{"id":233,"date":"2015-05-18T06:42:45","date_gmt":"2015-05-18T06:42:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kiwihoods.com\/?p=233"},"modified":"2015-05-18T06:42:45","modified_gmt":"2015-05-18T06:42:45","slug":"on-the-border-in-luxembourg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.kiwihoods.com\/?p=233","title":{"rendered":"On the border in Luxembourg"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday 15th: We took the bus into Luxembourg city.\u00a0 Another couple on the bus told us where we should get off \u2013 the older part of the city.\u00a0 Although the older part isn\u2019t that old as Luxembourg city was bombed to pieces during the war.\u00a0 We wandered around for a bit \u2013 a bit aimlessly actually \u2013 without a real plan of where to go.\u00a0 We did make our way to the edge of the city perimeter where it looks over a valley.\u00a0 There are some very old stone wall parts left that weren\u2019t destroyed in the war.\u00a0 We wanted a coffee and maybe some lunch, but there seemed to be very few cafes anywhere.\u00a0 Scot suggested we go into the Paris Caf\u00e9 which did look a bit posh but we went in regardless.\u00a0 Then sitting there looking at the people around us and then at the menu \u2013 it was indeed a bit posh.\u00a0 A cup of coffee was about the equivalent of about $7.\u00a0 The food was exorbitant and the people all were dressed in what I would call more evening wear.\u00a0 We looked at each other\u00a0and decided we would leave as the trip isn\u2019t about hobnobbing especially at lunch when all we wanted was a coffee and a baguette.\u00a0 It felt a little weird walking out when there were so many people there, but they don\u2019t know us and we found a little place that sold much cheaper coffee and bought a baguette down the road for a good price.\u00a0 We did buy some lovely little taster cakes from this patisserie whose window was so beautiful I had to have something from there\u2026see photo above.<\/p>\n

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)\u2026.although he didn\u2019t know that at the time.\u00a0 We had a beer there before having a look at the local Munster Abbey.\u00a0 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 \u2018Fortitude Valley\u2019 of Luxembourg city which didn\u2019t appear to be a very inviting part of the town.\u00a0 There were strip clubs and trashy clothes joints and some quite undesirable people.\u00a0 We hadn\u2019t realised at the time that it wasn\u2019t the main part of the city at all.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 I guess it\u2019s just another city after all.<\/p>\n

We met some lovely people in the campground and on the bus \u2013 all pommies apart from a couple of their wives \u2013 one from Mauritius and one from Sweden.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Strangely enough Richard had joined an outreach mission that had started in \u2013 of all places \u2013 Wanganui!!\u00a0 Small world indeed.<\/p>\n

Yesterday \u2013 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 \u2013 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).\u00a0 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\u2019t even bike that short distance to the shop and it wasn\u2019t really worth taking the van.\u00a0 It was funny though as we walked to the adventure store we walked past major highways, train bridges, roadworks and a farmers property.\u00a0 We must have looked hilarious trying to walk alongside roads in the grass by motorways in what looked like the middle of nowhere.\u00a0 And a good thing we didn\u2019t take the bikes \u2013 we couldn\u2019t have ridden them anyway!<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 We had a coffee there and made baguettes (again) for lunch.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 This region of Luxembourg is the Moselle wine region where there are vineyards everywhere and the countryside is really lovely. \u00a0We stopped at a Papillion (butterfly) house after lunch.\u00a0 They had approx. 60 different types of butterflies \u2013 just lovely. \u00a0We saw large river barges and huge lunch cruise boats travelling along the very large river.\u00a0 We have stopped for the night in a little place called Wasserhillig (or we think that is what it is called).\u00a0 We spied a camping sign so decided to stop.\u00a0 Strange campsite with mostly fixed little prefabs, where the toilets not only have no paper, but nowhere to put any??\u00a0 I have heard in Greece you put used paper in bins, but in these loos there isn\u2019t any and I get a feeling the signs say you can\u2019t use any.\u00a0 You\u2019d have to hope we\u2019ll be doing snappy toms whilst here then :-). \u00a0Actually inside the loos it is hilarious \u2013 the sign has been translated into English and says \u2018Water ist included in the price, you can push the flushing\u2019. \u00a0Went for our first pushbike ride \u2013 yay finally, but my gears aren\u2019t the best so will have to find a bike shop to have them altered \u2013 I am wondering if we will be able to find one in Netherlands??\u00a0 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.\u00a0 I think he wants to stay here a long time \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Tomorrow off to Diekirch on the way to Vianden where apparently there is an awesome castle we can walk up to see.\u00a0 It is right on the border with Germany.\u00a0 Then up to Clervaux or wherever we decide to stay for the night.\u00a0 Wild camping looks like it might be on for tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Oh and I have to mention the dinner tonight \u2013 another magnificent meal cooked by Scot \u2013 salmon, with asparagus, broccoli, cauli with French cheese sauce with saut\u00e9ed potato and mushrooms.\u00a0 I was so impressed I even helped with the dishes tonight.<\/p>\n

I have to say to those who think I write all the blogs \u2013 we actually write them together which is why you hear about the magnificent meals Scot makes\u2026.haha.<\/p>\n