Nov 11

11.11 11:11

Maastricht 09 Vacation No Comments »

Although I have very little to write about 11.11 11:11 (because that is today and it’s 9am) I thought it was a great title. So there, you have it.

Yesterday was a fun filled day.

This is the lovely home I’m staying in (and hopefully, you will excuse all of the close-up shots. Only have that lens…the other is at home! d’oh!)
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Found these  lovely, maybe bittersweet? But I’ve never seen them in purple
purple.1

Went into a second-hand, antique shop where Joel decided to try on a hat….
joel.nazi

Went to a lovely old bakery that still uses water power to run it’s mill. Was so fascinated with the mill that I got no pictures of bread!
wheel.1

water.wheel.2

water.wheel2

Very, VERY interesting piece of architecture. There are parts of an old city wall here and there (Roman times). And from what I’ve been told there is a first wall and a second wall…Well, when it came time to build this building, they indicated where the wall would have gone through it were it still there. Clever, those Dutch.

And finally, after a few beers, saw this shop which I took as being “Little Riley”…cute eh?
rilette

And as the day went on, the rest became more and more blurry! And no pictures followed!

Today off to see in the start of Carnival season (although Carnival season, in my mind, starts before lent or so…they start early here, playing with the number 11.11 (the date) at precicely 11:11 the time. Since it’s 10:26, we have less than an hour to get there…better take off. Can’t promise more pictures since I’m told there will be even more beer today. OY!

Nov 10

Ran Away

Life, Maastricht 09 Vacation No Comments »

Yes, so I’ve run away. Run far away from home. I’ve ended up in Maastricht, The Netherlands, visiting my buddy Joel. Strange-ish first day since not a lot is open on Mondays here. I ask myself, “Why Monday.” I suppose from a business perspective, it’s better to close on a Monday than a weekend day. But didn’t they consider that I would be coming to visit?

First impressions were how interestingly the Dutch are converting some of their buildings, notably, old churches. Unlike Boston, they’re not simply preserving the exterior, and building a more modern building. I really like what they’re doing here.
…an old church converted into a bookstore
bookstore.church

I love the contrast of the book stacks and the arches.
chuch.book.stacks

this is a wonderful copper-lined entrance to a new hotel, the Kruisheren Hotel, a converted monestary. The inside is spectacular.
new.entrance

The contrast of the ultra modern lights wit the ancient  is wonderful.
church.hotel

…even keeping little nichés intact
church.niche

This isn’t a converted church. I just have a things for flying buttresses . I love them and think they’re elegant!

flyingbuttress

and, finally…my new glasses are VERY in here in Europe. I can’t decide whether I feel relieved that I don’t stick out like a sore thumb or just another one “of the crowd.”
Photo 19

OK, so that’s the first day’s report. More to come. On today’s agenda…Dutch french fries, shopping for wool socks, going to some terrific bakery (fig and nut brood), and a wonderful snack food, bitterballen met moestard. YUM! (and, no, Gage…we’re also keeping up with Wii Fitness to keep El Gordo at bay!) Stay tuned!

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