Life: Idiotropic

Another photoless blog here. So, I was really excited about getting a new fancy camera... and I love it, but one unforeseen drawback is that it doesn't fit neatly in my purse, and I've yet to form the habit of automatically grabbing both the purse and camera bag each time I leave the house even though they sit next to each other. But, Kirk liked the little town we visited yesterday and I didn't get enough time to see everything that I wanted to see, so we'll be back, with camera in hand.

Meerrsen is in the hill country of South Limburg only 30 minutes from our house. It's beautiful to get to as it rests on a high plateu with valleys on either side. The town itself was settled long before the Christian era, but there wasn't any evidence to that effect that we could see. It's claim to fame now is its basilika.

Since most of these towns are built with the big church in the center by the markt, driving to the center of town is quite easy. You simply follow the steeple. We were pleasantly surprised when we parked our car to see a sign for a synagogue. Until yesterday, I hadn't seen a synagogue yet in Europe. It was closed with the gate leading to it locked up, but we could still see the beautiful dome and the large entrance door with names crafted onto it.

From there we walked to the markt to see the Basiliek van het Allerheiligste Sacrament. Like all the churches we've seen, this one is intricately detailed and beautiful. The flying butresses show off it's gothic roots and the steeple with two tiers of bells played beautiful music several times while we were in the area. The inside was special. It had beautiful windows like all the others and ornate alters hundreds of years old, but there was something about it. Every little detail was perfect. Without photos, it is near impossible to describe. The teoteca (1500) was amazing. I've never seen anything like it. I think it's the podium from where the sermons are given. This one, had stairs leading to a round platform midway through it's structure. All around were extremely detailed carvings depicting different Bibilical scenes. It was 9 levels tall -nine tiers of carvings with the platform in the middle. Amazing. In the front were candles and three small alcoves in the back had candles to light and benches to pray. A couple knelt in one together. I held Elise and lit one in the other alcove and we shared a quiet moment. By the door was a large stone bowl of water on a stand. The women behind me touched the water and put it to her forehead as we were walking out.

From there we walked around the church, then through a beautifully landscaped garden park behind it with an old stone bridge. Tiara and Kirk ran to the top of the bridge to wait for the rest of us slow people. Then I saw the playground. All I had to do it point and it was like clockwork. Four little heads turned to look, four little voices yelled "park," Tiara asked "can we go," then eight little feet took off running as I nodded yes. They swang and played for a while. Arianna said that she's ready for kindergarted now because she can pump her legs and swing all by herself. Luci did a good job of pumping her legs too.

When that got old we finished up our walk through the park stopping to watch the ducks. When we got back to the square, we found an ice cream place right across from the basilika and had some ice cream before we went home. The ice cream place also had all sorts of little foods... satay rolls, suorma rolls, kip on a stick, satays, luompia, and more. I didn't want ice cream, so I ordered a satay roll and a loumpia. Both were deep fried and too greasy for me though the flavor was good. Tiara and Arianna ended up eating the majority of both.

Driving back I realized how close so many things are and began to plan my next trip there - may be one without the kids so I can see more in a shorter time. There are a lot of little places to stop along the way that would be nice to see.