Mitch Cartwright and Matthew Walker were on vacation together at the Winter Efteling (2012). It was an united present for the couple for their graduation which they never had made anyway.
The period that the boys were there was exactly with Christmas. To their big joy there was real snow. They always have loved snow and fortunately it had fallen too and how!
The couple had arrived early at the hotel and checked in. They received the necessary papers at the reception desk.
“We hope that your stay will be pleasant. And if there is something I hear it”, said the receptionist.
“Thank you”, said Mitch.
They grabbed their luggage and went to their room.
In their room Matthew said, “Mitch, may I have your passport for a moment? I need it for something special.”
“Here you have it”, Mitch said as he gave his passport.
Matthew went again downstairs to the reception desk.
To the receptionist he said, “Tomorrow it's the birthday of my boyfriend. Perhaps you can do something about it.”
“Of course we do that. May I see his passport for a moment?”, she asked.
Matthew let it show and it was arranged. He went back to his hotel room satisfied.
Meanwhile Mitch had unpacked and searched together what they needed at the park. Of course that included his sketchbook and pencils. The young Cartwright already had taken pictures of their hotel room and emailed home that they had arrived well. Specially for this vacation Mitch had gotten an early birthday present from his parents Adam and Sally Cartwright, which was an IPad.
“Are you coming?”, Mitch asked when Matthew was back again.
“Why are you still waiting?”, was the counter-question of the young Walker.
They grabbed their rucksack and went to the park.
Outside the hotel Mitch took pictures of the area of the hotel. They walked to the special for hotel guests made entrance of the park. After a while the friends stood in the park.
To become a bit warm and to fill their stomachs the boys went to the Globbetrotter for coffee with something with it. Matthew went to get it while Mitch kept a table occupied. He studied at the same time the map.
“Mitch, they have here big cupcakes. Not standard examples”, said Matthew.
Of course he had taken 2 with him which got a picture taken off.
“These are not only big but very delicious as well”, Mitch remarked after the coffee and cupcakes were up and away.
“Have you checked already what we will do today?”, asked Matthew.
“I have done that and written it down too. First we go to Monsieur Cannibale or in other words cook pots. After that we go to Bird Rok and after that we pay a visit to the Carnaval Festival”, said Mitch.
“Sounds like a good plan to me”, said Matthew.
They left the restaurant and strolled slowly to the cooking pots. Underway everything got photographed with the iPad.
When they sat in the cooking pots the friends had the biggest fun.
“This is really a cooking pot suitable for the appetite of uncle Hoss”, said Mitch.
“When he has eaten this cooking pot his hunger is still not gone yet. So then he just goes on to the next cooking pot”, laughed Matthew.
Again out of the cook pots the couple walked to Bird Rok.
“This is a roller-coaster so I really am not going in there”, Mitch said determined.
“Me neither. But we will take pictures of it”, answered his friend.
Mitch nodded and took the pictures.
Sometime later on they went to the Carnaval Festival. The couple could just walk on through and they got a great world trip. They too got photographed which was bought as a souvenir of course.
After the world trip Mitch and Matthew walked in an easy pace to the Pagode. Here was a waiting row but they didn’t mind. When they sat in it the boys had a marvelous view across the park which was covered in snow.
“Nice view eh?”, asked Matthew.
Mitch nodded and looked now and then at the heaven where his mother Mary Cartwright was. Matthew understood it and grabbed his hand to support him.
Mitch and Matthew left the Pagode walked across the Efteling Brink to the Anton Pieck square.
“Here we will get something to eat and see the rest of the square”, said Mitch.
They saw an eating place called De Smulpaap (The Gastro) and got there French fries.
After lunch a visit got paid to the People of Laaf. Here they friends spent the rest of the afternoon.
By evening time Matthew left Mitch alone for a moment because he had to be at the souvenir shop De Marskramer (The Peddler). Hereby the young Cartwright had time to draw the building of the Marskramer which he did.
