Being back home for a bit has HUGE benefits sometimes:
I get to spend time with the family!
And what better way to bond with my favorite two year old than going to an all time classic amusement park here in the region.
Every Dutchy will know this entrance. The Efteling is what they call a 'World of Wonders'. It is an amusementpark in the region of Tilburg/ Kaatsheuvel and it is suitable for young and old. Today our focus was on the 2 year old, and what an enjoyable day she had!
History
The Efteling opened in 1952 and most of the designs of the original fairy tails were made by Anton Pieck. Up until now the amusentpark is still trying to keep all of the new rides/shows/design in his original style and I must admit that they are doing a pretty good job in that.
A part or the park that we all saw as kids from inside and out was het 'Sprookjesbos' (literally translated as fairy tale forest). Here all the original fairytails from Little Red Riding Hood, to Sleeping Beauty to Pinokkio.
All of these fairy tales are connected with nice green walking paths and these big mushrooms where music comes out. I still have photos of myself from when I was a kid being glued to these mushrooms trying to figure out where the music came from. And today the little one also did exacty the same thing. A generation later, but nothing has changed ;)
Longneck
Also longneck with his actually moving neck was something the little one was still talking about hours later, so I guess it was very impressing for her.
The only question is then, was Longneck impressive for her? Or the little duckies swimming next to it ;)
No Rollercoasters for us today!
The Efteling has also has an impressive amount of rollercoasters for the thrillseekers. But since the focus today was on the little one rollercoasters were not really an option. (Which I honestly do not mind because I am chickensh*t in those things). But even the rollercoasters have style, this is the entrance of one of the coasters called Vogelrock, (translated Birdrock)
Also this swinging ship is a classic one in the park. I guess the ship would be enough to make me vomit already, but luckily I could skip these without feeling any shame for that :)
There was a lot of maintenance going on in the park so this ship was also not working. I guess they are getting ready for summer season for when it really gets busy.
Carnival Festival
With its icons 'Jokie and Jet' this is one of the attractions that most people will remember forever. It has a very 'its a small world' from Disney setting, but most of all a tune that you will dream about for the next couple of days.
This was a totally new way of experiencing the Efteling for me
Yes, I havent been here in years. (and with years I mean like 10+ or so), and also my previous visits were so so different. Those visits were not focussed on kiddy stuff, but visiting rides like the Pirana waterrafts and the Tobbogan Bobslee. This visit gave the whole Efteling a new dimension again, and I truly understand again why it is called the 'World of Wonders'
And the little one??
She was smiling all day and was fast asleep on the way home :)
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