TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

Two weekends ago Blondine and I were in Valkenburg visiting the Fluweelengrot Christmas Market and it seemed like everyone had the same idea including our German neighbours. A stream of traffic to the city centre received us and because this is the Netherlands, there was no available parking in sight, unlike in Germany where it is as simple as drive, park, pay and go. The Netherlands is helaas NOT a car country, you get punished here for having one. But that didn’t distract us a bit because I am a lucky gal when it comes to parking. After a few rounds in the parking lot, we found a spot, along with the leaving occupant giving us his parking ticket that is still valid for another 4 hours. Grand. I am indeed lucky. Valkenburg aan de Geul in December is a lovely and gezellig place, the Christmas lights and beautifications give it the ‘it’, the punch, the vigour that any city would want. Like a flower that blooms all year round and only gets prettier at the end of the year. Heated outdoor...

Another Christmas Market I went to is the ‘Fluweelengrot (Velvet Cave) Kerstmarkt’ in Valkenburg, located in the south of the Netherlands in Limburg province. The ‘Fluweelengrot Christmas Market’ is the only Christmas market in the world held inside a cave. Quite unique, huh? Indeed. I have heard about this intriguing cave spectacle a long time ago and promised myself a gazillion times to trek down south during December. You see I always end up going east, to Germany instead. This is the chapel inside the Fluweelengrot (Velvet Cave). During the many wars that transpired in European history, both the public and soldiers took shelter in the caves. In the latest war, the World War II, the American troops took cover here as well and many of them inscribed their names on the cave walls. The opportunity came when Blondine and I went to Aachen, Germany last weekend which is located very near the border of the Netherlands and Belgium. When I checked Google Maps, it showed a mere 10+ kilometers...

For those who are not on a diet... Bittergarnituur is a typically Dutch snack. It is a mix of Dutch and Asian deep-fried specialties, from lumpia to chicken chunks to bitterballen, and usually served pre dinner while having (alcoholic) drinks. We were not really hungry so we settled for this unhealthy fried treat. Sometimes you have got to give in. And some Portuguese red port (the biggest port glass I have seen so far) to go with it in Restaurant Bombarino located in the centrum of Valkenburg aan de Geul in the south of the Netherlands, Limburg province. Port is 5 stars but the bittergarnituur is 3 stars out of 5. Blondine complained though that she got sick and threw up upon arriving home. Ayayay, who would have been the culprit? Other than the bittergarnituur that we last ate... uhm, okay. It was a cozy, artistic and elegant restaurant by the way. Travel Period: December 2010 DestinaitonL Valkenburg (Limburg), Netherlands Keep in touch and follow me on Face...