On the border in Luxembourg

Friday 15th: We took the bus into Luxembourg city.  Another couple on the bus told us where we should get off – the older part of the city.  Although the older part isn’t that old as Luxembourg city was bombed to pieces during the war.  We wandered around for a bit – a bit aimlessly actually – without a real plan of where to go.  We did make our way to the edge of the city perimeter where it looks over a valley.  There are some very old stone wall parts left that weren’t destroyed in the war.  We wanted a coffee and maybe some lunch, but there seemed to be very few cafes anywhere.  Scot suggested we go into the Paris Café which did look a bit posh but we went in regardless.  Then sitting there looking at the people around us and then at the menu – it was indeed a bit posh.  A cup of coffee was about the equivalent of about $7.  The food was exorbitant and the people all were dressed in what I would call more evening wear.  We looked at each other and decided we would leave as the trip isn’t about hobnobbing especially at lunch when all we wanted was a coffee and a baguette.  It felt a little weird walking out when there were so many people there, but they don’t know us and we found a little place that sold much cheaper coffee and bought a baguette down the road for a good price.  We did buy some lovely little taster cakes from this patisserie whose window was so beautiful I had to have something from there…see photo above.

We walked along the top looking down at the valley and then walked down towards the river as Scot had spied a pub which turned out to be named after him (see the photo)….although he didn’t know that at the time.  We had a beer there before having a look at the local Munster Abbey.  We walked up out of the valley into what we thought was the modern part of the city but it turned out to be the ‘Fortitude Valley’ of Luxembourg city which didn’t appear to be a very inviting part of the town.  There were strip clubs and trashy clothes joints and some quite undesirable people.  We hadn’t realised at the time that it wasn’t the main part of the city at all.  We decided to catch a bus back to the camping ground, but got on the bus going away from the campsite (eventually it did go in the right direction) so it took about 1.5 hours to get back when it should have taken about half an hour.  I was left feeling quite disappointed with Luxembourg city itself, as it was not quite what I had expected after seeing the surrounding countryside which is immaculately kept and quite lovely.  I guess it’s just another city after all.

We met some lovely people in the campground and on the bus – all pommies apart from a couple of their wives – one from Mauritius and one from Sweden.  We hope to catch up with the lovely couple who live in Doncaster once we return to England and who gave us information about places to go in Sweden.  Strangely enough Richard had joined an outreach mission that had started in – of all places – Wanganui!!  Small world indeed.

Yesterday – we really needed to do some van maintenance and checks (making sure all screws inside the van were screwed in and tight etc) plus washing so it was a day we stayed in the camp – but that was after a 10-12km walk to buy a pump for the bikes (Di it would have been better if you had lent us your pump).  My tires had been completely let down by a rogue pump a fellow camper lent us to try to pump them up so we couldn’t even bike that short distance to the shop and it wasn’t really worth taking the van.  It was funny though as we walked to the adventure store we walked past major highways, train bridges, roadworks and a farmers property.  We must have looked hilarious trying to walk alongside roads in the grass by motorways in what looked like the middle of nowhere.  And a good thing we didn’t take the bikes – we couldn’t have ridden them anyway!

Today we drove down to Schengen (the very bottom of Luxembourg) where the famous Schengen agreement was drawn up in 1985, that as Kiwis (well Kiwaussies) we are very grateful as it allows us 3 months in each and every European country.  We had a coffee there and made baguettes (again) for lunch.  Every road we have travelled on going north from Schengen towards Netherlands has the Moselle river running alongside it and on the other side of the river is Germany.  This region of Luxembourg is the Moselle wine region where there are vineyards everywhere and the countryside is really lovely.  We stopped at a Papillion (butterfly) house after lunch.  They had approx. 60 different types of butterflies – just lovely.  We saw large river barges and huge lunch cruise boats travelling along the very large river.  We have stopped for the night in a little place called Wasserhillig (or we think that is what it is called).  We spied a camping sign so decided to stop.  Strange campsite with mostly fixed little prefabs, where the toilets not only have no paper, but nowhere to put any??  I have heard in Greece you put used paper in bins, but in these loos there isn’t any and I get a feeling the signs say you can’t use any.  You’d have to hope we’ll be doing snappy toms whilst here then :-).  Actually inside the loos it is hilarious – the sign has been translated into English and says ‘Water ist included in the price, you can push the flushing’.  Went for our first pushbike ride – yay finally, but my gears aren’t the best so will have to find a bike shop to have them altered – I am wondering if we will be able to find one in Netherlands??  On the way to the camp we stopped at a supermarket and Scot bought 500ml cans of German beer for 0.39 Eurocents each ($0.60 Aus), a six pack for 1.99 euros and Cans of Cherry beer for 0.79 eurocents each.  I think he wants to stay here a long time 🙂

Tomorrow off to Diekirch on the way to Vianden where apparently there is an awesome castle we can walk up to see.  It is right on the border with Germany.  Then up to Clervaux or wherever we decide to stay for the night.  Wild camping looks like it might be on for tomorrow.

Oh and I have to mention the dinner tonight – another magnificent meal cooked by Scot – salmon, with asparagus, broccoli, cauli with French cheese sauce with sautéed potato and mushrooms.  I was so impressed I even helped with the dishes tonight.

I have to say to those who think I write all the blogs – we actually write them together which is why you hear about the magnificent meals Scot makes….haha.