April 29 - Utrecht, Keukenhof, and then Amsterdam were on the agenda. We disembarked the Amadagio in the early morning to head for Keukenhof Gardens for a guided tour of Holland’s most spectacular display of bulb flowers. Our cruise director had planned it so that we could avoid the mid-day crowds. We met up with the river boat in Amsterdam.

At Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, Holland there was awaiting a stupendous feast for our eyes; 80 acres of winding paths and streams and bounteous bouquets of Springtime flowers reflecting themselves in the still ponds. We saw tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other blooming Dutch bulbs, flowering shrubs, ancient trees and many modern scultures adorning the grounds. Cliff passed most of his time in the cafe, as he said it was too cold for an outdoor stroll. Of the many indoor exhibitions I had only time to visit the Orchid Pavillion, and as it was warm inside, Cliff went along.

If you cannot get enough of these flowers, here are some pictures posted from the week before: Keukenhof Gardens, 11 April 2006.