For supper the boys fetched some sandwiches and cupcakes for at the hotel. After having eaten the walking tour back to the hotel was being made.
Outside the hotel a few children were throwing snowballs at each other. The boys (who were pro baseball players) watched amused. After a while they went inside because they were dead tired. Not only of being in the open air all day but also from the long journey they had that day.
Not much later 2 American boys were sleeping in a Dutch hotel.
December 25.
As usual Mitch woke up very early in the morning and so did Matthew.
“Dear darling, happy birthday. I hope that I may celebrate many more with you”, Matthew said to the birthday boy.
“Thanks sweetheart. You may not celebrate many with me but you must”, said Mitch.
They kissed each other and went to wash and get dressed after that.
When Mitch came out of the bath room Matthew said, “Mitch, the gnomes from the Fairytale wood have delivered a package for you while you were in the bath room.”
He pointed at a present which laid on the bed. Mitch unwrapped it and it were an audio book and a lunch box of Pardoes.
“Thank you very much Matt. But how did the dwarfs knew that I wanted to have this?”, asked Mitch.
“Because they knew everything I think. Come on, time for breakfast”, said Matthew.
They grabbed the room key and went to the breakfast hall.
At the entrance to the dining room the boys gave their name and they were brought to their table. Their table was decorated in honor of the birthday boy called Mitch.
“You can grab what you like for yourself. Tea or coffee?”, asked the waiter.
“Coffee both please”, said Mitch.
Matthew went first to his breakfast so that Mitch could keep their table occupied. Moments later it was the other way around.
“Mitch, I would have a good breakfast because I have a very nice day for you in the planning with some surprises in store”, Matthew said halfway breakfast.
“Then I will get some more cupcakes then. For you too?”, asked the birthday boy.
“Silly question. Of course for me too”, his friend answered laughing.
Mitch got up and returned a moment later with a few cupcakes.
“Later in the park I treat you on coffee and cupcake”, he said.
“Then I pay the Christmas diner”, promised Matthew.
They ate the cupcakes on and then went back to their rooms to prepare for day 2 in Winter Efteling.
“As 1st we must go to the start because there awaits surprise number 1”, Matthew said secretive.
Of course Mitch didn’t understand anything of it but he just let it come all over him.
Arrived at the Dwarrelplein which was at the main entrance of the Efteling was a real horse-drawn sleigh with horses waiting.
Mitch looked at his friend and asked, “Is this the 1st surprise?”
“Yes, but certainly not the last one”, Matthew answered smiling.
They stepped in and were given a comprehensive tour through the park.
After the tour the birthday boy treated on coffee with cake. He came back with a tray with 2 coffee and 2 cupcakes.
“There were more cakes but I don’t know how that tastes. And these cupcakes taste more that delicious”, Mitch said at the return.
“These are always good”, said Matthew.
“On me and that we may celebrate my birthday here each year”, Mitch said with laughing eyes.
“On you”, said Matthew.
After the delicious treat went it set the fairytale forest. Matthew had the iPad and made many pictures with it.
When Mitch saw the big yellow/red pudding at the candy house he said sarcastic, “We mail this pudding to uncle Hoss tonight.”
“He never has not enough of that”, reacted Matthew.
They laughed. Also the pink pudding was recorded at night to a certain H. Cartwright to be mailed.
Exactly at 12 o’clock Mitch and Matthew were at the fairytale the 6 servants and Long Neck.
“Mitch, do you want marry me?”, Matthew asked who sat on 1 knee already.
The young Cartwright didn’t know what he heard and had a lump in his throat.
Though he said, “Of course I want to marry you. I really don’t want to marry someone else.”
Matthew got up and kissed his year old fiancé passionately. The people who had heard spontaneously started to clap. At the request of Matthew had someone filmed the proposal via the iPad.
“So you had this planned too?”, Mitch asked when they lounged by the fairytale forest further moments later.
“Yes, and there’s more coming up”, answered Matthew.
