Holland In April

Holland beckons. Most debate two options. Option 1, run with the bulls in Spain. Option 2, tour the tulip fields in Holland. Granted, they don't occur at the same time but our band of risk-takers journeyed North. The road trip included Ashish, Snehal, Jonathan, Riza, Gemma, Paul, myself and Rebecca. Though my camera was broken during this weekend, Ashish granted rights to his digital genius maker.

On the way up, we joined forces with our Norweigen friends, Eskild and Karine. One of our favorite cities, Ghent, was the stopping point for a relaxing dinner.



The Hague was our outpost by night and we scheduled Saturday for a 10 AM start time to head into Amsterdam for a day trip. As you can see, I had to inform everyone that we missed our alarm and it would be a few minutes before we were ready to move out. Ashish, thanks for snapping this photo!



The automated train ticket booth did not work and we had the option to either board the train to Amsterdam without tickets or walk to another station with a functional ticket system. We selected the cheaper option. Four stations later, the bust occurred. We purchased our freedom and our new Dutch friends were quite patient and understanding. So, our gang posed for a group mug shot in front of the Rijks museum.



After a day of canal boat rides, strolls among tourist attractions and aligning the interests of a diverse group, we turned our attention to Sunday and the Keukenhof gardens . The bulb flowers in the gardens represent hundreds of varieties and are supplied by approximately 90 exhibitors. You can only visit in April and May during the flowering cycle. The following picture does little justice to the gardens.



On the return trip, we did what all INSEAD students and partners do at the end of a trip to Holland...head straight to the center of Arras. After taking zoomed in photos of the holy center, we ate some nice food and wandered into the main square and a very odd, very European fair. The Star Wars ride was the center of attraction mainly because of it's awful sound system, energetic ride announcer and frightening design. If your game is chain smoking, fast motorcycles and two euro wine then Star Wars is the ride for you.

I have to show the ride...may the force be with you if this is worth your time and money. I would rather bungee jump from a cable car in Switzerland....Rob.