My Crazy Adventures: Bloemencorso 2010

Today was a busy day! I managed to sleep in (a little too much) and didn’t get my run in. Now, I was “motivated” to go this morning and enjoy the nice weather but I liked sleeping more. I did go to Delft to see Annemiek’s soccer game and spend some time with Mark’s family. Ton was busy making the garden pretty and planting some new flowers. They had beautiful tulips blooming in pink, orange, and purple. They are just such happy flowers! Gina (the Mom) is usually banned from all of her kid’s soccer games because they say she is bad luck and whenever she shows up they lose (even if they were winning when she got there). We decided that my positive, good luck appearance canceled out her bad luck. It was a great afternoon for a bike ride (to and from the game) and to sit out and enjoy the garden. We had dinner in their back yard in their newly painted chairs (Ton oiled the wood) and I was thoroughly amused with fish they have in their pond. Apparently, they are a liability though because the birds eat them so they only buy cheap ones. I never thought about that being a problem.

I ended up getting home around 8:30pm and I knew the flower parade was this weekend and supposed to arrive in Haarlem around 9 pm. I got on the internet quick and looked up the route. It all meant nothing to me so with the help of Google Maps I figured out the route and realized it went RIGHT BY my apartment. I figured I couldn’t miss this opportunity so I walked out my door and around the corner and saw the people starting to line up. I figured some ice cream would keep me busy the 20 minutes I waited but the line was out the door so I gave up on that idea and just found a spot. It was perfect! No big crowds, no crowding, and I was right up front. I admit, I left a bit early because my back was hurting and I had already been out there 1.5 hrs so I figured I had seen enough. From the sounds of the traffic, I only missed a few floats. I still managed plenty of pictures though!!! I hope you enjoy them. EVERYTHING is out of flowers. Building floats out of tissue paper for Homecoming was hard enough, I can’t imagine flowers!!

Leave it to the Dutch to have a band on bikes!

The first flower float, a giant tulip!

The theme at Keukenhof this year is "From Russia with Love." Nothing says it more than their flag/symbol made out of pretty flowers!

A pink windmill out of flowers. My new Dutch favorite.

A lady in the traditional dress with purple cows.

This is supposed to be the Dutch boy and girl kissing but I sort of missed it and got the boy. He looks a bit creepy but I had to include it out of principle.