Half of the Double As

Today was our first of two days in the south of Holland, near both Aachen and Maastricht. As planned, today we would visit Aachen.

My Aachen gallery is now on Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/81692166@N05/sets/72157646185089921/

After our buffet breakfast, courtesy of the hotel, we waited for a thunderstorm to pass before heading out. We were sort of aware that there was a second system moving in, but we went anyway. It was only about a 15-minute drive to the car park, where you can park for free outside the city centre. Rather than getting the bus, we walked into the city centre. Unfortunately a little way in it started to rain, so we hung under a closed storefront for a while while the rain passed through.

Eventually we found ourselves in the city centre, near Aachen's Rathaus (City Hall). Most German cities have one, but this was much bigger and more extravagant than other German cities, even though the city itself is smaller. On the opposite side of the Rathaus, there's a square which is sandwiched between the Rathaus and Aachen's main cathedral.

The lighting was pretty bad for taking photos, and as it started to rain we headed into the cathedral (Aachener Dom). There was a notice outside asking every 1/3 people to donate 1 Euro to raise money to maintain the cathedral. 1 Euro also happened to be the amount you were required to pay before taking photos, for which your camera has a white tape wrapped around it. I counted 1/3 people with a camera, which would pay for the maintenance. I counted 1/10 of said photographers with white tape. Very sad that people are so stingy that they won't even pay 1 Euro.

Anyways, the church was really lovely and here are some of the photos:

Cathedral interior

The weather had deteriorated slightly when we exited, but improved after that, to the extent where it became a beautiful afternoon with blue sky. I immediately took the chance to take new photos of the Rathaus and Cathedral, this time with blue sky as the backdrop:

Blue sky - much better!

There also happened to be a bike race around the cathedral, so we got to watch expensive bikes racing around cobbled streets at 50 clicks. I wondered how many of those bikes would be shot by the end of the race:

Bike race at the Dom

Spectactors were being led across the track at intervals by members of the fire cadets - the fate of 50 speeding riders rested in the hands of 13- and 14-year-old kids. How comforting for them.

Some of my other favourites from today:

Today's other favourites

We eventually headed back to the car, not stopping this time, instead admiring the afternoon sun. After heading back to the hotel, we headed out to a Gasthaus in nearby Germany. The amount of food they served for 10 Euros was absolutely ridiculous - we ended up not even being able to manage a single scrap from the complimentary salad buffet.

See everyone tomorrow, when we will go to the second half of the double As - Maastricht.