Part two of our citytrip to Maastricht will show you more pictures of the beautiful historic town. Narrow streets, castle, big stone bridge, lovely little shops, good food, lots of trees … what is not to love about Maastricht. Oh, I forgot the friendly people. Of course most tourists only see Amsterdam, which has my big love too, but I could easily live in Maastricht as well. Although I wouldn’t be able to understand them. Their speech is very different from standard Dutch.
Of course they also speak standard Dutch, but amongst themselves they use a strong dialect (people from Maastricht would probably rather call it a different language than a dialect).
We rose early the next morning. Did I mention our appartment was a hop and a skip away from the large, well known square in Maastricht called Vrijthof?
Below: Vrijthof when it is still very early and not buzzing with people.
Early morning, no rain and beautiful backgrounds provide an excellent opportunity for blog photos. We started shooting before my hair collapsed.
Below: Lane with trees on one side of the Vrijthof. Being directed to “my spot” by Ron.
Below: It took us such a long time to get the shot right. Out of focus, lots of people going to work in the picture etc. Watch that black round thing next to me…
Below: Finally the perfect picture and by this time the girl of the ice stand had put up their sign flag…. Darned.
Wearing my kakhi trousers with black side stripe from Max Mara (seen before with a red top here). Green Irie Wash jacket (seen here and here) and my black sneakers from Essentiel. Bag by Furla (seen here). You see, I do wear things more than once. Sometimes even to death.
Below: Did I mention all the lovely terraces in Maastricht? This is one facing the Vrijthof.
Below: We spent some time watching Japanese tourists on a budget, eating McDonald’s food. (A reader commented and think they are Chinese. I apologize.)
Below: Lovely old pub on the Vrijthof.
Below: I always love these old stone signs on the gabels. (Read about the history of gable stones here.)
Below: Turning a corner into the streets full of little shops we saw this quaint window display.
Below: When I saw the skirt on this mannequin I was sold. I always wanted to own a tule skirt.
Below: The shop (Retro & Chic) sells vintage and retro stuff. It was so well styled !! The woman who styled this deserves an award. I was blown away. Suzanne Carillo would be over the moon visiting this shop (there is one in Amsterdam too Suzanne). I made collages of 5 photos but they do not do the shop justice. (Didn’t buy the tule skirt in the end..)
Below: OK, better not… I will look like my granny. Perhaps it could be jazzed up, but I am not even going to try it.
Below: A lovely little street with a man who doesn’t seem to have any stress. Better put on flat shoes in Maastricht: cobble stones.
Below: As I said in my previous post, women in Maastricht are more into elegant dressing than jeans.
Below: We joined them and here I am enjoying a typical regional cake: a “vlaai”. Oh it was good.
Below: Ron was quick in putting some whipped cream on my nose.
Below: Our view from the terrace to the right.
Below: Our view from the terrace to the left. The square is called Onze Lieve Vrouweplein (Our Lady square).
Below: A better photo (not by me) of Onze Lieve Vrouweplein. Get my point about old and historic?
Below: This woman was in my view. Gosh… if I ever come back on earth after I die, can I please come back looking like her?
Below: With this outfit I am showing my bum. Have never done that before. It feels as if I am naked. I want to cover it all the time. It is so tiny. (OK ladies, I can hear you telling me off: “What’s there to complain about?” But we all want to have the perfect butt. Not too big and not too scrawny.)
Below: The sign above this shop (selling coffee, tea, nuts) indicates that they are purveyor to the royal household. We drank their coffee in most of the places in Maastricht.
Below: Ah… my downfall…. The shop Georgette in the Stokstraat.
Affected by all the elegant women in Maastricht, I decided to upgrade my act. No longer just jeans. I needed smart clothes. Georgette was the perfect shop for that and …. …. for going bankrupt. Which is what happened. (Just joking, but let’s say: beauty doesn’t come cheap.)
Below: Trying on clothes….. And no, you are not going to see what I bought. The indoor pictures we took, are too bad. When better photos are taken, you will get to see them.
