Maastricht Villages or Country Side....

Canola field on country side of Maastricht, Netherlands

I am belong from a small village of Balochistan province of Pakistan named 'Jahan'. I spend my first few years in the village, but later my parents migrate from village to a city named Khuzdar to enrolled us in a school. After completion of my education, my first was in a organization, which working in the rural areas of Balochistan Province. That why, I 've a strong connection with villages or rural life. During my studies in Netherlands, I was excited to visit the countryside or villages to meet with people and know about their daily life. In Europe villages are known as county side.

Thanks for Google Map, which help to know about the geographical overview of the Maastricht city in few minutes. After spending a hour in planning, I decided to visit the 'Cadier en Keer'. A small village of Netherlands, located 4 km on the east side Maastricht, having population of almost 4000 inhabitants. 

I don't know about it,
"Heer" on the road side.

After taking my lunch, I wear my jodding shoes, jacket and leave for the trip. In a couple of minutes, I was on a bridge located on Joseph Bechlaan road. At the end of the road, I take right side of the road and walk about a 200 meters on Kruisstraat 'street' to reach a roundabout. Then, a walk straight on Veldstraat till to reach my destination. As, I travelling toward Cadier en Keer, I feel that life becoming quite. The numbers of people walk on the streets and vehicles becoming less. I a few moments, I forget everything and just thinking about the design and courtyard of the houses. On the way, i saw resturant have lot's of old people taking coffee/tea and chit chat with each other. I think, may it was a old age house. I listen lot's about old age house, that in Europe children take their parents in old age houses. I think let visit it and talk with these people. Later, I change my mind, "I thought that, the administration will not allow me without appointment or permission.

Vegetable Garden on ride side of the road

After walking nine hundred meter straight, the residential area was ended and dirt road start. On my right side, there are five or six vegetable gardens. Each garden is cover with thorn wire and a small gate for entrance. The style of plantation of vegetable was totally different as compare to growing vegetable in my country. In my country irrigation of plant's is main challenge, but in Europe due to lot's of rain, the farmers are not worried too much for water. The owner of each garden cultivate several type of vegetable in it. I stop few minute to look each garden and try to identify these plant's, but i fail to recognize all of them. Some are quite new for me. 

Suddenly, the weather completely change and sun disappear in the club. But, I continue my journey. I observe that whole area is divide into small plots (land) and each part is cover with wires. Some of them having sheep and horses. 

I belong from hilly region, you see rocky mountains everywhere. That why, view of green lands on my surround was a nice experience for me. Beside, the rough dirt road, they whole area was green. The yellow flowers of soybean, make it so beautiful. The colours and weather was so romantic, i believe a best place for to walk with some, whom you love. On the end, of the soya field's, a young couple were sitting on a bench and a bike standing in front of them. The face impression were marvellous and they busy in their chit chat's. They say, "Hi" to me, and busy in their conversation.

Cave closed with concrete and small door.

I continue my walk on the dirt road, and now the road is cover by the trees on both side. The view of the road look like a gorge. I walking 300 - 400 meters on the road, the road become wide and have a open area. Three girls, with their bicycle playing in the open area. On the next to the open area, there was a cave. I want to visit the cave, but the cave was closed with concrete blocks, and the door was locked, "so sad.....!".

Inside view of the cave.

For a while, I think for it; maybe in past someone have used it, but, "I don't find any clue.

Chapel of the Opveld convent at Heer, Maastricht

Leaving behind the cave, I continue my walk toward 'Cadier en Keer', now the dirt road goes upward side, which cause to decrease my walking speed. In a few minutes, I was on the top the hill, now you can see the whole area clearly and there were no tree's. Just, open fields, on the right side there was a garden of apple trees; 'full of apples and cover a wired.' A boy, next to a old model tracker is collecting apples in a basket. After walk, another 700 - 800 meters straight, I finally read at 'Cadier en Keer'. The road and surrounding of the houses were clean and nice. Take a round of the town and decide to go back.

Apple Garden in Maastricht

Old age housing scheme in Maastricht

On the way back, I see that same girls play in the open area, are now standing near apple garden and one girl is trying to enter in it. After entering, the apple garden, she pick some apple from trees and then, all of them run on their bicycle.
I shocked, then thought that, "human nature can't change, if you are in Europe, in Asia or somewhere else"