Day 4: Keukenhof Garden

In order to reach the Keukenhof garden at opening time to beat the huge crowds that would arrive later in the day we took the local transportation there, leaving our apartment before 6 am!  It was a little bit of a hike getting from the Lisse bus stop to the entrance but was worth it to have the park practically to ourselves for a couple hours before the many busses for the region started rolling in thousands of people. 

We had a nice dinner at Season’s restaurant then did a Red Light walking tour which was very interesting.

After a long day straight to bed with achy feet!  …and spotty internet connection!

THE first stock exchange, and it was in Amsterdam trading tulips!

Day 3: Paris to Amsterdam

We took an early morning train from Paris to Rotterdam and meet up with some cruising companions, Tom and Virginia, who had just flew in this morning then picked up a rental van for the day and the drive to Amsterdam.  We had been following the Tulips in Holland’s blog and their facebook page to get weekly reports on the blooming conditions in the area and at Keukenhof garden.   It appears that in the past few days the tulips have started to open and the fields were just beautiful. We got to see the end of the daffodils in bloom, hyacinths in full bloom and tulips over half way to their peak.  I was thrilled!

 The first hyacinth field we reached was just overwhelming.  When I opened to door to get out and take photo’s the smell was everywhere and more that I ever imagined it would or could be.  Hyacinths were one of my mom’s favorite flowers and I can’t help thinking of her when I smell them or peonies.

drive along the North Sea

   

Day 2: Paris

We had a laid back day in Paris.  We enjoyed walking around, sidewalk cafes and no schedule to keep.  We did go by Museum d’Orsay and after seeing the 1000’s in line decided we would save it for another time when we had pre-purchased tickets, although that line had over 100 in it!  We got a birthday package in the mail today to our granddaughter Macy in Texas.

Day 1: Arrival in Paris

We flew from Tri-Cities to Charlotte then straight to Paris in7 hour, 40 minute flight but we didn’t get much sleep on the plane.  We arrived at 6:20 Paris time and because I was afraid morning rush hour traffic jams would drive taxi costs to high we decided to take the train into town.  Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport has a reputation of one of the worse airports in the world and we had avoided it in the past.  It wasn’t too bad and had more signs that I expected but involved a lot of walking.  We took the airport train to the RER station and then a straight shot into Paris taking 37 minutes to our St Michel stop. Hardly anyone was on the train when we got on but by the time we got to town it was jammed pack and I wasn’t for sure we would get through the wall-to-wall people to the exit but we made it.  I envy people who can travel with one small carry-on bag when traveling! 

At one stop along the way a man got on with a baritone and a speaker on wheels with taped music and started playing.  I was very amused and it reminded me of  the movie “You’ve Got Mail” when Meg Ryan told Tom Hanks about a butterfly getting on the NY subway and going a few stops before getting off, to presumably buy a hat at Bloomingdales J   I also loved watching the people on their way to work roll their eyes and I am sure thinking why me, this early in the morning.  After a couple songs he went through collecting tips then he was gone.

We had a pleasant surprise when we got to our hotel and our room was ready!  After getting checked in and rearranging out hand bags we set out for breakfast.  This is the same area, different hotel, which we stayed in last August with Tim’s mom and step dad, so we went to our standard “Paul” patisserie and had our first treats which were delicious.   Wayne, we had 4 twisted biscuits for you today!

We took the Metro to the Arc de Triumph and decided looking at it from street level was enough and not to go up to the top.  We walked to the Trocadero and had lunch at a museum café we had read offered great views of the Eiffel Tower and it did although the outdoor seating area hadn’t opened for the year yet.  After lunch we walked down by the fountains and found a bench to chill out on and watch the fountains.  Not feeling like dealing with the stairs in the Metro and train changes and consulting bus map and finding no good options we took a cab back to our hotel because we decided a nap was necessary today.  We usually try to stay awake all day upon arrival but just couldn’t today.  After a 3 hours nap (alarm set for 2 hours but not enough) we walked around the Latin Quarter pedestrian streets where we are staying, did a little shopping, had dinner and our gelato stop before calling it a day.  Life is good!

Looking down the Champd Elysees

Smallest hotel room ever

Snowball trip: Month long retirement celebration, British Isles “Bravehearts” reunion cruise, City of Lights, tulips and windmills, parmesan cheese farm, fast cars, Enchanting Venice, all rolled into one!

It’s official tomorrow, April 1, 2014, we will both be retired!  Tim had unexpected surgery in early February that delayed his retirement for one month and I retired March 1 as planned.  This last month has been so nice not working and being home with Tim while he recovered.  We had a much needed break from the cold winter, which seems is never going to end, when we went to Florida for 10 days to visit my brother and Tim’s aunt in Palm city last month.  Our next adventure starts this weekend when we will fly to Paris for a few days then on to the Netherlands for windmills and tulips in bloom before our first river cruise.  Thank goodness the retirement decision was made before we bought our airplane tickets.   We got to extend this cruise on both ends because the day had finally come when work did not dictate how long we could be away!  We will spend time in Switzerland and Italy after the cruise down the Rhine River with German and French ports ending in Basel, Switzerland where we have rented a chalet on Lake Brienz for 5 nights with some cruising friends we met a few years ago on the British Isles cruise.  Then we will take a scenic, all day train ride into Italy where we are staying a few days in a smaller, less touristy Italian town for the first time with a side trip to the Ferrari factory before ending in the ever magical Venice.  We have a pretty full schedule and I will try to post blog updates and photos as we have time.