AmericanInEurope3's VirtualTourist Home Page

Well, I've been in NL since January of 2003, and it's been an amazing experience. As if working for NATO isn't cultural enough, I'm a short drive to Germany, Belgium, Amsterdam and even Paris! (my planned 2004 trip!!) I live a short 5-minute drive from the tiny NATO base, so it's easy on the warmer days to walk to work. : ) I'd really love it if some of my family could have a way to come visit me and get the 'grand' tour of the BENELUX/GER area (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Germany) but if not, I'll do all I can with my digital camera to bring everyone with me in all my travels!

This Valentines day (2003) I decided to travel to the Keukenhof. North of Amsterdam, its a world-famous garden. Well, to call it a garden is like calling Grand Central a Train Station, or the Pope a church-goer. (http://www.keukenhof.nl) Over 80% of the tulips in the world are grown here, and the rest likely come from bulbs originally obtained here. There are these incredible fields that are filled with millions of tulips, a sea of colors.. But thats not all you'll find here. They have many other kinds of flowers and herbs in their huge garden. Originally it was a garden for the Countess of Holland (around the 1400s) I guess the actual history would be appropriate here: Keukenhof has not always been the beautiful estate that we know today. In the 15th century, the 32 hectares of the present park were part of the enormous estate belonging to the castle of Slot Teylingen. This was ruled from 1401 to 1436 by the Countess of Holland, Jacoba van Beieren. She used part of her estate as a herb and vegetable garden. Here, every day, the countess personally gathered the fresh ingredients for her kitchen. It is to this that the present Keukenhof, which literally means Kitchen Garden, owes its name. In 1840, the celebrated garden and landscape architects 'Zocher & Son' were commissioned to develop the park. Both gentlemen had carried out a similar task earlier in Amsterdam: they designed the Vondelpark. If you visit the Keukenhof now, you can still see their handiwork in the area surrounding the Beukenlaan. The majestic trees and the pond date back to that time. In the years following, the Keukenhof Estate was further developed into the present 32-hectare park.
The number of bulb-growing companies taking part has now grown from 10 to more than 90, but the Keukenhof's character remains unchanged: every year it exhibits the best and most beautiful flowers in the Netherlands. Keukenhof has become one of the best-known attractions in the country and one of the most photographed sights in the world.

In my first year in Europe, NATO was kind enough to send me to school three times, totalling six weeks. In Italy. About 50K south of Rome. I know, its a tough job, but I deal. Its all about serving my country, right? : ) The second best military communications and security school in the world was my destiny. And true to my wandering-self, I went to Rome three times during those visits. But thats another chapter! ; )

Boy, this place really wasnt built in a day!! Out of all the places I've been in my life, Rome is the first place Ive been where I felt instantly comfortable, relaxed. It feels almost like home! (which is weird for a 2500+ year old city!!) I got to see every sight that you'll see in big movies like "The Core" and "The Lizzie McGuire Movie", plus others! The Colloseum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, The Hard Rock Rome (I know, Im American!), and St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican City are just a FEW of the amazing sites I got to take in from late Feb and Sep of 2003. My only regret is not getting into the Sistine Chapel while in Vatican City, but the line was well over 4 hours long and we just had too much to do! : ( But there will assumedly be other chances. Other trips. Hopefully with someone special in the not-so-distant-future!

Hardly a ten minute drive from my house is a castle that dates back much farther than Columbus' little boat-trip. There is so much history to it, but in the interest of time, I'll have to add it in later, so bear with me and check back again!!

Mention Amsterdam and most Americans thoughts immediately snap to exotic smoking and even more exotic "dating". (wink) But Amsterdam is about so much more than just that. Steeped with history, many of the buildings and bridges date back to the 1400s and some even further. My FIRST stop while here was the Anne Frank house. Admittedly, its quite a wait to get in (almost 2 hours on the weekday we went), but more than worth it. Its such a critical piece of our history, even though being somewhat recent by world standards. In addition to the countless canals, you can stand in the 'square' and see Madame Toussauds Wax Museum, the Royal Palace, and the "old church" where the new royalty of Netherlands is crowned, as well as see some really great street performers. Also check out the 'Torture Museum', not really-well put together, but fun still.