-
Colmar
Wolfberger has a very cosy courtyard, even in the winter, the vines are impressive:
Inbound to Colmar it looks a bit desolate.
But once inside the city centre, it’s really lively with old buildings and young people and quirky x-mas decorations.
Love the details, like the tiny hairs on the plants, or the shape of the felt wales.
Such a cute family that kindly agreed to let me make some pictures of them.
(I have a few more, mail me info@maesland.com and I will share).
Well deserved hot chocolate with Equinoxe cake by Yann.
Back at the road to Eguisheim, desolation kicks in again…
-
Eguisheim
Our favourite go-to place for great value-for-money wines, is Eguisheim. A pittoresque small village very typical to the Alsace. You get winer makers in every other building, and usually people walking in the streets with boxes of wine they’d just tasted and purchased.
We found a very lively city, even more than we’d expected, due to the x-mas market. At Gruss we found their shop laden with folks tasting their wines and we restocked our Casse Noisette, and Argilles Blanche, our all time faves there.
At the x-mas market, we found the stall of Andrée Kouzmine, Créatice de Chapeaux, of the shop Andres K Chapeaux, with a passion for creating exquisite hats. Once I mentioed I was an amateur photographer (since three weeks, cough), she smiled and let me make my pictures, appreciating they were “ah blanc et noir”. Thanks for allowing me to make some pictures of your wonderful world!
Andreas K Chapeaux Wolfberger has a Pinot Gris and a Pinot Noir that have been on oak, both called “La Louve”. We’ve returned here to purchase it, and would invariably have it at dinner with their neighbours who used to have a very culinary menu, yet have steadily been making it more mainstream. The foie gras still is very nice with warm sweet brioche bread.
The X-mas market also explained why we struggled to find a place to lodge. Very smart layout, car’s in the garage underneath, fast charger for the EV at the entrance, little apartments disguised in local Alsace shapes and colours. Simple. clean, private. Our view:
-
Thank you
It’s an impressive local custom to adopt a grave of one of the 9,000 soldiers buried or in the memorial wall at the entrance. There’s a long waiting list, but neither the graves, nor I myself were in a hurry. After a wait, I was humbled to be elected. The American war cemetery is always kept meticulously, in honour of those who died for our freedom.
Thank you.
-
When
Even a feeble ray of sunlight
lights up my day, still cold now dressed more warmly.The warm hues of the beech hedge contrasting with the evergreens:
my very own Indian Summer in tiny scale.As I work from kitchen,
I see my gardener Stefano doing his work keeping it groomed.Leap-froggingly removing old leaves, opening the curtain of old ones,
my mind is opening up, less burdened by my bygone thoughts.(Drawing by me is a few years old; “me, myself and I”)
-
Thoughts
As the seasons turn, the mild harvest days shorten and become clear yet cold. The house feels cold, because it is cold.
I focus on my distractions: feeble steps into Spanish, into photography, into playing the piano. Expecting it would bring me relief, yet I’m no longer blissfully unaware of my incompetence in these areas. I find no comfort yet in learning them, perhaps never will: they confront me with myself…
Spent some time with family, yet the grounding isn’t firm. They all felt somehow like me, not showing how we feel to each other. I’m grasping, while nature is heading for the big
hibernation.
-
At the tattoo parlour
Bless Alan and Lyn – such kind folks. Alan’s really talented and can be found at South Side Tattoo in Valkenburg, a pittoresk place (perhaps too much so) in the South of the Netherlands, close to Maastricht. Find Alan on Facebook here.
Alan Jones 
don’t worry, it’s a fake hand 
Alan’s corner is always tidy 
maesland.com -
Perhaps I’d been working too long
-
Streets of Maastricht
Plein 1992 is a reminder of the European treaty. That treaty is also remembered by the flags in the nearby roundabout.
Silent witness of 11/11 Carnaval’s prep night 
Pittoresque street with tiny neighbourhood store 
Exchange students hanging out on Plein 1992 
Plein 1992 with an exposition 
Remembering the treaty 
Seeing it in a different light 
Just like my Japanees sleeve tattoo 
Pellet burner keeping the terrace warm -
Dirk Maassen
-
Friday with friends
Maesland
Black and white street photography
Maesland 