Below: The owner of the shop is very, very knowledgeable. He has at least 25 years of experience and knows everything about the brands, the fashion, the way the clothes should be worn, the materials. Heaven to have somebody like that helping you. This is a bad picture of him. In reality he is very good looking.
Below: Ron was shooting away. See that giant fly right behind him? That was a brooch. I was very tempted to buy it. Looked lovely.
Ron took very candid photos. But you know me, I am not ashamed to share the less beautiful things.
Below: I won’t show everything though … hahaha.
Below: Oh dear, I only painted two nails of my toes. Nobody can see this as only these two toes are in sight in peeptoe shoes. I was in a hurry and could only do these. And then later I thought: “Oh well, fall is here, no more peeptoe shoes, so who cares?”
Below: Can I leave you with this photo? When you try on clothes which you have to put over your head, like a turtleneck and you are wearing red lipstick, you should cover your lipstick. With a veil, usually available (pun intended) in the better stores. Your hair looks like shxt afterwards, but it prevents staining the clothes.
Are you exhausted after seeing so many photos? Hope not.
Greetje
Not exhausted at all…..enchanted. I think I have sat in every cafe pictured here, over the years. Oh, for an hour or two in this beautiful city. It has been five years but I am still wearing some of the elegant pieces I bought there.
I can imagine. They sell some good stuff in Maastricht. And some of it is hanging in my closet now. I hope you’ll get a chance to come over again. (And that the weather will be cooperative…)
Your bum is great as it is Greetje, I always wanted a smaller bum in my twenties and thirties as I was pear-shaped back then. Now it is smaller, I’d like to have the bum I had back then…go figure. However I wouldn’t want a comedy bum à la Kardashians…ridiculous!
What stunning photos, especially the one of the castle (?) peeping through the trees with the cafe in the foreground. Maastricht looks absolutely delightful, so does the cake…and I’d have been seriously tempted in that vintage shop.
There were lots of temptations in Maastricht. Really lots of them. To which I succumbed. The cake was terrific. And yes, we always want what we don’t have. Like when I had little boobs I wanted bigger ones. Now that I have quite a bosom I want a smaller one. Just no pleasing women. Thank you for your kind words about my bum haha.
I always love your pictures of the Dutch cities. I want to go back; I was there when I was 10 and still remember it. Now 58, thinking of my Dutch ancestry, it only seems right I should go back and sit in one of those cafes… I’m not much of a shopper, I’d just like to walk around and look at old buildings, watch people, eat cake, etc. Thanks so much for sharing all this.
There is plenty of opportunity in The Netherlands for everything you want to do. The weather is a point though. You can never be sure of nice weather. When the sun shines this country is heaven. When it rains.. well, every city is no good when it rains.
Next time we visit the Netherlands I’m inspired by your photos to visit some of the smaller towns, they are really beautiful. So thanks for the tourist information service! I always enjoy reading your stories, you seem very down to earth.
Jules
Yes, I probably am very down to earth. In any case I lead a happy life and laugh a lot. Not bad, right? Thanks for your comment and compliments. We indeed have lots of old towns worth visiting.
I love the yellow jacket and tulle skirt combination. Well played, shop mannequin
It did draw my attention immediately. Perhaps it was because there was so much to see in the shop that I got distracted. But also I wanted a flowier, grey skirt.
Oh Greetje! My mother in law does the same with her nails! What about Ron? Your lawfull photoshopheer and hè hete rewarded with such feet? 😂😂😂 Why didn t you buy that skirt? Why didn t you buy that yellow blouse? Wow! And I was at a concert yesterday and believe me, there are much women, much younger, who would want to have a butt like yours!
My feet are usually pretty neat. It was just this time. And caught out immediately. Fortunately Ron doesn’t look at my feet very often haha. Didn’t buy the skirt because I decided I wanted it in grey and in a little bit different material (have seen that once and it got stuck in my brain). The yellow blouse had too much of a V neck and was too much of a mustard colour, which is bad for me.
