May 2008 Archives
I'm sure all y'all know by now that I am slightly obsessive over ANYTHING that is considered the "World's Largest" something...and while this may be a little more "legit" I think you have to give credit where it's due...so here we are, the World's Largest Flower Garden!
Keukenhof is a flower garden located near Lisse, The Netherlands. With over seven million bulbs planted annually in the park, it is the world's largest flower garden — and the most photographed place in the world. And I could definitely see why: flowers there are breathtakingly beautiful.
Site: Keukenhof — the world's largest flower garden
Location: Stationsweg 166a, 2161 AM Lisse, The Netherlands
Cost: Adults € 13,50
Hours: Open annually from the last week of March to mid-May. 8.00 a.m. to 19.30 p.m. daily.
Date: May 9, 2008
Check the website for current rates and times.
While wandering the winding streets (and canals) of Amsterdam I happened across this silly site one day. I really didn't know anything about it and didn't remember hearing anything about it in any of my guidebooks. But it was a silly site indeed: a grassy knoll covered in seemingly life-size statues of lizards.
Turns out that this site is Blauw Jan by sculptor Hans van Houwelingen, named so after Blaauw Jan Westerhof, a 17th century pub owner who had a small private zoo. Erected in 1994, some 40 lizards (monitors, agames and iguanas) dot the grass in Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen, close to the Leidseplein, in the city center of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Site: Blauw Jan — 40 Lizard Statues
Location: Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen, close to the Leidseplein, in the city center of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: Always Visible.
Date: May 10, 2008
Now, I know that America is full of the silliest sites just waiting to be seen...but sometimes an adventurer has to take a moment to explore the outside world. I just got back from a week in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and thought I'd share with you some "Silly Amsterdam." I'm kind of sort of EXHAUSTED from a week of culture shock, canals, museums, and...well, let's face it...partying. So I leave you today with a quick goodie...because you can't go to Holland without seeing a wooden shoe...
Site: Giant Wooden Clog
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands — On Damstraat across from the National Monument at Dam Square, in front of a souvenir shop.
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: I believe it was out during the day, but they put it away at night.
Date: May 9, 2008
It is a sad day in Silly America. On Friday night, with no warning, the Berwyn Spindle, the car kabob, cars on a spike, was torn down.
All that is left right now is a stump and soon that will be cleared away too to make room for a Walgreens.
From what I've seen and heard the top two cars may have been saved before the rest was ruthlessly chopped down. We'll see if anything ever comes of those.
For now, Silly Americans, we'll bid adieu to our tower of cars. It will be sadly missed.
