Our cat sit in Luxembourg was great for getting to explore the area, and with the free transit we keep raving about, we did explore. But, our big fluffy charge, the Maine Coon Cat, kept us on our toes.
She was allowed out on the balcony and roofline.She would do a circuit and return by the window on the other side.With scaffolding around the building however, she figured out how to get down to the ground.
Our hosts got messages from the neighbors alerting them to her escape via the scaffolding. After we tempted her back with treats and carried her in, we kept the doors and windows closed or cracked. There was a bit of hot spell so the house was stuffy and warm as a result. And yes, she managed to get out again, and yes, it was a kerfuffle, but we had some great hikes, fun side trips into Luxembourg City, and enjoyed cooking and watching a big screen tv.
The view from the Luxembourg City History Museum.A wedding dress made from the silk of an American parachute.Their 1945 wedding portrait. The human spirit endures. Imagine what trying times those were to embrace the future and go forward. Bravely.Statue of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964.Luxembourg coat of arms.
Luxembourg City is an interesting place. The country and city are very wealthy, with the highest per capita GDP in the world. Its population of 681k people makes it the least populated country in Europe, and half of its population is foreign born. It reminded us both of Geneva, another capital of wealth and finance, with a similar feel to us of tidy, and calm, but not much in the way of organic city life with messiness and bustle. Pleasant, beautiful in places, easy to get around with free transit, but missing a sense of culture. Or, with a culture that is difficult for the visitor to find and appreciate.
Hike day! A short bus ride to Mersch and a quick stop to admire the dragon fountain, emblem of the town. And up into the hills on the well marked hiking and mountain biking trails.The sandstone rock formations were fantastic.Confused legs, what’s with the hiking – we usually just bike.OK legs, have a rest.The next day it was a train trip to the town of Wiltz.We had lunch and a wander around town.I love the old hanging signs. And a beautiful clock.Old and new hanging sign.The history museum had a big section on beer and breweries.And then back to our kitty cat on the (all together now) Free Train!Our bikes were feeling left out so we went out for a spin and a grocery store run.And to admire the catapult, or trebuchet, at Pettingen Castle.Carved detail of a dragon.The climbs in Luxembourg are not huge, but long sustained climbs with rewarding views. Oh, and sometimes very steep too.On our last day we took the bus back into Luxembourg City to have another look around.It was a quiet Sunday morning.It’s a beautiful old town.The Alzette River makes a horseshoe bend through the city.Is that a funicular? Is it free?Yes and yes. The Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg Funicular.Our cat sit was over and it was back on the bikes to ride out of Luxembourg and on to Germany which would be our fifth country of this bike tour.The cows of Luxembourg will miss us, I’m sure.This was the field where we stopped to watch and listen to skylarks. And we got a fantastic lunch spot. We call these BarcaLoungers.The signposts with so many routes!The Betzder Panorama Tour Shortcut!That’s Germany over there.We’re about to drop down to the Mosel (or Moselle) River, I have my downhill smile on!The Moselle River is the border between Luxembourg and Germany here.Right before we leave Luxembourg there is a bike repair station. Is it to prove to arriving Germans that Luxembourg is welcoming to cyclists? Or to wish you good luck on your time in Germany? Whatever the intent, very nice.A sad border shot. There was a constant flow of cars so no car free photo. Vineyards along the Moselle.The happy Travelers at the confluence of the Mosell and the Saar Rivers. Not the most dramatic confluence.
As it always goes on these long bike tours, we were both getting a bit burnt out. The cat sit was not as comfortable as we had hoped, but we did get to rest and recharge. But I was happy to bid farewell to that huge mess of fluff and attitude. We hoped a change of county would help, Germany and beer gardens? Will that put a pep back in our pedals?
After decades of living and working in wonderful San Francisco we gave it all up to travel the world. Not owning a car allowed us to save money and live hyper-locally. Now we’re living around the globe. Follow along to see where we are and what cats I manage to pet.
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Less Car, More Life 