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Click here for this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.

This week’s featured walk is in Lisse, Netherlands, and the gardens of Keukenhof. Keukenhof exhibits the best and most beautiful flowers in the Netherlands. It has become one of the best-known attractions in the country and one of the most-photographed sites in the world.

The park will be open through May 18. Some 7 million bulbs will be blooming in the 80-acre park, with breathtaking indoor exhibitions. Keukenhof inspires nature lovers and gardening enthusiasts who flock to see the latest in gardening trends, demonstrations, the park’s Japanese garden and English landscape garden, centuries-old trees, ponds and works of art.

In the early 1400s, the Countess of Holland, Jacoba van Beieren, used her estate as an herb and vegetable garden. Every day, she gathered fresh ingredients for her kitchen. It is to this that Keukenhof, which means “kitchen garden” in Dutch, owes its name.

Again this year, your start card will allow you to enter the park for free. With the usual adult admission price at 13.50 euros, that’s a good deal. You’ll also save the 6-euro parking fee. This year you will receive IVV credit. For more information about Keukenhof see: www.keukenhof. nl/nm/english.html.

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A while back, we received an after-action report from Tim and Luchi Lynch about the exciting time they had at the Saarburg, Germany, Volksmarch. Tim said the walk was about average, but the food at the start hall was exceptional. It was at a French military base and Tim says, “The French most definitely know how to eat! We had goulash and some desserts that were nothing less than fabulous.”

Tim went on to add: “After the march we headed into Saarburg. What a cute little village it is. There is a castle ruin above the Saar River on one side of town and the other has a nice walking area with shops and cafes. Since finding this charming village last year, I’ve brought two groups of friends from the States to visit.”

Tim’s description has us looking at the calendar and trying to figure out how to get to Saarburg for this walk and to visit the town. We notice that Saarburg is not too far from the town of Mettlach, where the Villeroy & Boch outlet stores are. We have found some very nice bargains, including greatly reduced Christmas ornaments, there. If we were not committed to the Keukenhof walk, we would definitely be heading to Saarburg.

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Mark your calendars for these walks in April and May. • April 12-13: Wiesbaden, Germany. • April 13: Aviano, Italy. • April 20: Consdorf, Luxembourg. • April 26: Kiddie Volksmarch in Heidelberg, Germany. • April 26-27: Hohenfels, Germany. • May 3-4: Limburg a.d. Lahn, Germany. • May 10-12: Beaufort, Luxembourg. • May 11-12: Gladbach bei Wittlich, Germany. • May 17-18: Bütgenbach, Belgium. • May 18: St. Odiliënberg, Netherlands. • May 28-31: Rodenbach, Germany.

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“Dziêkujê” to the following people for sending fliers. William Castro and Maureen McHugh-Castro, Manfred Dahl, Theresia Fontaine, Bob Gambert, John and Evelyn Golembe, Lew Harrison, Wayne Henry, Ramona and Horst Kechelen, Diane Lockman, Tim and Luchi Lynch, John and Patty Marsh, Pat Patterson, Dawn St. John and Nancy Shawley.

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Miscellaneous short notes about this week’s events:

• The prize at the Niederndorf walk is a B-medal, but last year they offered a stuffed moose, so if you’re in the area, get there early if you want a moose.

• On Saturday, the walks in Bellaire and Petit-Rechain, Belgium, are only about 12 miles apart. With the Petit-Rechain walk having an afternoon start, it would be easy to do both. These walks will be very convenient for those in the Brunssum/Geilenkirchen area.

• On Wednesday, you will have the chance to do a walk and/or bike event at Hohenöllen, Germany. This is a close walk for folks who live in or near the Kaiserslautern military community. If you can get off work early enough, try for one or both events. You can start the 5- and 10-kilometer walks and the 30-kilometer bike ride until 6 p.m. The cutoff for the 20-kilometer route is 4 p.m. Finish time for all events is 9 p.m. Shower facilities are available in the Radsport- halle and limited quantities of B-medals will be sold for 3.60 euros.

• Hosted by the Wanderfreunde Alte Veste Zirndorf, folks who always greet Americans with open arms, the ever-popular German-American Friendship Walking Day will be held this time in the neighboring town of Langenzenn. The club is offering a shopping bag with a group of teddy bears for the design.

• The start for the Altavilla Vicentina, Italy, walk is next to the Villa Morosini-Valmarana. This should be a really nice, well-attended (crowded) walk.

• The prize for the Verona, Italy, walk is a T-shirt and a pound of rice for the first 1,500 participants. Adults also will receive a bottle of wine and children get a hat.

E-mail Volksmarch schedule information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09703-0278.

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