The cloister garden of Sint Servaasbasiliek
We left Giethoorn in the morning of Thanksgiving, but not before one last quick look at this charming village and its waterways:
My daughter waits in the cold morning air for the bus to Steenwijk railway station:
After a 3½-hour+ train ride, we arrived at our next destination, the historic city of Maastricht, tucked away in the southeastern corner of the Netherlands, and immediately checked into the Kaboom Hotel. As my friend Jeff put it, the hotel looks like it was designed by college students; I figured it was the result of some hipsters given free reign, while Amber figured it was all dreamed up by some kids. Whatever the origins, the design concept is a success, as the rooms are both minimalist and comfortable. And each guest gets a free packet of Pop Rocks!:
With my wife deciding to rest in the hotel room, my daughter and I set out to explore the neighborhood, crossing the Maas river:
Our feet led us to the Vrijthof, a large square of cafes and shops (and a Christmas funfair in the process of being assembled), and dominated by the Sint Servaasbasiliek church. The origins of this shrine to St. Servatius, the first bishop of Maastricht, date back to 1000:
Admission into the church (like many attractions in the Netherlands, it was free for Amber to enter) allowed us to see the cloister garden...:
...as well as the medieval gold artwork exhibited in the Treasury:
Colorful archway:
The interior of Sint Servaasbasiliek:
The side entrance:
Amber munches on some churros in the Vrijthof:
We returned to the Kaboom Hotel and met our friends Jeff and Barbara in the lobby, who had taken the train from their home in Belgium to meet us for dinner. We dined that evening at Harry's, a local institution since 1912. Though it was Thanksgiving in the United States, here in Europe it was just another fourth Thursday in November - turkey wasn't on the menu, so I ordered the venison stew, which could be the start of a new tradition:
I have a lot to be grateful for in life. One of them is having good friends to spend time with over a fine meal:
Jeff and Barbara spent the night at the Kaboom Hotel, and the next morning I met them for breakfast before they had to return to Belgium. Afterward, Amber, Shu-E and I walked over to the Markt, the commercial heart of Maastricht:
Jean-Pierre Minckelers, the inventor of the gaslight. Apparently, the "eternal burning flame" isn't so eternal:
Amber samples some cheese at the market:
Taking a coffee break:
The day was one of mild disappointment - I'd wanted to go to Fort Sint Pieter to see the tunnels there. The problem was is that visits are by guided tour only, and the only English tour of the day is at 12:30. We would've made it with time to spare, but I missed the street where we were supposed to have turned left; by the time I realized the mistake, it was too late. Such is life, so we had lunch at a small Italian restaurant and then stopped by the Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek church to pay our respects at the Mary Star of the Sea shrine inside, which has been drawing in pilgrims for more than 300 years:
We spent the rest of the afternoon window-shopping:
Inside the train station in Maastricht is a piano asking to be played. This gentleman took up the offer:
Our trip to the Netherlands ended with an evening train ride to Schiphol Airport, where we stayed the night at a nearby hotel before leaving the next morning to return to Vilnius. We had a great time in the Netherlands - I would like to explore more of Amsterdam, while Shu-E preferred Maastricht. Both of us loved Giethoorn, though we had the advantage of visiting during the off-season. Amber took an interest in art of the Dutch Golden Age, but her favorite place had to have been the Kaboom Hotel. And, of course, there was the opportunity to meet up with old friends, and the hope that they will come see us in Vilnius in the time we have left in Lithuania. A lot of Dutch treats in a short period of time.
A Brand Brewery IPA. It certainly wasn't Heineken
Modeling a souvenir (and showing off a gut) back home in Vilnius
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