Pollen allergies? stay out of Holland!!!

Before Sally, Josh and Amy had to go home to Germany we took a little drive toward southern Holland because April is Tulip season. To get to Lisse, where all the big flower fields are we also drove through a small town called Harleem. There I think we got a good view of what small town Holland is like then moving out into the countryside Holland is flat and boggy...and comes complete with its very own bicycle highway! Instead of a family mini van, parents had about 3 baby seats installed..guess it works out ok since there are no hills.

Big red

So we're driving along, flat boggy fields, and in the distance the green pastures start to change colors, then you can tell that there are many colors, and they're all flowers!! Man its cool, they stretch out for miles and miles. Then there are all these old windmills scattered here and there breaking up the endless flowers. We pulled over to the side of the road and wandered into the fields..probably whatever farmer would not have been thrilled with us. It felt like the wizard of oz movie though, when they're in the poppy field and all you can see is flowers. Had to be careful walking though, since the ground is so boggy the mud acts like quicksand and you sink right into it about a foot if you step in a soft spot. Obviously a little distracting to suddenly find your leg getting eaten alive by bog.

Little town of Harleem

So friends, am not being discouraged by sudden loss of material possessions, in fact, am rather looking forward to the ease of hoping on and off of trains without luggage and seeing how long I can go with my one pair of pants without breaking down and washing them.

more harleem...its a little too picturesque right?

tulips here tulips there...

Windmills