A Dutch Day: Trains, Bikes, and Tulips

On this most recent sunny Sunday morning, I put on my tennis shoes, filled my backpack with supplies,  grabbed my trusty bicycle, and headed for the train.  Taking your bike on the train is an experience, especially if your bike wobbles a bit when propped up on it's kickstand.  Needless to say, I held on to my bike the whole way.  In Den Haag, I got off the train to go meet my camp friend Kimmi (the one who currently lives in Brussels).  We went in search of a bike for her to rent for the day.  The first time she asked in the rental shop, they told her they didn't have any bikes.  So, we walked around Den Haag for a bit looking for a rental place.  Finally, we headed back to the Central Station, unsuccessful.  Kimmi went back to the bike rental shop again, and asked if someone had turned a bike it.  Miracle of miracles, they found a bike for her to rent - a kid's bike, but it still worked!  Pleased beyond belief, we hopped on the train and headed to Hillegom - tulip country.  

We stepped off the train with grins on our faces that stretched from ear to ear.  You could see the tulip fields from the train station (which is in the middle of nowhere).  With the sun high in the cloudless sky, the wind in our faces, and the scent of flowers filling our noses we mounted our bikes and were off on a 20 mile journey.

Tulip fields right by the train station!

So many so so so many!

The smell of hyacinths is overwhelmingly wonderful.

Silly red ones, what are you doing?

A field of daffodils.

The name of the trail that we loosely followed.

Riding through the tulip fields has been one of my favorite experiences abroad.  Also, I read aloud the directions the whole time, and we never got lost lost once.  This is a huge accomplishment.  Biking beside the tulip fields was truly magical though; I don't think I ever stopped smiling.  The unpredictable Dutch weather was also very kind to us, the sun was always out, the sky was blue, the wind wasn't too awful, and the temperature was perfect.  It was an excellent day that I will remember forever.