Here I am, stamping my feet, blowing in my hands, trying to shake off the cold, to no avail. The early morning frost shimmers across the grassy fields as an endless, greyish mass of clouds rolls on by. I’m in the middle of my daily walk around the Maasplassen lakes. You know, that walk you’re supposed to take for your mental and physical well-being. Well, being completely honest here… it didn’t help. I’m just very cold now.
Winter is honestly a lovely time of the year, but would it be so terrible if it only lasted two weeks instead? A little bit of cold is fine. Flushed cheeks, a mug of hot chocolate clasped between your frigid hands, waking up all cozy in a snug bed on a cold morning… all that is nice to experience, but not for three whole months! Give me my T-shirt, swimming trunks, and flip-flops. Give me a cold beer on a warm beach and a short walk on a long summer evening. I can’t wait to see that blazing yellow globe high up in the pristine, blue summer sky while draping myself across a lazy deck chair.
I could daydream about summer in Limburg all day. What would you do if you were granted one sunny summer’s day? Where would you go? What do you miss most? Are you someone who wants to indulge in as many activities as possible, or would you rather enjoy the sun in peace somewhere?
This is what I would do:
First and foremost, I sleep in. My internal alarm clock will stay dormant till the sun has climbed high into the Limburg sky before I even consider setting foot out of bed. Then, I turn on the oven (for some fresh bread rolls) and the coffee machine before jumping into a refreshing shower. Feeling fresh and invigorated, I fry an egg, pour myself a glass of orange juice, walk out toward the patio of my Premium Island villa, and set the table for breakfast. There, in the warm shade of the covered terrace, I take my time to enjoy a lovely morning meal. I finish off with a peanut butter & hot sauce sandwich (anyone else who secretly loves this combo?) to turn up the heat for the long summer day that is to come. Afterward, I leave the dishes for what they are and stretch out on the grass for a bit. Waking up has been tough, so a little rest is absolutely acceptable.
After having hoisted myself in swim trunks, I apply a thick layer of sunscreen on my face and body. Sunblock is an absolute must if you want to go SUP boarding, and I most certainly will be going SUP’ing. I am fully on board with this new summer sport! Casually standing on a board, watching the sunny landscape slowly pass by? Count me in! I grab my flip-flops and saunter toward MRT Beach via the Blue Bridge before knocking on the doors of SUP Bike Tours. They fix me up with a SUP board, and before I can say “Limburgse Maasplassen”, I find myself peacefully floating around on the lush lakes. I slowly paddle toward the shore where I nonchalantly stare at the wild horses and Galloway cows, who regard me with wide eyes, wondering who this alien creature floating in the water is. A sensation of untarnished tranquility washes over me. I paddle a little further until I can see my own Premium Island Villa, before deciding it is time to head on back. I turn around and make for the beach, where I take one final dive in the water.
Believe it or not, it’s time to relax once again, but that’s honestly nothing to feel guilty about during your summer holiday in Limburg. Time to rent a lazy sunbed that I will slowly melt away in for the next few hours. Just before getting settled with the intention to never get back up, I order a refreshing drink and a handmade pastry from beach bar Naut. There we go. Sunglasses? Check. Favorite book? Check. Comfortable and relaxed? Check and check! Occasionally, I stumble out of my sunbed and head on over for a refreshing dive in the water, before reclining back into a state of sunny slumber once again. I can keep this up for hours. In the distance, children are building sandcastles and some students have taken to a game of volleyball. Slowly, my eyelids grow heavy as I let my book slip out of my hands. Time for a little nap.
Alright, enough with the outdoor relaxation. Let’s relax indoors instead! I stroll back across the Blue Bridge and take a moment to appreciate the view before heading toward the MRT Pool. To wake myself up, the first thing I do is zip down the spiraling slide. I might be an adult, but if I see a long slide, there is no way I’m not going down it at least once. I spread my towel across one of the deck chairs and head on over to the whirlpool. I stretch out, close my eyes, and listen to the bubbling water around me. I’m about to doze off again, but then, I suddenly jump up. Why am I lying in this whirlpool if I have a perfectly good hot tub in my own Premium Island Villa?
With all haste, I dry myself and enthusiastically skitter toward my lakeside villa. Even though the sun is blazing right up ahead, I’m looking for a little more heat. Once I get home, I put a bottle of Coke on ice before stepping into my very own sauna. I am welcomed by a wall of heat and need to take a few deep breaths of heavy, eucalyptus-filled air to acclimatize, but from there on out, I can fully unwind. Every 15 minutes, when the heat gets too intense, I leave my sweltering shelter and sit out on the terrace with an ice-cold Cola and cool towel draped over my shoulders. After having repeated this ritual a few times, I exchange the sauna for my hot tub. I surrender to the warm, bubbly embrace and simmer till my hands look like raisins.
To finish off this extremely stressful day, I decide to go out for a bite at Humphrey’s Thorn restaurant. I find a seat at one of the charming terrace tables and order a cold, Belgian blond beer, and since that beach body is not going to happen anyway, I might as well have the Burgundian snack platter! There I am, looking out across the Maasplassen while the summer sun collides with the treetops in a brilliant explosion of red, orange, and yellow. The water heaves up and down softly, shimmering in the evening glow like a shattered disco ball, while the boats of MRT Harbor float side-by-side peacefully. I order an extensive three-course menu with seasonal flavors, along with a delicious-
My dream is shattered as I realize I stepped into a puddle of icy cold water. A chilly drizzle now blankets the ashy countryside, drenching my winter jacket and scarf. I feel the cold clinging to my bones and force myself to jump up and down a few times to get the blood down to my freezing, wet toes. Ugh, winter! Time to head back home. I turn around and start walking, but every once in a while, I close my eyes for just a moment, teleporting myself back to that warm, sunny day at Parc Maasresidence Thorn. With my head tucked into my collar and my hands buried deep in my pockets, I steam and dream on.
Do you dream about summer as much as I do? Forget the cold for a while and start booking for the summer holidays! Take advantage of our early bird offers in sunny apartments and villas on the Maasplassen lakes.
