Meanwhile, in the east....

Groningen - trip 3, week 1

Obligatory Dutch windmill pic (at Bourtange with Joep)

While Yolanda was touring with her friends, Craig travelled to Groningen to see the sites and meet up with Joep, who worked in Craig's lab (many years ago!). First order of business was driving out to Vesting Bourtange, a 16th century star fortress built to command the road between Groningen (then occupied by the Spanish) and the German states to the east. The Spanish (or anyone else) never took the fort, partly because it was strategically located in the middle of a swamp, making it nigh impossible to invest with a traditional siege. Joep grew up mere minutes away, so he acted as tour guide (and translator) as they toured the earthwork ramparts, the synagogue, the oldest Protestant church in the Netherlands, and the Captain's quarters. Joep then chose the lunch menu of "the most Dutch food" at a café in the pentagonal-shaped town square.

Back in Groningen, they climbed 260 steps up the Martinitoren, the largest building in town, which acts as a bell tower for the attached Martinikerk (which we also toured). Besides the 360° panoramic view from the tower, we were also able to ring one of the actual tower bells (you really need to put your back into it!). The cathedral suffered some damage during "renovations" initiated by the reformation, but it is still a magnificent building.

 Being a university town during the Euros means much revelry, with a beer garden set up across from the Vindicat Atque Polit (sort of a fraternity/sorority) in the market square. Other than on The Simpsons, Craig had never seen a beer tanker truck before (Heineken of course!).