Hi Greetje. Wat een gezellige blogpost weer. Alsof ik meegelopen ben in Maastricht en ook een lekker groot stuk vlaai met slagroom op een terrasje heb gegeten. Benieuwd naar je aankopen. Geniet van het mooie nazomerse weer deze week. Lieske
Jij komt in ieder geval niet aan van die viruele vlaai 😉. Overigens kreeg ik een tip van een andere blogster dat je zoveel mogelijk vreemde talen op je blog moet vermijden omdat Google dit als fouten ziet. Dus volgende keer maar weer in het Engels? Is wel raar hè, maar ja.
Hi Greetje. Thanks for the tip! Lieske
Your bum is the envy of many women. I’m glad you’re getting over your fear of letting it shine! I love your going-about-town outfit and actually like that little flag there. But my favourite, like everyone else’s, is the whipped cream on your nose photo. Hahaha! And the last photo. Candid shots are always my favourite, like you said, probably because we want what we don’t have – I lack candid shots.
Thanks for the tour! I always marvel at the beauty of your cities.
You mean you don’t have candid shots?
There are many lovely cities in The Netherlands. And as I once said before, I don’t visit the ugly ones haha.
OMG! Next time I come to visit you guys in Amsterdam you are taking me to that store!
Too funny too since I’ve referenced you in my next post.
You slay me with your two painted toe nails!!! Hahahahahaha!
I love that Ron put whipped cream on your nose. Their cake looks quite different than the other apple cakes I had while in Amsterdam and Haarlem.
As far as butt’s go yours looks damn good lady! Up until recently it was always better to have a smaller tighter butt. I wanted that all through the 70’s 80’s and 90’s. Now it’s all about big everything. I blame that on the Kardashians.
Suzanne
You always want what you don’t have. We are strange creatures in that. But this was another step for me in the direction of acceptance.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could come over again? Oh and the apple cake, yes it was lovely, but not that different from the ones in Amsterdam. As it was midweek, this restaurant didn’t stock many flavours. I like the rice vlaai best.
I absolutely love those cute , sporty pants and you’ve styled them so smartly with the black sneakers and little black jacket. Also, your tush is cute as hell so quit wishing it was more ample!:-):-)
I loved the tour through the shoppes and streets of Maastricht. I always love a good castle in my view.
A tush as cute as hell…. these are words I have longed for all my life haha. Oh and the jacket is green. Might not be that clear to see on some screens.
Greetje,
What can I say, I am in love with the two Toe pedicure ! I love the color blocked trousers and your casual elegance as you walked the streets of this very charming place. I adore the picture with the whipped cream on your nose. Such a fun post. I wish you a wonderful week ahead.
❤️🌸❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
Thanks Elle. Luckily I could show some more of Maastricht in this post.
Great post, I love your honesty Greetje it makes me laugh out loud 😂 travelling to your lovely country this Thursday 😬🚐
My biggest goal with this blog: entertaining people. If you laughed out loud, I have reached my goal. I hope I can continue to make you laugh.
Good morning and thank you for a beautiful, vicarious mini-vacation to Maastricht. I always look forward to your blog. Fun and interesting.
You are welcome to come along on my trips. Vicarious people are no bother at all. 😊😊💋
Fabulous – just loved the whole post 🙂
Oh great. I am always so happy when I read a comment like this. Thank you very much.
You are too funny Greetje, love reading all your cute comments. It’s just so very real and you dare to write what everyone else is thinking!
Have a wonderful week and big hugs!
Yvonne
http://www.funkyforty.com
There is not a lot of daring in my writing Yvonne. At least not to me. This is just who I am, I wouldn’t know how to do it differently. But I am very glad you like it.
I so enjoy being able to virtually accompany you on your mini-vacations! One day I will have to visit the Netherlands; I have only visited England and Paris. I love the shape of that gold blouse, but I couldn’t wear it either.
Your bum is just fine! I have a small one just like you, and am self-conscious of it so I usually wear skirts or dresses, or if I wear pants I wear longer tops over them. Isn’t it hard to find pants that fit well? Still, I think I would rather have a small one than a big one. My favourite photo is the one of you with the whipped cream on your nose.
I am trying to get over my “I have a small bum, so I should hide it”. Like you I wear longer tops. The best fitting trousers are (unfortunately) the more expensive ones like J Brand, 7 for all mankind or Weekend Max Mara. Oops.. these are all jeans.
