Originally, the plan was that I would go along on the bus with the choir—two hours up to NL, two hours of singing, two hours back to BE, four days in a row (between the dress rehearsals and the performances). BUT luckily Troy is a good husband and he decided that that was too much and instead we should just stay in Maastricht and make a mini-holiday out of it. Troy found us a lovely little B&B located in a converted farmhouse just outside Maastricht. It served as our base so that, in between rehearsals and performances, we could tour around the Limburg Province area.
My Friday night performance took place in Heerlen. Despite being founded by the Romans, there's not too much to be said for Heerlen except for this amazing building. Constructed in 1935 (I know! It's hard to believe something this fresh and modern dates so early), the former Schunck Department Store is now a National Monument known by it's nickname: Glaspaleis (glass palace). So, so cool and so ahead of its time.
Our Saturday night performance was in Maastricht at the Theater aan het Vrijthof. The building dates from 1809 and is the former home of the general who kept Maastricht as part of The Netherlands during one of the wars of the 19th Century.
The BCS and LSO onstage in the Theater aan het Vrijthof.
I am on the front row, second from the right. You might have to use your imagination.
Taking our bows during the standing ovations!
This lovely little building dates from the 1630s and is now a restaurant. A cool shopping area has been developed on the back side of this square.
This is the outside of the coolest bookstore I have ever been into! Yes, a bookstore...or rather it's a 13th-Century-Gothic-church-turned bookstore. It is now called Selexyz Domincanen, and the back-story is super interesting -- to read more Click Here. Adaptive re-use at its best!
Inside the bookstore -- so awesome!
Maastricht is a super cute little town. We were so busy enjoying ourselves that we forgot to photograph very much of the town itself, but here's an example of one of the pretty little cafés that are everywhere.
Troy waving hello from the shadow of the Pater Vink Toren.
This is in the courtyard of the Sint-Servaasbasiliek (Basilica of St. Servatius). Construction on the present building began in the year ~1000, making it the oldest remaining church in The Netherlands.
We spent the final day of our "mini-break" in the tiny town of Valkenburg. Among other things, we explored the ruins of a 12th century castle.
Beneath the castle (and far more interesting despite the tour being in Dutch and thus us understanding only about 3 words) is a huge complex of caves known as the "Velvet Caves". We gather that this is due to the vaguely velvet-esque appearance of all the paintings that cover the cave walls.
The caves were originally used as quarries, but, owing to Valkenburg's location near the German border, they were also used as barracks for soldiers during WWII. The guide extinguished the lamp at one point in the tour and it was PITCH BLACK, not to mention a chilly, damp 12˚C. Despite their impregnability, and thus safety, we really felt for the soldiers who had to live there for months.
Troy and I have recently developed a fondness for Mövenpick sorbet (so yummy), and seem unable to resist indulging on a sunny day. Having enjoyed a lovely long weekend, we treated ourselves to two scoops before making the journey back home.
Limburg Province, Netherlands Photo Album - Click Here
Posts
another concert, an AWESOME bookstore and a castle...more great, adventurous, tales from the Raarup's- I didn't think it possible, but each "mini-break" is better than the last!!
ReplyDelete