This post is from a little while ago, when my parents visited the Netherlands. We had a blast. A few highlights of my trip included befriending Dutch locals at a restaurant, going to the most famous tulip gardens in the world and biking through Utrecht with my father. (I was unable to find a bike that was small enough for my mom...)
Since my mom is a painter and loves color, she was keen to see the Keukenhof Gardens. The Keukenhof (pronounced co-ken-hoff or coo-ken-hoff) is the world's largest flower garden. Seven million bulbs are annually planted there. My parents loved the tulip fields, which resembled fields of color: red, pink, and violet stretched for acres, creating a technicolored paradise.
Another thing my parents love are antiques. For this reason, early one Saturday we visited an antique market in the town of Delft. This town is known for their singular blue and white pottery, which was inspired by Chinese porcelain in the 17th century. It looks a bit like America’s flow blue chinaware. Of course my parents bought some, negotiating the price as they went.
Other things I enjoy about being around my folks is they are pretty gregarious. They go up and talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime. At a wonderful restaurant, my folks quickly befriended a family at a neighboring table. All the chefs. The cashier. And the entire wait staff. My parents loved this certain restaurant so much that we ate there no less than four times. In seven days. The Easter brunch was out of this world. There were copious varieties of homemade bread, hunks of cheese filled with various herbs, soups, potato salad and egg salad, sliced meats drizzled with savory sauces and salmon. The desert buffet stretched around the room. It featured multi-layered cakes and a nesting ice cream dish like a baked Alaska that included one flavor of homemade sorbet ensconced in another layer, wrapped in yet another layer of ice cream baked inside a meringue shell.
Behind this restaurant was a pasture where a game of “farmer’s golf” had been erected. The family my parents had been speaking to at the restaurant invited us to be their guests and play a game. Farmer’s golf is like croquet, but you hit balls into buckets sitting in holes in the ground instead of wickets, and the mallet has a wooden shoe affixed to the end. It was a great day.
Other highlights of my parents visit included driving to Zeeland. This is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. This area is comprised of several islands, hence it's name which means "sea-land." (New Zealand is named after Zeeland; the Dutch explored that country in 1642.)We had come to this location because my dad (who is a judge in Charleston) had been communicating with a local judge in the capital of Middelburg. My father wanted to know some of the ins and outs of how the Dutch justice system operated. However, when we reached Middelburg, the local judge was so happy to have a visitor that he did not want to talk about work related things, though my dad insisted!
All and all I believe my parents had a charming time. As evidence of this, they are already discussing possible times to re-visit this country. Though the museums and food and sights were stunning, I believe my parents most enjoyed simply perambulating near where I live--taking in the sights of geese floating along the canals, Queen Ann's lace openings it's white fronds and sun in the air.
Enjoy the photos! --Paula
The Keukenhof Gardens
Me and my Dad in Utrecht
Delf Antique Market
Zeeland, Middelburg, the Netherlands 
The judge in Middelburg letting my dad try on his robe.
Killer food at the Easter buffet in Bunnik, Holland 
Farmer's Golf! 