As for the whipped cream.. amazing how fast Ron can be in putting cream on my nose and taking a piture of it haha.
I’ve read the last three posts and have thoroughly enjoyed this visit! Your country looks so beautiful and I hope to visit one day. I have to say as I read through this post and you say things like “you won’t see everything” and then you show the closed curtain…hilarious! Your butt looks darling but I understand when you think it’s too small. Mine is small in comparison to the rest and sometimes I wished it was more in proportion. Oh well! Can’t wait to read and see the next posts!
What a lovely comment Julia. Thank you so much. I am always so pleased when I read I have succeeded in making people smile or even laugh. I cannot force it. Sometimes there is just no material to use. But I do try. And I will just have to live with this butt. It is the only one I have. 😊
Thank you for the introducing me to Maatricht!
As for the caption about Japanese tourists eating McDonald’s, I’m going to bet they’re Chinese tourists. The give away? Japanese tourists generally dress better than the people in your photo, as in tailored pieces with nice leather shoes (not sneakers!). Japanese tourists almost never travel with small children abroad. Korean tourists dress trendy, more bohemian or street, think Los Angeles. I’ve never seen Korean tourists bring their young children either. Chinese tourists are definitely more laid-back about dress, some will be very polished and stylish, but some will toss on sweats and call it a day. Also, Chinese tourists are willing bring their kids abroad.
At least, those are my observations while traveling extensively. My credentials: I’m an American-born Chinese, lived in Japan during middle school. =)
Maastricht is really lovely. If you ever have the chance to visit, please do.
As for the tourists… I feel very ignorant saying they are Japanese when they are Chinese. Your explanation sounds solid. I will change it on my blog.
I started to research some more and hit on another thing to support your view: Japanese people wouldn’t eat food in the street???
Oh, Greetje! You are the most honest fashion blogger in the whole world! I love your TWO painted toenails. I’ve often thought of doing that myself. 🙂
Loved the photos of you and Susan in Paris that she posted recently on her blog, especially the one(s) of you both laughing like children. No wonder she loves her Paris meetups with you.
Also loved the dressing room photos with your husband taking the pix. No flimflam there — just real people doing what they enjoy. Thank you for your blog!
No Ann, thank YOU. You just made my day with your comment. It is so nice when you write a blog to see that other people enjoy it. In two weeks I will publish a post about Susan and me in Paris, with a little anecdote that you probably will like. I hope you will visit again. My honesty will always be there as that is me. (Having not much shame, helps as well 😂.)
Oh, Greetje! You are the most honest fashion blogger in the whole world! I love your TWO painted toenails. I’ve often thought of doing that myself. 🙂
Loved the photos of you and Susan in Paris that she posted recently on her blog, especially the one(s) of you both laughing like children. No wonder she loves her Paris meetups with you.
Also loved the dressing room photos with your husband taking the pix. No flimflam there — just real people doing what they enjoy. Thank you for your blog!
No Ann, thank YOU. You just made my day with your comment. It is so nice when you write a blog to see that other people enjoy it. In two weeks I will publish a post about Susan and me in Paris, with a little anecdote that you probably will like. I hope you will visit again. My honesty will always be there as that is me. (Having not much shame, helps as well 😂.)
Thank you for the introducing me to Maatricht!
As for the caption about Japanese tourists eating McDonald’s, I’m going to bet they’re Chinese tourists. The give away? Japanese tourists generally dress better than the people in your photo, as in tailored pieces with nice leather shoes (not sneakers!). Japanese tourists almost never travel with small children abroad. Korean tourists dress trendy, more bohemian or street, think Los Angeles. I’ve never seen Korean tourists bring their young children either. Chinese tourists are definitely more laid-back about dress, some will be very polished and stylish, but some will toss on sweats and call it a day. Also, Chinese tourists are willing bring their kids abroad.
At least, those are my observations while traveling extensively. My credentials: I’m an American-born Chinese, lived in Japan during middle school. =)
Maastricht is really lovely. If you ever have the chance to visit, please do.
