Tulip Time Is Here Again

What a busy week it's been. Art festivals, three parades, carnival fun, Dutch dancing, so much walking, too much junk food and not enough quiet time. We are exhausted. Olive and Silas have worn their Dutch costumes that Grandma Frey made them proudly all week long. It's an exciting time of year up here in Holland. And did I mention the tulips?

Tulips, tulips, tulips as far as you can see. They're everywhere. They're gorgeous. They smell good. And I swear, I almost hit a tourist every single morning while taking Olive to school, because they slam their brakes on Tulip Lane to take pictures from the middle of the road. But, you can hardly blame them, right? 

This is our third Tulip Time, and if the first time was magical, the second time was charming, and this third time is a bit of an affectionate eye-roll. Oh the kitsch! If there's a purgatory, I bet you everything I have that our Dutch dancers' soundtrack is playing on a never ending loop! And it really does get to seem funny how the tourists go absolutely crazy at Tulip Time. (We get around 500,000 people from all over the world come for Tulip Time, to give you an idea of the madness. Holland's population is only around 33,000.) 

It doesn't take long to start taking for granted what a special town this is. It's beautiful and quaint, and pristinely clean, and I've honestly never been anywhere with the overwhelming amount of community pride that little Holland has. That community pride is what really makes Holland the jewel that it is. Yes it's kitschy, and sometimes crazy, but we're really really lucky to call this place home.