Day 4: Rainy Monday

Hello from a 45-degree Maastricht. What the heck? It was 70 here last week!! Sigh. Nevertheless, today was still a good day. We visited Woonpunt in the morning, a nonprofit organization that is in charge of securing and making available low-income housing. We heard a 2-hour presentation about housing in the Netherlands since the 1800s and how it has changed into what it is today. We learned a couple of fun facts: Back in the 1800s, I believe, new homeowners had their roofs painted blue to show those around them that they were new at being a homeowner. Those with more credit, money, and experience with home ownership got red roofs. And from 1930-1940, housing schools were created. That was basically a small community of homes in a square (all attached homes) and you learned how to keep house (clean, use indoor toilets, etc.). Then after you proved yourself worthy, you'd be able to go out and buy a house. How bout that!

In the afternoon, we went to the office that is in charge of the A2 project. Basically, the A2 is a highway that runs from The Netherlands down through Italy. It is super congested and pollutes the area near it in Maastrict. So the city is building a double-decker tunnel for about 1.2 miles under part of the city. This has been in the plans for 40 years and will take another 10-15 years to finish after it starts in 2012. Hopefully starts in 2012, that is....   So it was interesting.

Heather and I also went over and saw Jane's 750-student school called Bonnefanten College. It's amazing. It's an old monastery that is just huge. And the former chapel/church in the middle is now the library. So students get to sit there with stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings and study. Nice. I love how the city repurposes old structures/churches instead of tearing them down.

Dinner was delicious: Jane made great salmon and we had some wine --- good end to the day! Tomorrow will be some free time in Maastricht --- probably shopping. Tomorrow afternoon is the Sappi Paper Factory tour, and tomorrow night is our first presentation to the Rotary Club Maastrict. Hope it goes well! And hoping for warmer weather, too :-)

Photos:
1 & 2: At the Hotel Kruisheren, the former church that is now a restaurant and hotel.
3. In the parking lot of the A2 project building
4. Jane's school courtyard
5. The library at her school
6. View of the back of the school (library is in the middle)