A Trip to the Efteling

Last Tuesday we went on a trip!


We went to something called the Efteling.
It's a theme park about fairy tales. And it has all kinds of roller coasters and other rides as well.


First we visited Fairy Tale Forest.
This is the fish from Pinocchio I think. He looks very fierce.


This seagull looked like he wanted to steal someone's snack.


Next I spotted a guy with a really long neck.
He's one of the servants from the fairy tale The Six Servants.


There was a sign next to him that said you had to leave your trash there, because otherwise he'd get angry. I think I might have made him angry, because I left my trash in a garbage bin instead of leaving it on the ground by that sign.


A mysterious castle in a forest.


The guard was taking a nap.


It was Sleeping Beauty's castle!
No wonder that the guard was sleeping as well.


I spotted a witch on a gate.


This is the emperor from the fairy tale, The Nightingale.


A fakir flying on a magic carpet.


I heard loud snoring and when I investigated I spotted this giant!


And I spotted another giant!
This one was awake, but he was friendlier than his grumpy expression would make you believe.


Inside the building he was guarding there were waterlilies.


They opened and had dancing faeries inside!
I'm really liking this fairy tale forest.


A frog fountain.


There was a donkey in the middle of a square.
My owner gave me 50 cents, to give to the donkey. He lifted his tail and pooped out a special Efteling coin!


Here it is: front and back view.


We also saw Frau Holle shaking her pillow to make it snow.


Yum! A big pudding.


Wait a minute...
A gingerbread house...
I know who lives there! Better leave that pudding alone.


Coming next: More fairy tales, dragons and rides.

A Bookish Box from D.E. Night

I received a Bookish Surprise this week from D.E. Night.
I must say I immediately fell in love with the box.


It's a Magical box!
How exciting.


This beautiful picture was on the back of the card.


Let's see what else is in the box.


A signed ARC of D.E. Night's upcoming book The Crowns of Croswald and a pretty blue bottle.

There was also a letter from D.E. Night as well.


The packing paper was a newspaper which had some intriguing headlines.
I can't wait to start reading the book!


The bottle is a Glanagerie Bottle.
According to the card that came with it "Glanageries are the ultimate potion of the mind. Where ideas, dreams, fears, and magic simmer together for out-of-this-world experiences."


And it glows!!!


Keep an eye out on my other blog for my review of The Crowns of Croswald!


About the book:
In D.E. Night’s debut novel, The Crowns of Croswald, magic sparks around every corner in a kingdom ruled by a dark queen. Ivy, a young orphan living in the Kingdom of Croswald discovers that she has powers of her own. She enrolls at the Halls of Ivy, a school where young students learn to master their magical blood and the power that Croswald’s mysterious gems can wield. Unfortunately, Ivy’s schooling – and her life – is threatened by the evil queen and her henchmen. As Ivy tries to unearth her past and save Croswald’s future, a fantastical adventure ensues.

Buy from Amazon

A Trip to the Hunebed Museum - part 2

In the gift shop of the museum I saw these mammoths and had a chat with them.


Then we went outside to have a look at the replica houses. I think this one is from the stone age, but I could be mistaken.


It was a very nice, sunny day, so we enjoyed walking around in the park.


Inside the houses were decorated with things the hunebed builders might have had in their homes, like a nice fireplace for example.


And flax which they used to make linen for clothes.


It was dark in the houses, I think they could use some windows, but they didn't have glass yet, so that would be a bit cold in winter.


In the Iron Age house they had wool that was colored with dye made from plants.


This house had a window, but still no glass.


I think this is a Spieker, to store food.


Another relaxing stone.


Here they had some experimental stuff going on with weird statue thingies.


I spotted a small temple in the distance.


It was next to water.
What a nice spot.

After a fun afternoon we left in search of a nice place to have dinner.


We didn't leave alone:
These friendly Stegosauri decided to come with us.


What a fun day!

A Trip to The Hunebed Museum - part 1

Last week we visited the Hunebed museum again!


It's a museum about dolmen and the people who built them.


At the entrance there were lots of different stones.
This one made a nice seat.


It was a warm, sunny day and we had traveled for a while, so we started our visit with a nice cold drink and a yummy donut.


In the museum there was lots of interesting stuff to see.
This is how they think the builders of the hunebedden/dolmen might look.


I think this one is a wizard!


There was an unfriendly wolf defending his recent kill.


And a friendly relative.


This is what the land might have looked like back then.


They made a replica hunebed.


There were lots of stones that might have been used for the hunebedden or other stuff the builders needed.


I think this was a mini hunebed for just one person.


There was a computer game where you could try to build your own hunebed, but the little guy who should be helping you was a bit of a jerk and hid the shovel at first. Finally we managed to build a hunebed though.


Here you could try to see if you were strong enough to move a hunebed stone.


Inside the replica hunebed.


I think this builder lady was mourning the dead who were buried in the hunebedden.


There were lots of pots that were found inside the dolmen.


I think they found this inside a hunebed as well.


I almost feel like I'm really at Stonehenge.


Coming next: mammoths, sun and new friends

Chocolate and Tea Hippo

Look at the cool presents I got!
Dark chili chocolate and a a tea hippo.

FairyLoot!

I discovered FairyLoot a while ago.

FairyLoot is a monthly book subscription box that focuses on Young Adult fantasy literature. In every single one of their monthly boxes, you will receive a brand new Young Adult fantasy novel, 5-6 exclusive bookish goodies related to the theme of the box and other items sourced directly from the author.

The fun is that you only find out what's in the box when you receive it.

I thought that sounded so cool I had to give it a try. First I tried to sign up to their Myth and Monsters themed box, but I was too late.

Then I saw the announcement of the June box with the theme Elementals. I had a pretty good idea what the book in that box would be, so I signed up right away.
(I will confess that I asked the author if I was right about my hunch when I met her in Berlin, and she told me I was!)


Yesterday the box arrived!


Oh, purple packaging.


I dove in to find my goodies!


And look at all the awesomeness!


Finally I can start on Roar!
There was a signed bookplate in the box as well.


A closer look at the smaller goodies.
I totally love the potion sticky notes!


And lastly an artistic candle picture.


I think this FairyLoot box is really cool!
You can bet I'll be ordering the box again when there's a theme I like.