Let’s Go to The Netherlands in April, He Said. It Will Be Springtime, He Said.

It has been cold and rainy here with only brief pockets of sunshine and mild temperatures.

When The BIL emailed us this time last year and asked if we wanted to spontaneously book a trip to the Netherlands and Belgium in April the following year, I remember reading the brochure and seeing that the Tulips would be in bloom and we readily responded, “Yes, please”.

But this year has been cold. Every guide we’ve had has celebrated this fact. Apparently the Dutch are cold weather hounds who pray for frigid temperatures. In other news, God apparently likes the Dutch because it is frigid here, as they requested. I’ve worn everything I packed. Today I mean. In a very Ralphie-esque move I wore everything I packed today at the same time.

In Ghent and Bruges our walking tour guide, Véronique (it must be said was a spitting Doppelgänger of The Husband’s Ex), was dressed in a light coat with no gloves and panty hose. It was 43 degrees and raining. When the sun peeked out for 1.8 second she exclaimed that it sure was uncomfortable when it was sunny. Meanwhile my American team spent our “free time” not shopping for Belgium lace or chocolate candy but drinking hot beverages in a dive brasserie.

When Véronique said, “You can buys lots of crap in this store to your right”, as any good Ralphie, I couldn’t turn to look. (I found out later she meant crab).

Tomorrow there is a chance of sun. I will still bundle but maybe this time I will see the crap. Here are highlights of the lovely if freezing Ghent and Bruges, Belgium:

Michaelangelo’s statue at Bruge

Bruges, Belgium, April 5, 2018

Boat in Ghent on a Rainy Day

The trained Linder trees of Belgium

Crocus in Bruges Convent Gardens

Do You Trust Robots?, Ghent, Belgium April 2018