“This way I want to celebrate my birthday in this area”, said Mitch.
“Then we do that. If necessary we pay it ourselves”, said Matthew.
“Good idea. We just put aside a certain amount for our next vacation here”, answered Mitch.
His finance thought that was a good idea too.
Each fairytale got photographed to the smallest detail. Now and then the boys took a resting break to adapt the fairytale sphere totally.
When they sat on a bench somewhere suddenly Mitch got tears into his eyes.
Matthew saw that and asked, “What is the matter?”
“I wish that momma could be at our wedding”, answered Mitch.
He got taken by his fiancé into his arms and surrendered to his dismiss.
“You know, I’m sure that your mother took care of this blanket of snow”, said Matthew said after as while.
He picked up some snow and lathered Mitch with it. Of course Mitch didn’t take this and not and now Mitch took this time Matthew was lathered. There was a little romp in the snow which was laughed by both.
“Matt, do you also feel like having a hot chocolate?”, Mitch asked after the romp.
“With a delicious cupcake with it yes”, said Matthew.
They got up and wiped the snow off their clothes where after they went looking for hot chocolate milk with cupcake. The boys had found it quickly.
At the Gebrande Boon (Branded Bean) Mitch and Matthew were having a hot chocolate and a cupcake.
“Where are we going to after this?”, asked the birthday boy.
Matthew looked at the map and answered, “The Haunted House.”
“Nice. Delicious shudder”, said Mitch.
They laughed.
The Haunted house was soon reached and even though the boys couldn’t understand the story they found it great.
Again outside the haunted house but then at the back Mitch said, “I believe that I have seen some members of my family at the Haunted House.”
Matthew answered laughing, “Not uncle Hoss because you can find him here everywhere at the park and in the shape of Big Mouth.”
He pointed at the big Mouth as a sailor.
“Make a picture of him. If we all have them we make a poster of al examples for uncle Hoss”, said Mitch.
Matthew made a picture of it with the iPad.
Here after r the couple headed to Villa Volta. When they stood in front of the house Mitch looked a bit skeptical at the building.
“Nice house but that of grandpa’s is more beautiful”, he said dry a moment later.
“Your father could have designed this house as well. Let’s go and see how they have done the furnishing”, said Matthew.
They went in and found it also very nice.
Outside again Matthew asked, “Mr Cartwright, could the decoration have your approval?”
“That certainly could, Mr Walker. But it is the only house whereby you don’t have to move the furniture yourself”, answered Mitch.
After the guys looking at the outside of Villa Volta Dream flight. They wanted to go in there but when the waiting time was 60 minutes saw the gentlemen here. Instead, they took an extended break.
“Mitch, I have reserved a table at a restaurant to 16.45. Shall we go slowly to it?”, Matthew asked after the break.
Mitch nodded. They walked to Diorama where they saw a train driving through different landscapes.
“This is really something for your father”, Mitch said suddenly.
“Indeed. Perhaps they sell something like this in the souvenir shops”, said Matthew.
When they had arrived at Polles Kitchen Matthew said, “Because we always eat pancakes for Christmas dinner on your birthday we do it here.”
“Great idea of you”, said Mitch.
They walked to the entrance and Matthew said, “I had reserved a table for 2 persons at 16.45 on the name of Walker.”
A look was being taken into the guestbook and the waiter said, “Just you come along.”
The boys next and got a table by the window. Especially for them came a English speaking waitress.
“I have a cola? And you Matt?”, asked Mitch.
“The same a she has”, answered Matthew.
“It’s coming up. Here are the menu cards in English”, the waitress said who listened to the name of Betty.
The boys looked at the menu and soon the choice was made.
When Betty brought the drinks Matthew said, :“I want a pancake with banana and for the birthday
boy a pancake with pineapple.”
Betty looked at Mitch and said, “So it’s your birthday today? Congratulations.”
“Thanks”, said Mitch.
The waitress went to pass on the order. Of course the 2 made here also photographs.
