich. . .) surrounded by The Throng of Tourists and listening to a middle-aged Dutch choir sing Songs from the 80s -- in Dutch, of course. (Yes, I think that WAS "Eye of the Tiger". . .)
But I digress!
The gardens at Keukenhof were totally over the top! WAY over the top. Gorgeous and a true treat for the eyes. As you might guess, though, being in the peak of tulip mania, it was PACKED with tourists. PACKED! (Our charter bus was probably one of 500 that afternoon. No kidding.) But, unlike Versailles, we were outside and the gardens are huge. We followed our "Robert Frost Plan" for touring --- always (ALWAYS) taking "the road less traveled." (And . . . that has made all the difference!)

Di? We'll always have . . . Keukenhof!