Wandering a dewy garden with company while a gentle breeze causes the flowers to dance and sway is a good way to spend your morning. The colorful sight combined with a floral, euphoric scent that floats through the air is the only way with words to evoke the enchantment of Keukenhof.
Prior to moving overseas an elderly man that I worked for had told me the only place in the world as beautiful as a woman would have to be Keukenhof. This gentlemen was well traveled and he told me how his wife had dragged him along to Keukenhof a few years ago, but how he was surprised at how gorgeous it truly was. I thought Keukenhof was probably overrated, but I wanted to give it a fair chance so I found myself there on a cool April morning. At first sight upon driving closer I saw fields of tulips that you can see in the photograph below. Although beautiful, I tried to hide my disappointment. I thought the fields were the garden called Keukenhof.
I was shocked when I entered a crowded entrance to Keukenhof with shops and flowers. My entire conception of Keukenhof then switched to a different view of tacky tourists and a claustrophobic state in which I felt annoyed. Upon walking a couple of yards I breathed deeply as the crowds suddenly faded and the sweetest floral scent filled my senses. I crouched down taking photographs and walking the paths of Keukenhof taking in the beauty. Once again my mind had changed about how Keukenhof, but this time to delight. The views, the scents, and the feeling that took over were exactly what I had been told Keukenhof was from others.
There really are no words to describe this place and the vivid colors that await you beyond every corner. These gardens seemed to last forever and the place was so large that crowds at the front entrance to the shops was not an issues. Upon arriving in Amsterdam my companion and I also realized that most of the items like the wooden tulips, tulip pens, and the magnets which were sold in the shops at Keukenhof were twice the price. Avoid the crowds in the shops and take your time strolling the gardens, because you can purchase these items for much cheaper in Amsterdam. One thing I do suggest purchasing is a delicious treat from one of the eccentric food trucks. If I hadn't eaten prior to entering the gardens they would have had to roll me out of there! So what did I learn from this trip? Well, I learned to not let your first impression be your last, because you may change your mind over a short time.
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