I got up early and headed to the station to catch the train to Leiden.
It was quite surreal being out as it was very misty over the canals and the houses.
It was a lovely walk to the station.

I then had to catch a bus to Lisse which is where the Keukenhof Gardens are.
I bought my ticket at the hostel because you get a discount.

On the train on the way there we went past bulb fields.
Mostly daffodils and hyacinths.
I could see tulips in the distance but not really close up.

The bus to the gardens went through more bulb fields.
There were two American ladies behind me who kept taking photos with a flash through the window which I thought was a massive waste of time because we would be at the gardens in a few minutes and then she could snap away to her hearts content!

Four views of the Gardens (postcard)

Tanya enjoying the Gardens ----

There were flowers everywhere - tulips, tulips and more tulips!

(three photos) -The bulb fields- (three photos)

and some of the workers in the fields

There were some viewing platforms that looked over the bulb fields and I got some more photos of that.

There was a windmill that I went in but it wasn’t real - I know because I had been to real ones!

Tanya in a 'very big pair' of clogs!!!

Anyway outside the windmill there was a set of big clogs that everyone was having their photos taken in so I did as well.
It is really a funny shot but I like it.

---- Tanya in the Gardens (two photos)

I wandered around for ages snapping photos here and there and even got some taken of me.
Everyone is very nice when it comes to helping out that way.

Swans on the Lake

I was sitting down watching a family in the gardens.
There were two little girls playing near the water trying to get a duck to come over to them.
The next moment the younger girl fell in and started screaming - her mother was trying the pull her out but she was slipping.
The sister was rolling on the ground laughing really hard and the father was yelling and her to stop.
The mother eventually go the daughter out by the hair and while all this was going on I was trying to get my camera out but I missed the shot.
It would have been a cracker!!

Clog Maker

There was a clog maker in the gardens too.
He has been to the world championships every year since about 1974.
He had made Sunday best clogs, and high heeled clogs and even ice skate clogs with the blade down the middle.
He carved my name into a piece of clog wood and carved a tulip on it too and gave it me.
A nice souvenir!

Tanya with a very large hyacinth

It was such a big place that every time I turned around I was in a new place with new flowers.

Stepping stones in the Lake-- and Tanya going for a walk

There is was an orchid display and a Japanese garden and a big lake with big stepping stones in it.
I walked across them but was terrified of being pushed in by running and jumping children so I only did that once.

---- Around the Lake

I was hungry and had sore feet from walking so I brought a hot waffle coated with icing sugar and sat by the lake and ate it.

to see "a spectacular feast for the eyes" ... fourty-two photos

A postcard from Tanya

... twenty-eight photos

I then went and got the bus and train back.

I stopped at the hostel for a coffee and a rest and decided to go to a diamond factory.
There was one advertised in the hostel so I headed that way.
I ran into Noah in the street and he asked what I was up to.
I said I had spent the morning surrounded by flowers and now I was going to see diamonds - a perfect day for a girl!

He laughed and asked what I was up to that night.
I said that I wanted to do a canal cruise at night and he said to let him know what I found and he would come with me.

Anyway the diamond place advertised by the hostel was crap - it was basically just a shop and I wasn’t buying.
I walked past another one and went in there.
That was much better.
The girl was great and had lots of say and we saw diamond cutters working and then we went and had a look at jewellery.
I tried on a ring that was worth 6,684 euro.
Very nice but the woman was trying her little heart out to sell it to me.
As if!

I went back to the hostel and had dinner in the bar and a drink too.

I asked at reception about a cruise and they said that the one I went on yesterday was a good one.
The last boat didn’t leave until 10.00pm.
I told Noah when I saw him and he said that he would come.
When it got dark which wasn’t until about 9.00pm we headed down.
It was lovely.
I didn’t take my camera - I just sat and floated by.

Noah asked me if I had been to one of the coffee shops yet and I said that I hadn’t.
I was bit nervous about going on my own as the places were not very inviting and I had no idea what I was doing!
He said that he would take me if I wanted after the cruise.
Yes please.
Really I couldn’t not if I was in Amsterdam!
The place was quite nice…chill out music and low lighting and big cushions all over the floor.
I don’t think I need to spell out what we did there' do I Mum?
When in Rome…

Anyway we got back to the hostel in time for last drinks at the bar and then I went to bed.
Tomorrow I was going home.

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