Minute Waltz

 

Between the morning and evening rehearsals our host mother and her niece (who was the host mother to two of the other choir staff members) took us for a quick afternoon trip to Maastricht in the Netherlands.  Now, this is not the first time I have visited this particular city; concomitant to my studying abroad in Florence seven years ago my friend Mallory was doing the same thing in Maastricht.  I tried to locate the pictures from way back then but remembered they were on my camera that got stolen by a GYPSY!

At any rate, it was nice to visit again and at least say hello to the city for Mallory.

A view of the city and the Maas river (hence the name Maastricht)

 

Apparently Ed thought there was an even MORE beautiful view to be seen…

… ME!!!

 

A handful of businesses around the city can be seen with a royal crest above the door.  This signifies that they are authorized to serve the royal house and we saw two such buildings on our tour:

  

The royal florist (with Ed in the doorway) and hairdresser (with me in the doorway)!!!

 

Vera also took us by a shop I know my granddaddy Dan would have loved:

PEANUTS!!!!!!

 

These two churches dominate one certain part of the city.  There’s some story bout the two of these churches but I for the life of me can’t remember what it is…

 

Maastricht is also home to the CHEESE-tastic Andre Rieu, leader of the Johann Strauss Orchestra and the Josh Groban to middle aged Nederlander woman across the country.

 

Every year he has a ginormous concert in this square and unfortunately we came a little too early.

 

I couldn’t leave the city without stopping by and grabbing another Belgium waffle (albeit from the Netherlands); this time I went to the exact same place that Mallory took me for my first one all those years ago.

I was a little terrified the man behind me was going to take mine!

 

Artist: Barbra Streisand/ Album: Color Me Barbra

Bonus anecdote!: Vera explained to us when crossing the border that women from Belgium used to go to the Netherlands and smuggle back butter (apparently it was some good shiz back then).  In order to do so they would sew secret pockets in their dresses and once the police figured out they would stop the women and make them wait in a really really hot room until it melted all over their clothes.  Oh you crafty, cholesterol hating Dutch!

Who’s Smoking?

 

Our next destination was the city of Genk, Belgium (pronounced Henk [I think]) but the orchestra concert was held a short bus ride away in the town of Tongeren .  On the way out of Genk we passed a huge Ford factory where I am hoping to send the General on a foreign exchange program one day!  He really needs to work on his gas mileage and I’m hoping perhaps learning the metric system can help out a bit with that.

 

There was a last minute change in the venue for the concert and it ended up being held in a “casino.”  I put that in quotations because it wasn’t necessarily a place for gambling but rather more of a dance hall type building which I’m about 80% sure was, in its former life, a Marlboro cigarette factory.  The place, and therefore everyone who stayed for more than an Augenblick, reeked of smoke.  Needless to say they did not have happy pair of soloists on their hands, much like my pair of vocal chords were not very happy with me as a result.

View of the stage from the balcony

 

Backstage in one of the dressing rooms Lisette, one of the staff of the orchestra, and I found a cabinet full of costumes used for their version of Mardi Gras.  Naturally we couldn’t resist trying some of the items on for size:

WHY IS HER FEATHER IS BIGGER!!!!

 

Sabrina and I also took the opportunity while the orchestra was rehearsing their other repertoire to explore the town a bit.  Naturally I had to get a picture of the…

CHURCH!

 

Directly across from the church was a large statue in the center of the square.  He’s ready for battle AND (apparently) to grill a mean kebab!

Tonight in Kitchen Stadium: Battle STEAK!!

 

And finally, one of really only four reasons to visit Belgium:

WAFFLES!!!!!!! (The other three being: chocolate, fries and my host family)

 

Artist: Jim Dooley/ Album: Pushing Daisies: Season 1