Day 32--Efteling

We had one full day at Efteling and definitely made the most of it. Our day started with a delicious breakfast buffet at the hotel. The Dutch really know how to breakfast—I discovered the wonder of muesli with “farmers” yogurt. Other delights included super fresh eggs (one of my hard boiled eggs still had feathers on it!), all the bacon you could eat, delicious sausages,  and huge hunks of fresh baked bread with butter. The buffet also included super fancy coffee machines that people could use to make their own espresso. Loads of little children were all around, but they were happy and well behaved. It was chaotic and noisy, but not crazy stressful.

We were in the park for the rest of the day. It was hot and humid but not unmanageable. By nighttime, my slight sore throat had turned into a full blown cold. After another three course meal, we called it a night.


Off to the park! Our first ride was “Dreamflight.” So beautiful we did it a couple of times.



                             Obviously it was the coolest.


                            Train ride through the park. 




              Beautiful peacock living his best life in paradise.


Family shot with the unsuspecting and probably unwilling peacock.


Entrance to the Fairytale Forest. This was the most magical part for me, and what makes Efteling so unique. 


Sleeping Beauty’s castle with animatronic snoring guard (you can zoom in to see him at the bottom). 


                                  The castle is huge. 


Tom Thumb. This has a button you push to make the giant stir from his slumber as Tom pops out.

Click to watch:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0431fz5E5D7OWsblaTIl4x5Yw

The Emperor’s New Clothes had an amazing show:


https://share.icloud.com/photos/02fpNoQkHieEopsCASZtzdqLg



Talking tree. We couldn’t understand him, but he looked really cool.


Gorgeous Japanese garden outside the building where “The Nightingale” feature was. It was amazing…lots of special effects, but very dark, so pictures didn’t come out well.


Elise rode the wooden coaster with her dad and uncle while Gracelyn and I continued to explore the fairytale forest. There is plenty for everyone to do in Efteling! 


                  Hansel and Gretel’s amazing cottage. 



                         Amazing animatronic Rapunzel. 


Watch the witch climb:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0c1fyz3RzKB1sQZNeCdFj7RDA


Pinocchio inside the whale:


https://share.icloud.com/photos/04ftmGXdQmQjmWgWA52ktjXzQ


Baby ducklings! 


https://share.icloud.com/photos/020RfzEk68TtKodkWLkghNK2w



                   Surprisingly scary snail monorail.




                    Beautiful view of the whole park.


             One last boat ride while Andy took the girls.




We waited for about 45 minutes to watch the much acclaimed water and light show. Sadly, it was not dark out when it started, so it was kind of like a very small Las Vegas water show. We gave up and left early. 



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