“I dare to bet that these pancakes are not as delicious as those of Hop Sing’s”, said Mitch.
Hop Sing was the loyal Chinese cook at the Ponderosa where the boys lived.
“Don’t say that to him anyway”, advised Matthew.
The pancakes got brought and they tasted delicious. Though they had to admit that the pancakes at home tasted better. Of course they didn’t say that out loud. After Matthew had paid they continued their journey.
Mitch followed Matthew up to the great water show Aquanura with a few large frogs.
“This is the last surprise for today”, Matthew said just before the show started.
“Am curious what it is”, said the young Cartwright.
Also this musical water show fell at both in the taste.
Walking back to the hotel Mitch said, “Matt, thanks for this great birthday. Only: I haven’t given you anything yet for Christmas.”
“You have done that. Grandpa told me that you wanted to marry me so I hoped that you would give your Yes to me today”, reacted Matthew.
Mitch nodded understanding.
After some more to have drunk in the hotel bar the couple went very tired but very happy with each other to their hotel room where an email with 2 photos to Hoss Cartwright was sent and an e-mail with a short video to the parents of Mitch and Matthew (Adam and Sally Cartwright + Dan and Laura Walker).
That night fell 2 very lucky guys in each other's arms in a deep magical sleep.
DECEMBER 26.
After a healthy night rest the boys were awake again early.
Walking to the breakfast hall Matthew said, “Today we are going to watch the wild things.”
“Alright. There are some attractions closed due to the weather”, said Mitch.
After a hearty breakfast, including cupcakes wanted Matthew to their room but his fiancé stopped him.
“Shall we send a postcard to our parents and grandpa?”, asked Mitch.
“Alright. I will write them”, answered Matthew.
They looked in the shop but did not really suitable copies. They looked in the shop but did not really suitable copies.
“Then we will look at in the park”, said Matthew.
They went to their room and packed together what they needed for that day.
Through the hotel entrance undertook the boys their 3rd day trip through the Winter Efteling. Today on the program the roller coasters so far they could come in.
“Should we show the photos at home or not?”, Mitch asked suddenly.
“How do you mean?”, Matthew asked amazed.
“When they see what to see and do is they come here right away”, Mitch explained.
“We let our families just go here because then we have peace because we stay home with Hop Sing”, reacted Matthew.
Mitch couldn’t agree more.
At the Python they photographed everything including the entrance. This attraction was closed though.
“It’s a pity that Benji is already taller than 1 meter 20”, said Mitch.
Benji was his 11 year old little brother.
“He was allowed to go in if it was open”, said Matthew.
“Lisa would follow him right away”, said Mitch.
Lisa was the twin sister of Benji. The couple walked on ahead to the flying Dutch Man. But this attraction was closed too due to the winter weather.
“Matt, if you would go and get something to eat and to drink, then I can draw that building”, Mitch suggested.
“Alright. I see what I can find”, said Matthew.
He grabbed his wallet and left his rucksack with Mitch who went to sit on a bench across the building of the Flying Dutch Man. After a while Matthew came back with the lunch.
After having eaten they went to the skating track where it was very cozy. Here too everything got photographed. But outside the skating track everything was being made into a photo.
“Matt, we are going to make a round ride. Now not per sledge but per train”, Mitch said after having rested a while.
“That is also very funny”, said Matthew.
They got up and ambled to the train station which was near Raveleijn. Here too was a waiting queue but that didn’t matter for the boys. Finally the train came and the couple stepped in. They got up and ambled to the train station which is near Efteling. Also here was a queue but that made for the boys. Finally came the train and the couple stepped in. In front of them, the bank was still empty so that Matthew could take a quick picture of I which he did.
It was a lovely train trip who drove them all through the white park.
“While you were taking a shower this morning I got a phone call from my uncle Sean. He wants to fly us home in his private plane”, suddenly Matthew said.
“You have accepted it, haven’t you?”, asked Mitch.
