Last week Richard had client meetings scheduled in the Dutch province of Limburg at the southern most end of The Netherlands. Being tricky to get to by plane or train, he opted to rent a car and drive from Hamburg, and I was lucky enough to accompany him on the trip. We stayed in a tiny town called Urmond at the surprisingly chic Hotel Van Der Valk, and we thoroughly enjoyed stay and our time in the region.
With very little to do in the town itself and Richard tied up with work meetings during the days, I took the opportunity to catch up on lots of work, launch my blog(!) and enjoy plenty of R&R. The hospitality at the hotel was spectacular. Unlike other hotels I've stayed at in North America, I found the price points for food and beverage to be extremely reasonable without the standard exorbinant hotel price markup. From the European style continental breakfasts to the modern bar and lounge with gorgeous outdoor terrace, I took every opportunity to indulge in all the cappuccino, beer, rosé and cuisine my heart desired.
With all the indulging I allowed myself, I did take the opportunity to go on a run through Urmond's newest (and only) park. The park's paths wove through grassy green fields complete with cows, and started and ended over an uniquely constructed bridge in true Dutch fashion. Despite the cow smell handicap, I made great time on my 5K, and loved the opportunity to be outside enjoying the weather as it was sunny and 80's our whole trip.
After checking out of the hotel, we spent an evening in the medieval German town of Aachen located just 36 kilometers away. Aachen’s town center included a Town Hall dated from 1330, and a cathedral built by Charlemagne in the late eighth century.
We had a lovely dinner at a farm to table style restaurant located in the old town center, complete with what was probably some of the best German food I've had to date. The cobblestone lined streets, gorgeous weather and stunning surrounding architectural views made for the perfect setting for a well deserved date night after a long week of work.
After Aachen, we hit the road once again for yet another stop on our multi-city trip. Antwerp and Brugges, Belgium post to come next, but for now, tschüss!
xo
Shea