Spring is a glorious time in Europe. From the world-famous Keukenhof tulips to Floralia 2021 Brussels at Kasteel van Groot Bijgaarden, western Europe seems to explode in color.
Have you seen pictures of Keukenhof in the Netherlands, the world-famous park with millions of tulips blooming from March through April? It’s breathtaking. More than a million people visit each year. Saturday was to be opening day.
I missed my annual trek to Keukenhof due to COVID-19 last year, but I knew things would improve, and I could go in 2021. Ah, pipe dreams! Keukenhof is currently closed. Right now, you can only visit it online.
The plans were to keep the gardens open and the buildings closed. All kinds of safety precautions were taken. There were even new, mechanical turnstiles installed so visitors wouldn’t have physical contact with others. But authorities ruled that Keukenhof must remain closed, for now. Infection numbers in the Netherlands are just too high. And with Easter break coming, authorities are more worried than ever.
Park management hopes Keukenhof may be able to open later, but I’m not banking on it. And if it does open in April or May, it won’t be back to normal. Whisper boats that run in the canals are cancelled. Bike rental is not available. So, in 2021 there will be no biking through the tulip fields — an amazing experience! I’m still waiting for news on Belgium’s Floralia 2021.
In a Chokehold
The pandemic still has Europe in a chokehold. France, Germany, Italy and Poland have beefed up their restrictions as infections surge. Here in Belgium, we are going into what the government is calling an “Easter Pause.” Ah, no. It’s just a bigger lockdown, and it starts Saturday, March 27. There will be lots of last-minute shopping before the gates close.
Just as we think there is light at the end of the tunnel, another wave comes crashing in. It’s a challenge to keep up the the “can” and “can’t do” list. Luckily, The Brussels Times has a cheat sheet. Yes, schools are closing again in Belgium. Teleworking is mandatory for most workers. Won’t that be fun with the kids in the house? Non-essential shops may open — only by appointment. I am guessing most will just stay closed.
Our outdoor social bubbles dropped from 10 — with masks and social distancing — to just four. At least single people are now allowed to have two “knuffelcontacten,” or cuddle contacts. That means I can now invite the two people in my bubble to my home for dinner again.
Locks Lockdown
Hairdressers, who suffered from a lengthy lockdown, were SO happy when doors opened in February. Salons invested so many euros to provide acrylic barriers, disinfection stations and other safety features. You could only enter a salon by appointment, and, with 10 minutes between clients, salons stayed fairly empty. Luckily, I got my haircut a few weeks ago, because the government — breaking its promise to keep salons open — closed the doors again. It’s all due to the soaring disease transmission. I’m sure there will be a mad rush to the hairdressers in the next 48 hours!
Of course, our borders are still closed. Non-essential travel is banned, and we still have curfews. Restaurants and cafes are closed. And vaccines are moving much too slowly. For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, it’s better to be in the US than in Europe. Not only are our Corona numbers rising, but the disease now appears to be more aggressive and is affecting younger people.
So, do I keep sane during these tough times? Lots of reading, cooking, hiking and biking! I’ve run through most of the Netflix offerings. And, if I need a little more color in my life, I can always visit Keukenhof — online!
