*tap*tap*feedback…Uhhh, Hello? Hello? Is this thing on?

For the two of you that were following my blog, I apologize for not updating. I have no excuses. I am just lazy.

So before I got to take a little trip back “home” to the U.S. (I use the term home loosely, as I have no actual home in the U.S. to go home to) Brandon and I took our first trip out of Paris to Amsterdam. We hope it is the first of many while we are here in Europe for the year.

The bikes, the flowers, the Indonesian food! Who knew Amsterdam was so wondrous?

Day 1: As soon as we landed, we stowed our bags in a locker and headed for the Keukenhof Gardens.

This year’s exhibition theme was “From Russia, with Love”

That’s one big ballerina!

Amazing displays of floral arrangements.

Picturesque grounds around the garden.

We sold Brandon’s Camry before we left for Paris, so we got him a new ride…

And gorgeous tulips everywhere!

Some were the size of my face! Now that’s a big bloom!

Wooden shoes in the gift shop

orchids in the greenhouse

We capped off the day at the garden with an ice cream cone and headed to our hotel in Amsterdam.

Our hip, ultra-modern digs at CitizenM

Two tube like glass enclosures on either side of the room. One the shower, the other the toilet.

the entire rest of the room is taken up by a king-size wall to wall bed. Complete with a remote pad that controls every function of the room from the tv to the mood lighting. The free on-demand movies are what sold Brandon. He now wants to visit any European city where we can stay at a CitizenM. Too bad they are still under construction in other locations around the world.

Then it was off to dinner at an Indonesian restaurant that I read about in the NY Times. NY Times, you never disappoint!

Can’t even begin to explain how good this heaping plate of food was. I also can’t explain it because I have no idea what any of it was called. We could hardly pronounce anything on the menu. We just ordered according to the description of curried meats, marinated salads, and flavored rice. Delish!

Interesting establishment of all vending machine fast food.

And scene. Our first night in Amsterdam along the canals.

Day 2 & 3: Explored the city. Museums were great and Brandon was with his kindred spirits among the biking people of Amsterdam.

More flowers…

Good times in Amsterdam without having to visit a coffee shop. :D Can’t wait for our next trip…Milan & Lake Como.

Piggy signing off! Oink! Oink!