As for the tourists… I feel very ignorant saying they are Japanese when they are Chinese. Your explanation sounds solid. I will change it on my blog.
I started to research some more and hit on another thing to support your view: Japanese people wouldn’t eat food in the street???
I’ve read the last three posts and have thoroughly enjoyed this visit! Your country looks so beautiful and I hope to visit one day. I have to say as I read through this post and you say things like “you won’t see everything” and then you show the closed curtain…hilarious! Your butt looks darling but I understand when you think it’s too small. Mine is small in comparison to the rest and sometimes I wished it was more in proportion. Oh well! Can’t wait to read and see the next posts!
What a lovely comment Julia. Thank you so much. I am always so pleased when I read I have succeeded in making people smile or even laugh. I cannot force it. Sometimes there is just no material to use. But I do try. And I will just have to live with this butt. It is the only one I have. 😊
Your bum is the envy of many women. I’m glad you’re getting over your fear of letting it shine! I love your going-about-town outfit and actually like that little flag there. But my favourite, like everyone else’s, is the whipped cream on your nose photo. Hahaha! And the last photo. Candid shots are always my favourite, like you said, probably because we want what we don’t have – I lack candid shots.
Thanks for the tour! I always marvel at the beauty of your cities.
You mean you don’t have candid shots?
There are many lovely cities in The Netherlands. And as I once said before, I don’t visit the ugly ones haha.
I so enjoy being able to virtually accompany you on your mini-vacations! One day I will have to visit the Netherlands; I have only visited England and Paris. I love the shape of that gold blouse, but I couldn’t wear it either.
Your bum is just fine! I have a small one just like you, and am self-conscious of it so I usually wear skirts or dresses, or if I wear pants I wear longer tops over them. Isn’t it hard to find pants that fit well? Still, I think I would rather have a small one than a big one. My favourite photo is the one of you with the whipped cream on your nose.
I am trying to get over my “I have a small bum, so I should hide it”. Like you I wear longer tops. The best fitting trousers are (unfortunately) the more expensive ones like J Brand, 7 for all mankind or Weekend Max Mara. Oops.. these are all jeans.
As for the whipped cream.. amazing how fast Ron can be in putting cream on my nose and taking a piture of it haha.
You are too funny Greetje, love reading all your cute comments. It’s just so very real and you dare to write what everyone else is thinking!
Have a wonderful week and big hugs!
Yvonne
http://www.funkyforty.com
There is not a lot of daring in my writing Yvonne. At least not to me. This is just who I am, I wouldn’t know how to do it differently. But I am very glad you like it.
I absolutely love those cute , sporty pants and you’ve styled them so smartly with the black sneakers and little black jacket. Also, your tush is cute as hell so quit wishing it was more ample!:-):-)
I loved the tour through the shoppes and streets of Maastricht. I always love a good castle in my view.
A tush as cute as hell…. these are words I have longed for all my life haha. Oh and the jacket is green. Might not be that clear to see on some screens.
Great post, I love your honesty Greetje it makes me laugh out loud 😂 travelling to your lovely country this Thursday 😬🚐
My biggest goal with this blog: entertaining people. If you laughed out loud, I have reached my goal. I hope I can continue to make you laugh.
Hi Greetje. Wat een gezellige blogpost weer. Alsof ik meegelopen ben in Maastricht en ook een lekker groot stuk vlaai met slagroom op een terrasje heb gegeten. Benieuwd naar je aankopen. Geniet van het mooie nazomerse weer deze week. Lieske
Jij komt in ieder geval niet aan van die viruele vlaai 😉. Overigens kreeg ik een tip van een andere blogster dat je zoveel mogelijk vreemde talen op je blog moet vermijden omdat Google dit als fouten ziet. Dus volgende keer maar weer in het Engels? Is wel raar hè, maar ja.
Hi Greetje. Thanks for the tip! Lieske
Fabulous – just loved the whole post 🙂
Oh great. I am always so happy when I read a comment like this. Thank you very much.
Good morning and thank you for a beautiful, vicarious mini-vacation to Maastricht. I always look forward to your blog. Fun and interesting.
