Keukenhof!

You just can't come to the Netherlands during tulip time and NOT go to Keukenhof Gardens! I think they confiscate your passport and refuse to let you leave if the word gets out ;-)

The weather looked promising and the reports were that the tulips were starting to bloom, so we decided that today was the day for going to Keukenhof. The morning started with fog rolling in, but it burned off fairly quickly and turned into a day that was so glorious that we drove for a bit with the window rolled down!

On the way to the gardens we found a few flowers.

We also rediscovered this castle ruin which we had seen 15 years ago on our first trip to the Netherlands with our kids. At the time the few tulips we saw were in a small patch next to this ruin. We did a little better today.

Keukenhof Gardens is an indescribable happening of everything tulip - WOW!

This beauty was parked near us at Koekenhof.

A view of Leiden.

Pannekoenen for supper at Oudt Leyden Pannekoek restaurant - our favorite place for Pannekoeken in the Netherlands.

Crème brûlée and koffie for dessert!

 

New beer report: Hertog Jan Karakter - a Dutch beer. A very nice amber beer with a smooth and pleasant taste. 7.5% alcohol content. Definitely one worth getting again!

Here's the text from the label: 
"Karacter that is brewed with care by us, you can see immediately. The exquisite selection of prestige malts gives Karacter a copper color. It is fruity without bitterness. The freshness and the high alcohol content make it a surprisingly peaceful beer to sit down with."
Couldn't have said it any better myself!