Overland to visit Stalag Luft III.
A day out in Maastricht.
First was to sort out the GPS for the ‘Park & Ride’ location as it is not clear at all in the information provided on the P&R webpage, and we believe is badly signposted from the main road when you get there….
Having got that sorted, we set off and found that ‘Yes’ it is badly signposted to get you to the correct location while the roadworks on the way in are not at all helpful, but we made it!....
20 minutes later and we are in the Markt being dropped off opposite this church….
As we cross the road we see one of the bicycle places where you can leave your bike locked up, as the P&R Bus pulls away on the other side of the road….
In the Markt today there was an Antiques Fair.…
While outside the Town Hall….
Is this ‘Homeride’ event for which a lot of cyclists are turning up….
As we then set off down the streets to find the Tourist Information Office….
OK, there it is in the Cellar of the building directly in front….
Having checked out the locations of a few places we were advised to try a special ‘Pie’ called a ‘Limburgse Vlaai’ so we asked the TOI where we could find a really nice one and after getting directions we set off….
Past this rather large church which was closed….
As we then arrive at the ‘Limburgse Vlaai’ Bakery & Café….
On the left hand side of the Bakery is the Flour Mill, while at the rear of the building is the Water Wheel, that when powered by the water, drives ….
These ‘gears’ inside the Flour Mill, which in turn rotate….
The ‘Millstones’ which are on the upper floor behind the wooden railing….
With the Millers Office next door….
When you then go into the Café you can if you wish put on the Apron & Hat, then go into the Bakery and help the Baker with the pie making, but only on the less difficult tasks!....
After a slice of pie in different varieties and a coffee, it was time to head off to see some of the other places in the city….
Part of the old Town Wall…
The small river that flows around part of the wall….
One of the Town Gates entrance….
‘Helpoort’ built in 1229….
‘Helpoort’ from the inside….
Two front doors one of which was significantly wider than the other….
‘Care for any cigarettes Guv’nor?’….
When you first look at this building you think it is a church?....
With a rather strange door made completely of steel that had gone rusty?....
While inside it is now a Bookshop but still has a nicely decorated ceiling….
Our next place was on the opposite side of the river, so off we go across this ‘split bridge’ as the right side can be opened for larger vessels….
As we see this chap keeping an eye on the river traffic….
While this was the view looking the other way up the river from a tower on the riverbank….
Not sure what this building was used for, but the ground floor was now a restaurant/café….
A ‘special monument’….
With the plaque alongside which was dedicated to ‘The Brave Soldiers of the U.S. 30th Infantry (Old Hickory) as this was the point at which they crossed the river Maas and liberated the city’….
As we then came to the Government Buildings where the Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7th February 1992 by the founders of the EU, little did they know what they were starting and what would happen in 24 years’ time….
Not sure if these ‘Stars’ on the traffic island a bit further along the road represent each of the EU Full Member States but it looks like they will have to remove one now….
Nice to see the ‘School Bus’ taking the Tourists around on ‘Educational Trips’!....
As we took a break and stepped out of the rain which had just started some members of the Vespa Scooter Club went past while interestingly not one of them was wearing a safety helmet!....
Rain now coming down heavier, so it was time to head back to the P&R Bus….
As we then passed a bit further along these two Red Cross Medics who seemed to be going up and down looking for a patient!
After we got back to the P&R Car Park, we set off back to the campsite only to find that 3 roads we were to travel on were closed for roadworks!
The 10 mile 15minute trip turned into over 25 miles and over 1.5 hours by the time we got sorted out on the deviations!
Bad weather forecast again for tomorrow so will have to wait and see what happens!
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