Luxembourg

At long last, pictures from Luxembourg and our trip over Veteran's Day weekend.

Luxembourg was a good trip.  A good way to spend a 4 day weekend.  That said, I don't see any reason to go back.  The most notable part of Luxembourg is, in the words of our tour guide, "banks banks banks!!"  There is something like 150 banks in this teeny tiny country.  

The main languages of Luxembourg are French, German and Luxembourgish.  They mainly lean toward French.  So, I found myself taken aback by trying to rattle my brain of my absolute lack of knowledge of the French language.  I know only what my dad would say in odd moment and from my friend Joanna, who knows French fairly well, but from whom my knowledge is limited to our fruit French names that we gave ourselves.  (She was, and remain to this day, Banana Cosette. I am Grape Apenine.)  

Anyway, I kept trying to speak Spanish.  Or a Spanish/German mix.  (In case you were wondering, this combination benefits no one.)  Finally, I just started saying "merci" to everyone.  And I got by just fine.  Especially when they started speaking English to me in a fit of what can only be construed as pity.

On our first day, we visited the Luxembourg American Cemetery where five thousand some soldiers are buried from WWII.  Most of them lost their lives in the Battle of the Bulge.  It was an amazing memorial for our fallen soldiers.  Visiting on Veteran's Day was extra special as they had a ceremony at 11 am on 11/11/11.

This is also where General Patton is buried.  He was not killed in action, but died  of complications after a being paralyzed in a motor vehicle accident.

After the Veteran's Day Ceremony, we checked into our hotel, had lunch, and then went on tour of the city.  the first portion of the tour was on the bus, which afforded a great opportunity for a nap,
which was very interesting because I could always understand through the thick accent of the tour guide,
which was very interesting when I could understand the tour guide.

And when I wasn't dozing.  What can I say?  I had a full belly and the bus was warm.

This is the "gold lady" near the old town.  I believe she is  a symbol of peace.

A very pretty cathedral

the altar of this very pretty cathedral.

Gorgeous

I'm a silly American...who is starting to think that every European alleyway  looks like  Diagon Alley from Harry Potter.

that's my baby.  And a statue of a guy on a horse way in the back ground.

The following day we had a boat tour on the Mosul River.  I anticipated sights along the river with a guided tour telling us what it was.  However, it was basically an hour long boat ride.

Swans, posing prettily.  

They are lining up for bread crumbs!  I think they are used to people giving hand outs!

cocoa on the boat!

Like I said, we didn't get any information about the sights along the river.  But we did see plenty of vineyards.

....which was next.

Wine tasting!

I think these pictures would be prettier if not taken in November...but the acres of vineyards along the hillside are still very pretty.

After the boat tour and the wine tasting, we went back to the old town and went shopping.  This is also where I was nearly run over by a marching band.

I didn't know they were going to turn right.

They turned right.  I had to back up....or  I would have been run down.  Again, by a marching band.  It was cool to see though.  :)

This is a theater on the town center.

And well, I just thought the was a cool.   This was on the front of the building pictured above, facing the town square.

And these!  Well these were adorable.  We had them in the hotel, and I loved them so much, I stole 3.  Mixed berry, strawberry, and honey.

And then I found these too!  So cute.  :)

Like I said, all in all, it was a good trip.  I'm glad I got to go.  I bet it's beautiful in the Spring time.