André Rieu

2.5 months ago, I bought tickets for tonight.  Absolutely no regrets!

The day began with housekeeping duties.  I used to go for '100%' but I am more realistic these days -- as long as everything is neat before we leave, that's fine enough.  Hand-washed laundry that could dry while we were away, a clean kitchen so no mess waiting when we return, all the rooms upstairs neat except for my study, no food in the fridge that could rot, furniture in place.

As the concert was scheduled to start at 21.00, we drove at an easy pace and explored Limburg.  We'd packed sandwiches for AW and yoghurt with berries for me, with a tumbler of water to share, as well as a box of fresh cherries.  Everything tastes yummy when on a picnic.  We'd also brought along sleeping clothes and toilet stuff for our overnight in Liége.

By 18.00 we were in Maastricht.  AW parked where it was cheap, then we walked to town towards the city centre where the open-air concert was going to be held.  André Rieu hails from Maastricht and enjoys organizing his concerts in the Vrijthof ('Vright-hof'), which is the main square.  As it was still early, the square was still closed off.  We looked for a place to eat a couple of streets away.  We were back at 19.30, which was when the barriers would be opened, and sure enough we could go in and look for our seats in the B2 section, which was the most central part of the square.  Counting quickly, we estimated that the entire area was prepared for some 12000 fans.  Our seats were at the exact middle of our row, so it was good to get there in plenty of time.  There was no need to get bored as there was enough going on around us.  Needless to say, the restaurants were full, all the way up to the streets, and so were the hotels (but not up to the streets!).  There are even all-in packages but we did not fall into that trap, convenient as such a package might be.

Precisely at 21.00, his famous costumed orchestra marched up the steps and took their seats.  This is the main shot, while it was still fairly light.  Don't be fooled as the music was well and truly going while this shot was made.  Two extras!
Extra 1 = the 'advert' shot, for anyone who hasn't heard of him
Extra 2 = the dancing in the aisles while The Blue Danube was on

It was a fantastic three whole hours of music, show, spectacle, special effects, humour, dancing... and picture-taking.  No selfie-sticks allowed, but many a mobile-phone was up in the air.  I took shots with my normal camera as well.  The main shot is one of those, while the second extra was with the mobile phone.  We'd also been given 'rain ponchos', just in case, as umbrellas weren't allowed either.  The good weather we'd had the whole day continued till the end of the show, however, and we just took the ponchos home.  Part of the price, of course, with a keychain as extra souvenir.  By the time it was over, I was really tired (dancing for about an hour non-stop is something I don't do any more, and AW was 'shy' the whole time... *sigh*), and then we still had to walk back to the patient Teqla waiting in the parking area under the overpass.

What they show on television is what you get, and a live performace is much, much more -- it was a truly fabulous evening!  

Our night drive to Liége will be for the next post.  ;D))