Thursday, April 18
Today was quite eventful for the BC High choir boys. We started the day, per usual, with breakfast at the hotel. It included the usual smorgasbord of unseasoned eggs, ham, waffles and many more options. Yummy! We all then trudged to the bus to begin our long and arduous journey to one of the main attractions of the day. The first place we went was to the Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe, where we had the chance to roam and smell the tulips. Thousands of tulips bloomed as far as we could see in a variety of vibrant colors. There were other attractions that could be viewed and enjoyed as well. For example, the giant windmill. The windmill was powered by many wooden gears and instruments. What a mechanical marvel! The Keukenhof also has many good food spots where you can enjoy burgers, Belgian waffles, and cookie crumbles (which were just crushed up strop waffle pieces). It was all truly a sight to behold.
Later, we went to the town of Volendam. This particular outing was special because of the long amount of time we had to ourselves. We were allowed to explore the small town separately from our chaperones, during most of our stay. We visited the cheese factory and tasted the multitudes of cheeses that they made. We also visited the Volendam football stadium and watched the team’s practice. It was surreal to see these athletes actually play since most of them had existed to us only in the form of Wikipedia articles. The Volendam Football Club is ranked 17th in the league they play in! Although the added freedom was much appreciated, I did miss Bill’s wisdom and dry British wit.
Finally, the group boarded a ferry to Marken Island. I was especially lucky because my Mom bought me a Belgian waffle (I love you, Mom!). The boat ride was splendid. A wide, blue ocean surrounded us and hugged the boat. We arrived at the island of Marken about 30 minutes later. The picturesque time capsule of a town was defined by its great sky and “antique homes”. Taverne de Visscher was the restaurant of choice, and we had an amazing selection of food. It included a spread of tantalizing tomato soup, raw cuts of herring, and perfectly seasoned cutlets of chicken. What really defined this time, though, were the “Senior Speeches” to Dr. Rozenberg. The feeling of gratitude and camaraderie was only boosted with each speech. The speeches from the four Seniors truly encapsulated our special and individual experiences with Dr. Rozenberg as well as the love we have for her. In the end this was one to remember; it was the perfect ending to an amazing trip.
Jesse Ramos ’24 and Odera Chibueze ’24
Say tuned for more pics from today…
BC High Concert Choir 