Last Weekend in Maastricht

I just returned from a trip to the states to start my new job and can't believe it is my last weekend in Maastricht!  Next weekend we take our last trip and then I leave permanently once we return.  We are getting a little sad that our year is coming to an end and feel that there is still so much we want to do here.  We spent the weekend soaking up as much of Maastricht as possible and spending time together as Jamie will not be returning to the U.S. until August.  We also had dinner with friends of Jamie's mom that she met on a trip to India and who live just an hour away in Brussels.  It was great meeting them and wish we would have met sooner so that we could have spent more time with them.  I also had tea with a friend of a friend who lives in Amsterdam.

Pics of our last weekend in Maastricht . . . 

Vrijthof Square / Another of many cute little squares

 Dinner at Nxt Door & Cafe Sjiek (pronounced 'Chic')

 The walking bridge over the Maas River / One side of Maastricht's City Center

 The other side of Maastricht's City Center

Gates of Maastricht & old Fortress Walls

Trip 18: Watou & Westvleteren, Belgium

A visit to Beer Country . . to complete Jamie's quest to try all 7 of the world's Trappist beers.  Trappist monks dedicate their life to prayer and work.  There are many Trappist Monasteries but only 7 brew beer.  The other 6 Trappist beers are available to purchase in liquor stores or sold in local bars but the Westvleteren is not available anywhere except at the brewery by appointment.  So we set off to discover the "World's Best Beer". We stayed at a nearby town in Watou at one of the cutest B&B's, Brouwershuis, that was connected to a small brewery, St. Bernardus.  We enjoyed the beautiful property, the saloon offering their beers and their wonderful breakfast.  Then this afternoon we headed to Westvleteren to visit the monastery and pick up our order at the abbey.  A surprisingly lovely trip through the countryside and little villages of West Belgium.

  

 Brouwershuis B&B

 St. Bernardus beers offered to all guests at the B&B

 Hops fields all along our drive . . .

And many cattle farms

 St. Sixtus Abbey

All the Belgian brews / Jamie picking up his order

European Football

We took part in a little European football (soccer) viewing today at a local bar with Steve and Sarah.  Even though the Dutch team lost to Denmark we had fun participating and rooting for the home team.  

Trip 17: Nice, France & Monaco

I can't believe it has already been a year . . we visited the French Riviera for our one year Anniversary!  Most of our trips over the last year have included a lot of sightseeing, tours, visiting historical monuments, churches, etc. but this trip was all about relaxing.  We stayed in a beautiful hotel on the beach in the French Riviera (the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France).  We had a wonderful trip and the only time we left the city of Nice was for a day trip to Monaco where we toured the Palace of Monaco and also visited Monte Carlo to check out the infamous Casino.  Jamie was disappointed as it was only a "3 Ferrari Day" (he counts his sightings of Ferrari's as a measure of how awesome his days is) . . Monaco is known for its abundance of wealth so he was hoping to beat the "7 Ferrari Day" in Paris. :)   Happy Anniversary to my amazing hubby!

View from our hotel balcony / Hanging out at the Pool

 Hanging out at the beach in front of our hotel

 

 Breakfast & Dinner on the beach

Palace of Monaco / About to go in the Cathedral and a guarded Rolls went by . . Prince Albert perhaps?!?

  Harbors of Monaco 

Monte Carlo Casino (too bad they didn't allow cameras because it was very impressive!)

  Anniversary Dinner at Le Bistrot Gourmand (our first Michelin Star restaurant . . Amazing!)

 Anniversary Drinks & Sunset :)

Time in the Netherlands

We have spent the last couple weekends in the Netherlands.  This past holiday weekend we hung out in town and had another large neighborhood BBQ.  Then we drove to the coast to spend a day on the beaches . . we haven't been since our first week here last summer . .  I can't believe we haven't taken advantage of  living only 2 hours from the coast!
The weekend prior we went hiking at Vijlenerbos forest and then went to the Three Country Point in Vaals which is the point where the borders of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium all meet.  I also went on a bike ride with some neighbor friends to Valkenburg, Gulpen and a couple other small towns. 

 Netherlands Coast & Beaches

 Hiking at Vijlenerbos 

 Views of the Netherlands countryside from Vaals

 

 Jamie in 3 countries in 3 seconds / Me in 3 countries at one time

 Biking with my neighbor, Anne-Marie, and her colleagues