If you ask me for a place to go in spring, I would definately say: Holland. Why? Holland is famous for its polders, dikes, dams, bridges and canals; cheese, clogc, bikes and mills; coffee shops and the red light district; painters like Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, Mondrian, Appel or Corneille and, of course Holland is also well known by its flowers. From the end of March until the first week of May the flowers in the bulb fields bloom. The exact period depends on the weather but the very best time is the second half of April. The season begins in March with crocuses, then the daffodils and the yellow narcissi, then the hyacinths blosson. Finally, from mid april until the first week of may, tulips show off their glorious colours. The best way to see the bulbfields, believe me, is cycling. So if you get the chance to visit North Holland in spring, hire a bike and cycle through the fields. The sight will be unforgetable!

Regarded as the succesor to Chavela Vargas, Lila Downs is a superb Mexican singer. Her latest album, ojo de culebra, is made up of fourteen tracks with several guests contributions. The disc is a fusion of various styles.