You are welcome to come along on my trips. Vicarious people are no bother at all. 😊😊💋
I always love your pictures of the Dutch cities. I want to go back; I was there when I was 10 and still remember it. Now 58, thinking of my Dutch ancestry, it only seems right I should go back and sit in one of those cafes… I’m not much of a shopper, I’d just like to walk around and look at old buildings, watch people, eat cake, etc. Thanks so much for sharing all this.
There is plenty of opportunity in The Netherlands for everything you want to do. The weather is a point though. You can never be sure of nice weather. When the sun shines this country is heaven. When it rains.. well, every city is no good when it rains.
I love the yellow jacket and tulle skirt combination. Well played, shop mannequin
It did draw my attention immediately. Perhaps it was because there was so much to see in the shop that I got distracted. But also I wanted a flowier, grey skirt.
Your bum is great as it is Greetje, I always wanted a smaller bum in my twenties and thirties as I was pear-shaped back then. Now it is smaller, I’d like to have the bum I had back then…go figure. However I wouldn’t want a comedy bum à la Kardashians…ridiculous!
What stunning photos, especially the one of the castle (?) peeping through the trees with the cafe in the foreground. Maastricht looks absolutely delightful, so does the cake…and I’d have been seriously tempted in that vintage shop.
There were lots of temptations in Maastricht. Really lots of them. To which I succumbed. The cake was terrific. And yes, we always want what we don’t have. Like when I had little boobs I wanted bigger ones. Now that I have quite a bosom I want a smaller one. Just no pleasing women. Thank you for your kind words about my bum haha.
Oh Greetje! My mother in law does the same with her nails! What about Ron? Your lawfull photoshopheer and hè hete rewarded with such feet? 😂😂😂 Why didn t you buy that skirt? Why didn t you buy that yellow blouse? Wow! And I was at a concert yesterday and believe me, there are much women, much younger, who would want to have a butt like yours!
My feet are usually pretty neat. It was just this time. And caught out immediately. Fortunately Ron doesn’t look at my feet very often haha. Didn’t buy the skirt because I decided I wanted it in grey and in a little bit different material (have seen that once and it got stuck in my brain). The yellow blouse had too much of a V neck and was too much of a mustard colour, which is bad for me.
OMG! Next time I come to visit you guys in Amsterdam you are taking me to that store!
Too funny too since I’ve referenced you in my next post.
You slay me with your two painted toe nails!!! Hahahahahaha!
I love that Ron put whipped cream on your nose. Their cake looks quite different than the other apple cakes I had while in Amsterdam and Haarlem.
As far as butt’s go yours looks damn good lady! Up until recently it was always better to have a smaller tighter butt. I wanted that all through the 70’s 80’s and 90’s. Now it’s all about big everything. I blame that on the Kardashians.
Suzanne
You always want what you don’t have. We are strange creatures in that. But this was another step for me in the direction of acceptance.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could come over again? Oh and the apple cake, yes it was lovely, but not that different from the ones in Amsterdam. As it was midweek, this restaurant didn’t stock many flavours. I like the rice vlaai best.
Greetje,
What can I say, I am in love with the two Toe pedicure ! I love the color blocked trousers and your casual elegance as you walked the streets of this very charming place. I adore the picture with the whipped cream on your nose. Such a fun post. I wish you a wonderful week ahead.
❤️🌸❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
Thanks Elle. Luckily I could show some more of Maastricht in this post.
Next time we visit the Netherlands I’m inspired by your photos to visit some of the smaller towns, they are really beautiful. So thanks for the tourist information service! I always enjoy reading your stories, you seem very down to earth.
Jules
Yes, I probably am very down to earth. In any case I lead a happy life and laugh a lot. Not bad, right? Thanks for your comment and compliments. We indeed have lots of old towns worth visiting.
Not exhausted at all…..enchanted. I think I have sat in every cafe pictured here, over the years. Oh, for an hour or two in this beautiful city. It has been five years but I am still wearing some of the elegant pieces I bought there.
I can imagine. They sell some good stuff in Maastricht. And some of it is hanging in my closet now. I hope you’ll get a chance to come over again. (And that the weather will be cooperative…)