The business to have in tough times

The signs of a worsening economy are everywhere along the retail streets of Maastricht.  Post-christmas sales (Korting 30%) have now given way to much deeper clearance sales.

 

Still, times are flush and waiting lines of patrons stretch out into the cold winter streets at the Wafel shops across the town.

These are small storefronts that cook Belgian Waffles, adding with powdered sugar, fruit preserves, or chocolate and handing them out in white butcher paper. They cost about a euro for a big warm rectangle, and are the best thing going when I’m out to return a movie or pick up a few sundries before heading, with everyone else, back across the stone bridge late in the evening.