Walking around Maastricht

Originally posted on August 31st, 2008.



My friend Alice is visiting from the UK. She arrived early Saturday morning, and after a little confusion we met up at Maastricht train station. I showed her the easiest way to walk to the hostel (20-minute stroll),



stood idly by as she checked in, and then showed her Maastricht: parts of the old city wall, St. Jan church (unfortunately, the tower is being renovated so she couldn't go up for a magnificent 360 view of the city - click here for 360 views of several squares in the city), Vrijthof, Markt, the Miffy Store, indie cinema/art house Lumière. We had a time out at a little place called Coffee Lovers for a drink; I introduced Alice to rosé beer. I'm glad she likes it; she likes fruity beers. I suggested to meet up here for brunch the next day, and Alice is up for that.

After the drink I translate an outdoor photo exhibition of Doctors without Frontiers, before heading to the Bonnefanten Museum.



It was almost 5 in the afternoon by the time we left the museum. Alice wanted a nap before going to the dance party in Eindhoven - I totally understood. On the train ride home I was out for 20 minutes - guess I needed a power nap, too!
I hadn't driven in over 3 months, so I was a little tensed up at driving to and from the party (virtually no public transport shortly after midnight). I picked Alice up from the train station around 8 pm and then drove to Eindhoven; I knew a little sushi place called "Yakitori & the Sushi's" - it's a fairly new place and it hasn't caught on with the hip crowd. Yet. Alice told me she was looking forward to experience the real thing, since she only had Tesco sushi so far. We enjoyed the meal (Alice was so sweet she started ordering fishless sushi and yakitori, too. Till I pointed out I have no problems with her ordering fish. She just won't be sharing that with me )


I'd lost track of time, until my friend Petra R. sent me a text message she was almost at the venue. Oops! We met up at the Effenaar 20 minutes later (I got us tickets to the dance party) and we went inside. I danced a bit for 2 hours and it felt really good to have a little physical excersize (I did have a painkiller when muscles in my shoulder started cramping up badly). I could've danced for hours, but I also understood Alice was tired, so we made it an early night. On our way to the car Alice said the dance party reminded her of the parties at uni - with several older people thrown in - and she had enjoyed it a lot.


Alice was out the moment we hit the highway heading south. Fortunately, I was wide awake. Unfortunately, I took one turn too early and ended up on the wrong side of the river Meuse ("Maas" in Dutch) The part of Maastricht Alice is staying is safe, even that late at night. (I am talking from personal experience.) And my friend didn't mind walking the last part to the hostel by herself.
The next day is another bright and sunny day, and we meet at Coffee Lovers for brunch. I was looking forward to having one of their delicious salads, but I guess between last Summer and now they have updated their menus. Which is a good thing, but I couldn't help but notice their now limited choice in salads. Oh well... Alice and I had a tasty brunch anyway.
I show Alice a different part of the city wall,

and we go on a little guided city tour (reminiscent of a cable car ride in San Fran). The tour guide with his special mix of Dutch and English, reminded me of the bear pit; I had forgotten all about it and decided to take Alice to it after the tour has ended.

I asked my friend of she's walked the old Roman bridge (the oldest in my country) to which she replies she hasn't. Since we had planned to do a small tour of my home town I made sure we crossed that bridge on our way to the train station!


Halfway to my home town there were a few problems with the train we were on, and to keep a long story short: we arrived two hours later than planned. By then it was raining cats and dogs, and there was some thunder and lightning, too. It was after 7pm and we decided to go for a bite to eat. Alice and I both had a yummie salad, and by the time we were finished it had stopped raining and darkness was falling.
I gave Alice the brief tour: she had to check out before 9:30 the next morning and I had promised to make sure she'd be back at the hostel early. I showed her the district court I work at, the Munster church


the market square and City Hall and St. Christoffel Church



de Stenen Brug (Stone Bridge)



By then it was completely dark and I had run out of things to show - I had taken Alice to the most important things in the city center. Also, I was having cramps due to an intake of lactose I hadn't accounted for. So I walked Alice to the train station, and went home. I had to be at work the next day.