I was told by my dear coworkers here that we would be heading to the Netherlands this past Saturday! My mind translated that to mean we were heading to Amsterdam and I excitingly informed all my friends and family that I was heading to the coolest north European city! I spent last week day dreaming of visiting Anne Frank's home, exploring the city notoriously known for legal drug use and other dark matters, and tuning into my inner hippie.
On Friday night, as I dined with my coworkers, I was sadly informed that we were not Amsterdam bound but that we were heading to some lame-ass tulip garden, known as Keukenhof. As the disappointment settled within me, I was informed that this was the biggest flower garden in Europe (as if this was going to soften the blow). I couldn't believe it! I just threw down over a hundred dollars for flowers I couldn't even take home. This was cause for a second round of drinks. "Waiter!"
However, the trip ended up being a great experience! It was sponsored through the military base and we had to board a bus at 1:30am, sleep, wake up in Holland, visit a dairy farm for a traditional Dutch breakfast, and then head to Keukenhof. The dairy farm was AMAZING!!! I ate AMPLE, more like shameful amounts of Gouda cheese!! AHHHH Holland knows how to do GOUDA! I just wish I could have drank some wine at breakfast... but maybe that would be too soon in the day... just maybe.
The "traditional" Dutch breakfast might as well of been a "traditional" American breakfast. On the way there, I had my coworkers all excited about what this Dutch breakfast might entail. I told them stories of Dutch pancakes, Dutch pancake balls with powder sugar, and other wonderful possibilities that awaited us. When we sat down to find boiled eggs, sliced bread, cheese, and coffee, our empty stomaches just groaned. Was this really a Dutch breakfast? Although the staff affirmed that bread and cheese is a traditional Dutch breakfast, I refused to believe it. I, in turn, advised the staff I have had better Dutch breakfasts in the U.S. and, with that comment, I was thrown out of the dairy farm!
Okay, so I didn't insult the staff by making that egotistic American comment (although it is true, thanks to saints in Connecticut) but remained quiet and thanked the Lord for Gouda. We spent the day at Keukenhof on a very gloomy, slightly rainy day and, since winter has lingered longer this year, we took very few pictures of the grounds where flowers have yet to bloom in. We boarded the bus right when the sun came out (so sad!) and headed back to Germany. Dinner was spent eating cheese and drinking wine on the bus (because we could!!) in addition to having a dance party with my coworkers. Gotta stay in shape somehow! Good times in the Netherlands.
