European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 17, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                When in Bloom left Keuken Hof offers tulips and other Flowers. When not in Bloom below bulbs Are for Sale. File photo stripes photo Wendy Bourland smaller than a loaf of bread and told us he was going to make a wooden shoe for us. It s an impressive feat. Then we examined the shoes hanging All around us and drifted into a souvenir shop where painted and unpainted wooden shoes were for Sale along with other dutch items. Being a Delft fan i left with several Delft items As Well As a couple miniature pairs of wooden shoes. Several people bought wooden shoes to fit sizes Are listed and the staff is glad to Hel but even the Shoemakers explained the dutch rarely Wear them anymore except in the Fields where Waterproof durable shoes Are a must. Our next Stop a cheese farm was also in Amstelveen. Kitty Van Wees Konst operates the farm with her husband four children and three hired girls. They produce several types of Gouda cheese neatly displayed on Long shelves in the kilo size and in larger wheels. Don t let the Nasty smell of aging cheese and cow manure put you off. The operation is Worth a look and Kitty knows her stuff. There s More than meets the Eye or the nose Here. Van Wees Konst proudly explains the Canadian holsteins in her barn produce More milk than other cows and that 23 year old Bart her oldest son and a College student still comes Home on weekends and salts the wheels of cheese so they May develop rinds. At the end of stripes photo Wendy Bourland Kitty Van Wees to psf explains the making of Gouda cheese to an american four group. The tour there is an Opportunity to taste various cheeses and Purchase some. Everyone was excited As the bus pulled out of Amstelveen and started for the final Stop on the tour the Keuken Hof Tulip gardens. After All that s a Central reason for going to Holland in the Spring. It s about an hour s ride from the cheese farm. Again the ride was Scenic and it was no time at All before we arrived. Sadly the tulips were not in Bloom. The weather has not been warm and sunny enough an employee explained and this was the first Good weather in a Long time. The tulips will probably be out by next weekend weather permitting. A few tentative buds were peeking out of Long Green stalks As we wandered around. The gardens Are still pretty and a greenhouse crammed with colourful Flowers of All types beckoned even the disappointed Tulip Lover. For those who really wanted tulips bulbs were on Sale throughout the gardens. We pulled out at 3 30 . And the bus headed for Darmstadt. On the return trip sleepy but unable to sleep the View from the window was of Green Fields dotted with sheep and Spring lambs. A Windmill silhouetted by the setting Sun completed the picture. The reality had matched the fantasy. The $39 one Day trip had paid off. April 17,1986 stripes Magazine