“Of course I have accepted it. We have to go to the airport in Rotterdam and then he arranges everything for us”, said Matthew.
After the ride boys stepped out again where they had started the train ride. Because they had maps for the Efteling show they decided to go there slowly. Finally, still had to be put on the picture everything. That happened.
The boys sat all at the front because they could hear the show via race radio they found this also great.
After the show Mitch asked, “Are you coming to the restaurant?”
“I go with you everywhere”, answered Matthew.
They got up and walked to the restaurant ‘The Weapon of Raveleijn’.
At the entrance they gave their name, and they were brought to their table.
While he looked around Mitch said, “there is such a restaurant in Virginia City as well.”
“This is your table gentlemen”, said the waitress.
At 1 seating lay a small board with 20 in drop.
“Mitch, That one is for you”, Matthew said smiling.
Mitch took a picture of it and also of the Interior. Then disappeared the sweets in a drinking cup by the Wolf who had bought them earlier. They ate the 1st walk on while they have a drink. Because he had arranged was Matthew partner and so he also got the tea towel. Of course Mitch had to capture this.
“Just come along to the kitchen”, a waitress said to Matthew.
“Just go do the dishes nicely”, Mitch said teasing.
Matthew walked along and returned a moment later with a pan with food.
“I will divide it”, said Matthew.
That happened and the boys let it taste well. Later Matthew got fetched again but then for dessert. After the coffee the boys left the restaurant to go to the hotel very slowly.
Like they have done each evening the couple got some cupcakes this evening too.
“I am really going to miss these cupcakes”, said Matthew.
“Me too”, said Mitch.
Back into their hotel room the cupcakes got eaten where after Mitch and Matthew went to sleep.
DECEMBER 27.
It was already the last day for Mitch and Matthew to be in the Winter Efteling.
The first attraction visited was the Oriental Fata Morgana. After everything was set out in a boat the boys went to the oriental atmosphere of 1001 nights. During the tour they looked their eyes out. Because it's still quiet was the gentlemen were allowed to sail around one more time.
After Mirage was visited and photographed walked Mitch and Matthew along the whitewater Piraña to Panda Dream. Here was a lot busier.
“Matt, you're allowed to here in but I'm not going to. There are too many people here”, Mitch said when they saw the amount of buggies.
“I'll let you not only so we are going to instead of here to search within all Big Mouths and photograph them”, said Matthew.
Mitch was reassured.
Via the iPad they had found an overview where which Big Mouth was. With the device the Big Mouths were recorded on a photo. But other things in the park were photographed as well.
The boys arrived at the Efteling Theater were very impressed with the building. “So here all those musicals are performed?”, asked Matthew.
“Yes, and we are going to see one. That's my surprise”, was the answer of Mitch.
“Shall we photograph the theatre and the area?”, asked Matthew.
His fiancée nodded. That happened and then the hunt for gifts for their family was opened. Specially for this holiday had the grandfather of Mitch, Ponderosa ranch owner Ben Cartwright, had arranged a credit card for his eldest grandson.
After over 2 hours looking around all the gifts were selected and purchased. Fortunately for the couple were all purchases to the hotel.
Once again wandering through the Fairytale forest Mitch asked, “ Now we have gifts for our family but nothing for ourselves. You have asked me to marry at Long Neck so why not we buy something of that fairy tale?”
“I was thinking the exact same thing. We look in the gift shop here at the Fairytale Forest”, answered Matthew.
After searching long they found a few nice souvenirs of Long neck which were for themselves.
“If we come here more often, we must divide our House in baseball and Efteling I'm afraid”, said Mitch.
“Then we just do that, don’t we?”, asked Matthew.
His partner nodded approvingly.
In the theatre the boys saw a musical where they didn’t understand much but in English they had gotten an explanation about the story. So Mitch and Matthew understood a bit of the story.
After somewhere to have eaten was the boys made one last trip through the Winter Efteling to prepare for the long journey back.