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Well we have just left Luxembourg and I have to say, it was by far the dodgiest feeling place we have been to. We never stay in the best areas, we always stay in the cheap areas around main train stations, but never before have I felt like every person on the street was about to mug me! Sometimes I felt like I was judging too broadly, but seriously, every time we walked onto our street I got the distinct and uneasy feeling from every person we walked past that they were about to rob us! And I'm positive we witnessed a few sneaky drug deals.
Luckily, a 15 minute walk into the centre of Luxembourg City and the atmosphere was much more welcoming. The city was once a fortified city, and sits high up on a massive rock. The view down into the gully below was beautiful - rolling green parks, small patches of forest and a quiet stream.
The fortified city of Luxembourg was highly sought after in the Middle Ages (it was destroyed and rebuilt 20 times in 400 years!) and we visited a series of tunnels carved into the rock bed that used to be part of the city's fortifications. It was a maze of tunnels and steep staircases heading right down into the rock. Not only was it very interesting, but it provided lovely cool relief from the scorching hot day outside.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in a bar watching Germany thrash Argentina in the football! We have completely forgiven Germany for beating us 4-0 as it is such a beautiful country with the most welcoming people that we have absolutely loved traveling. And of course we also feel much better knowing that they also thrashed a team like Argentina 4-0! What an exciting game it was (who would have ever thought I'd say that about soccer! Europe really is rubbing off on me!!). We will be in the Netherlands to watch their upcoming game, which should also be very exciting. I have all of my fingers crossed for Germany and the Netherlands.
Our next day we went to a small town called Diekirch which was the site of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. You travel at least half the length of the country to get there from Luxembourg City. It took 2 trains and less than 40 minutes. Man, this country is SO small!!
On arriving in Diekirch we stepped off the train to see a man passed out on the ground with a puddle of pink vomit around him. There were lots of people around and I was thinking "oh my god why isn't anyone helping him" (as well as thinking "my god this whole frikkin country is dodgy!"). As it turns out, it was a mannequin, the pink vomit was fake blood and it was a set up of a crime scene! Oops!! Must have been the glare of the bright sun making me think he was real!? Turns out we'd stepped into a police and military parade, with marching band and police everywhere! For the first time since arriving in the country I felt completely safe, what with so many cops everywhere!! We even saw a Lambougini police car!
After the parade we went to the Musee National d'Histoire Militaire, which displayed the history of the Battle of the Bulge. It started as a small local museum set up by volunteers and they have done a great job. It wasn't the fanciest museum, but it was definitely one of the most interesting we have been to. There was so much memorabilia packed in there, and they are still finding more in the area, or locals donate it. A lot of the items in the museum were items that civilians had collected after the war and had in their own homes. The funniest was an American rocket launcher that had been used by a man to replace his broken drain pipe. How resourceful!
After the museum we sampled the beer from the Diekirch brewery, and that was our weekend in Luxembourg.
- comments
Cathi Hi Alli, Luxembourg sounds very dodgy, different from when we were there, maybe our caravan park was in a classy area. just keep safe with those dodgy people!
Sharon Hi Al - lovely to read about all your adventures, and that you are having such a great time. really looking forward to hearing how you celebrate your b'day this weekend!!!! cheers to you and Dan. Sharon
Billy what sort of police parade would have a fake crime scene set up with pink vomit??? You were right to be nervous!