Episode 16 - Amsterdam Present: Efteling Remembers

I am not a Theme Park girl! Didn't grow up with them. Us beach bum kids from Slummies made our own entertainment. And before that we sat on our grandmother's knee and listened to fairy tales. 

But Efteling - the Netherlands' Disney - that's a trip down fairy tale paths well worth going.

A transcript of this Haiku Life podcast together with photos will be available on the mygreatergood.com website.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram - Haiku Life Podcast.

Transcript

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Hello and welcome to the Haiku Life Podcast, where we take a little exploration into some abbreviated moments. Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry. It is traditionally focused on nature and captures a fleeting moment within the space of three lines and a 5-7-5 syllable count. In a world so overwhelmingly immersive, a haiku is a moment of respite. These haiku are mine, moments of life, thoughts in the ether. Welcome to episode sixteen, the third in the few titled Amsterdam Present Down Fairy Tale Path, Firewarmed Dropped Bread Crumbs Crisp Efteling remembers I had not been to a theme park in a good ten years. I don't do the rides, especially after the ill considered conjecture following the Disney Epcot Mission to Mars Green Ride. Well, just how bad could Mission to Mars Orange be? It was bad enough to have me lying on a park bench for an hour after and walking around the rest of the day clutching an airsick bag. Theme park experiences of my past generally entail me paying an exorbitant amount of money to sherpen my kids' stuff around, bake in the heat, and recover from ill advised momentary bounce of heroics. Yes, of course I will accompany you on the Jimmy Fallon race through New York. It sounds harmless enough. Theme parks were not a thing for me growing up. Maybe there were some in places like Johannesburg or Cape Town, but I don't think so even there back in the day. Definitely not for us beach bum kids and slummies. We made our own entertainment, and before that we sat on our grandmother's knee and listened to fairy tales Snow White, Rumpel Stiltskin, Hansel and Gretel who lost their way in the forest because the birds ate their bread crumbs. My children did not grow up like us. It breaks my heart a little. We are immigrants, no hometown, no family tradition, no grandmother, no fairy tales on her knee. There is so much to explore in the Netherlands. Connor and I made great memories doing what we do best together explore new places. As discussed in the last episode, he is the greatest travel companion. He's also a big theme park aficionado. So yes, Efteling in South Holland was always going to be a day trip for us. Hours on trains and buses there and back as it turns out. We did do a little detour to the beautiful city of Srtochenbosch, which even with a lot of practice Connor and I could not get our mouths around. Is there any other town name in the world that starts with an apostrophe S? I googled it and yes, there are four, but all small and all Dutch. The name is apparently a contraction of the old Dutch des Hertochen Bosch, which means the forest of the Duke. But back to Efteling. Connor told me it is regarded as the Disney of the Netherlands. It is nothing like Disney, thank God. It was also January, very cold and off season, which I think added to the enjoyment and character of the place. Disney World, the most wonderful place on earth. That is very much debatable in my book. Afterling World of Wonders rings much more true. It is a fantasy themed trip down winding forested paths. Sure, it has its roller coasters. Connor was suitably impressed and rode everything he could, a few times actually given the lack of winter crowds, but to truly understand the appeal of Efteling, you must understand the magical nature of fairy tales. Fairy tales come to life around every sheltered corner, thirty in all, from Sleeping Beauty and Snow White to the Seven Swans, the Little Match Girl and the Chinese Nightingale. Walk through animatronic performances, peephole displays and I dare you to walk down the path and tug the door handle to rouse the wicked witch and the Hunsel and Gretel House. Fairy tales, stories are what connects generations. They are powerful connecting forces. They entertain, teach, speak to the heart and imagination. Fairy tales at any age awaken the child's eye. The curiosity, imagination and connection with nature They take you back to your grandmother's knee. Warmed at intervals by massive bonfires, nibbling straw farfel, Connor and I retreated or maybe the term should be progressed to a completely different world. Outside ourselves leaving breadcrumbs for our return. Thank you for listening to today's Haiku Life Podcast. You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram. A transcript of this podcast can also be found on the mygreatergood.com website. Matane, see you later!