May 23, 2013 - Train through Belguim, Luxembourg to Trier Germany

May 23 2013 Biked about 7 miles for a total of 162 miles. To night we are in Trier, Germany on the Mosel river. We left Maastricht after our spartan breakfast. We to the train station and got tickets for Luxembourg city. Almost immediately after leaving the Netherlands the topography changed and it was much hiller. It as if some decided that Holland should have all the flat land. It was very pretty, rolling hills, limestone bluffs and beautiful rivers along the railroad line. We changed trains in Liege, Belgium, which we spent about 45...

May 22, 2013 - Maastricht IV

May 22 2013 Today we biked 5 miles together for a total of 155 miles. Pam of course biked further and she dies not to keep track here. I went to the conference once again. I learned about pregnant and infant travelers, sex tourism ( Not to what you think), One Health - animal and human health combined, zoonosis diseases and ISTM business. Pam explored the local scene. Àfter biking on the many paths I went to Saint Peter's caves for a great tour with a local person who was quite entertaining. After hanging out in the local pleins(plazas) I...

May 21, 2013 - Maastricht III (with a little Belgium)

May 21 2013 We biked about 5 miles together for a total of 150 miles Went to the conference. Heard lectures on malaria, kids and travel, Social media in Travel medicines and multiple studies concerning immunizations. Pam on the other hand, had more fun. I left Maastricht in the morning enjoying a partially sunny day. I am heading into Belgium today. I am west of the Maas river and in a hilly area. The bike trails continue to be great. They too have the numbered points and are well marked. I stop often to hike and venture down several nature...

May 20, 2013 - Maastricht II

May 20 2013 Together we biked about 5 miles for a total of 145 miles I went to the ISTM Conference which was included many excellent lectures on Travel Medicine. Pam didn't attend the conference but toured Maastricht today. It was raining lightly right away and did not stop till 2pm. I biked around to get my bearings a little and went for more tourist info. I did a walking tour in the rain. It was glorious to have it stop and enjoyed the sites on bike from there. I went to the old city walls We both went to a travel reception and then had...

May 19, 2013 - The road to Maastricht

May 19 2013 We biked 30 miles today for a total of 140 miles. Woke to sunshine that lasted all day. Our best day yet. No rain. We ate a quick breakfast of an apple and roll each at the Hotel de Valk in Urmond and got on the road again. Continue our travel south to Maastricht passing through more small villages and rural small farms along the Maas river. Very easy to follow the route with the marked Dutch bike highway system. Truely this is a bikers paradise. Pathed bike highways in the middle of nowhere. This is slightly hilly for a...

Apr 17, 2013 - Of Treaties and History

The DaVinci left Roermond around 3:00 am this morning headed for Maastricht. We were up about 7:30 and along for breakfast then sat in the lounge and watched the dykes and farmhouses pass by and the occasional gravel and sand operation, loading barges for construction projects throughout the Netherlands. We arrived in Maastricht as lunch was being served. Afterwards we met a local guide who took us round the older part of the city. Maastricht was an insignificant Dutch town until 1992 when a treaty was signed proposing a common currency for...

Oct 19, 2011 - Maastricht

We had big plans to meet up with Erica again, this time in Bruxelles. However, due to our lack of organisation and funds, accommodation in Bruxelles was an unrealistic option. Fortunately, Erica lives a mere 1 1/2 hours away, in the University town of Maastricht (Netherlands). Intending to stay just one night we outstayed our welcome for 3. In Maastricht we saw ALL the sights, which included the very obese goats, some strange art, and the local pub where you shell peanuts onto the floor while playing board games. We also took the...

Jul 16, 2010 - Andre is over and wow

We have just arrived back at the hotel and it is now 12.40am but what a concert. Teamed with rain before the show but the thunderstorm blew over and it was good for the concert. And for Ma & Pa T - yes David got lots of photos of the musicians and some with them including Manu. What colour is green!!!!! Good night all

Jul 15, 2010 - Maastrict magic

Yes we have finally made it to Maasticht and tomorrow we go to the Andre Rieu concert. But what a journey to get here. Up very early to get the first train to Munich at 6.39am and then the fast train ti Cologne. David was thrilled when we got to 300 kph. But then our train to Liege was delayed by 105 minutes and we had a 45 minute wait for the connection to Maastricht. But we are here and while I write this David has gone walking to take photos. More after the concert. Also we have a change of plans. After this we are going to Rotterdam,...

May 23, 2010 - A real house in Maastricht = the best! Danke Ben!

This will be a reoccurring theme in my next couple updates when I express how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends! From Brussels we trained to Maastricht where we stayed with my friend Ben from university. He is a German that has grown up in Maastricht and was the most wonderful host. He thought we were insane because we were soooo excited to be in a house again. A house with clean dishes, clean floors, clean shower with hot water, and the ever magical washing machine and dryer! After putting in the first load of laundry, Ben brought...

Feb 13, 2009 - Day 7: Maastricht

I rode the bus from Aachen to Maastricht with Henry (another Couchsurfing guy who was in Aachen). Maastricht is a nice city, but nothing exceptional. The old churches have been recycled; one is a bookstore, one is a fancy hotel, two of them are lecture halls, and one is a tourist museum with old church relics. I stayed in the smallest apartment ever with a cool guy named Jonas who studies humanitarian action type stuff.

Jun 4, 2008 - Maastricht

So I had to see another town in the Netherlands, just to see what the rest of the country was like. It would be easy to come and just see Amsterdam, but I think a lot of places get overlooked. So I did some research and decided Maastricht would be the place. It has many nature reserves in close proximity to it, and it was described to me by someone as being an open air museum. And we were NOT disappointed. Maastricht would be my favorite place we have been so far, except it is hard to forget Ronda and Granada. But it was wonderful. We got...