Back In The Low Countries: Maastricht

Towards the end of my stay in the Netherlands my sister suggested to go to a place I'd never been before in the South of Holland: the ancient town of Maastricht!

One of the many attractions in this town are the 'tableaux' on old buildings and houses such as the above.

The 'sheep' is also featured in the modern version.

We had a look inside in the Basilica of Our Lady (*), one of the many old Roman Catholic churches here.

Here we lighted candles for our parents and other departed friends...

The classic Dutch symbol for cycling paths, here on cobblestones, picturesque but very unpleasant for cycling!

We really enjoyed spotting those tableaux.

More evidence of the Roman Catholic church influence.

As a total contrast here's a duckie shop, don't ask...

Love those shop fronts.

Operating a (massive!) book store inside a church, dangerous territory for a former book collector like me...

Maastricht is one of the few towns left with a real hat shop, where my sister got me a new Stetson!

Lots of places to eat and drink, Maastrichters take this very seriously!

Modern art.

A modern witch tableau.

And another old one.

This little girl was really impressed by those statues.

1988 Mural based on a drawing by Roland Topor.

Crooked houses...

Typical town scene.

Another tableau.

Classic chocolate shop.

Windmill tablaeu (although that mill was long gone)

The locals here on the whole seem to dress better than in other parts of Holland.

View of the Maas River

Locals also speak a weird dialect which is utterly incomprehensible to outsiders, pray that no aliens ever land here as any attempt at communication is doomed to fail! (**)