So much more to see..

Friday 25/05/2012- still exploring Luxembourg City - We all caught the bus back to town this morning, Bill and I to explore some more and Marg and Peter to sort out their phone.  We left each other at the station and so began another amazing day of sightseeing.  This time we were following a route advised by Peter in the the Grund which is an area at the base of the towering fortifications. 

 Walking through the area we had admired from above was a real experience as we took a stroll through the grounds of the former Neumunster Abbey, saw the shrine to our lady and walked back over and around the 16th century fortifications that we had been roaming beneath yesterday.  Finally all walked out we found shortcut to the top, an elevator taking you up and depositing you in the middle of a square where all the justice departments  are.  Very modern compared to where we had come from.

Across the road we found the statue of the gold lady standing high above Luxembourg.  This is the 'Gelle Fra' memorial, set up in 1923 to commemorate the Luxembourgers who had perished in the first world war.  Today it symbolizes freedom and resistance for all the people of Luxembourg.  We explored some more of the city streets and squares before finding a busy square full of cafes and it was here we stopped for a bite to eat and a much needed Cafe Latte.

After lunch we boarded a little green train which takes you on a historical tour of the area we had walked through this morning. It is a fabulous little tour and the commentary is in the form of a story from the beginning of Luxembourg's history.  A novel way to see the old town.  After we got off the train we decided that we were all toured out and so caught the bus back to Remich. 

Travelling home by a different route we saw some new villages and farmland along the way. As we drove along the river in Remich we saw Marg and Peter riding along on the cycle path so once off the bus we decided that we would continue our tour of Remich before we went back to Matilda.  Armed with a local map we followed the numbers and enjoyed our walk around this lovely little town. 

 We walked through a little tunnel, almost too small for Bill to stand tall in, a tiny street called Dogs Ass St where only one person at a time can fit up or down this dark alley.  From there we followed a network of tiny streets where people still live today and came out to Rue Neuve which was the widest street in Remich many years ago. Now only one car could fit at a time. 

We found the statue of Bacchus, the Roman god most readily appreciated by lovers of good wine, and about then decided it time to walk across the bridge into Germany and have a look at the caravan park we had been watching fill up for the last two days.  We did this and found a park not too dissimilar to those we have here in Australia and as this was a long weekend in Luxembourg the place was filling fast.  

Feeling very weary now after another big day we walked back to Luxembourg and Matilda just in time for aperitifs with Marg and Peter.  Perfect timing really and a great end to another wonderful day.  I think we are all ready for a quiet day tomorrow.


until then....