Paul and Julie on the Road

Sunday, September 22, 2019

DAY TRIP TO TRIER, GERMANY July 23, 2018

Only a thirty minute drive from our home in Lenningen we drove to visit the oldest city in Germany, Trier. It's an ancient Roman capital with a stunning Roman Gate entrance. We visited Germany's oldest Christian Church, several market squares and Roman ruins. We arrived early enough in the morning to join a city tour which met at the Tourist Info Center. Trier was founded in 15 BC by Augustus and was Roman occupied for 500 years. According to our guide, for most of the fourth century this city of 80,000 had a four mile long wall, four great gates and 47 round towers. Amazing. Only one of the four gates remains, the Portu Nigra, which was built without mortar, only iron pegs to hold the sandstone blocks together.

The city's St Peter's Cathedral is the oldest in Germany and largest intact Roman structure outside of Rome. Now also a Wold UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986.

We ended the tour and stopped in this little plaza for lunch.

Trier's Market squares

The Palace of the Archbishops

It had been a really hot day with lots of walking, so we decided to save a visit to the Roman Amphitheater and Baths for another visit, another day.

VIANDEN CASTLE & LUX JAZZ July 19-21, 2018

I have to admit I didn't know much about the country of Luxembourg before we arrived for this fun housesitting time, but what a fantastic small country it is! The history is long and varied but having six weeks to travel about was wonderful. We decided to try to visit as many castles as we could. What a fun adventure that became for us.

Our first day's outing was to Castle Vianden, a beautiful fairy book design on the top of a rocky hill over looking the historic village of Vianden. The castle was built between the 11th and 14th centuries becoming the residence of the Counts of Vianden. As Luxembourg came under Dutch rule, the town became less notable and with earthquakes and fires further damage was caused to the castle. By the 1820s the castle was being sold off piece by piece, leaving not much more than a pile of rubble. Then in the 1977 the family of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg transferred it to State ownership. Thereafter it was restored to the beauty we saw the day we visited. Amazing to walk up the hill and through the gate to enjoy a self guided tour.

After the castle it was time for lunch and a visit to the historic town of Vianden. Beautiful in summer floral colors and cooler down along the river side.

Across from the bridge in the old town is a replica Rodin bust of Victor Hugo, the incredible author of Les Miserables. His home there is now a Museum, having lived here for 3 months in 1871 during his 19 year exile from France. Fascinating to walk up several floors where his manuscripts and sketches were on display as well as this room resembling his office.

The Victor Hugo Hotel right across the street, of course.

Getting us about during our six weeks was this cute VW convertible, included with our house sitting. Such a perfect car for us to explore the country with the top down on lovely sunny days.

Always to return home and find Bluebell waiting for his dinner, often on this little bridge in the garden.

Each Saturday there is a Farmer's Market in the city plaza; flowers, produce, cheese, meats, just about anything you could want for supplies.

We were staying in the city that day for the Blues and Jazz Fest held in the Lower Town.

As we wandered around the neighborhood in lower town we came upon this skateboarding area with a competition going on.

The music stages were set all around the neighborhood tucked in next to beautiful historic buildings.

The Church of St John the Baptist with the black Madonna and child.

The festival began late in the evening and stayed going into early morning. We listened to several performances then caught the bus back out to our little village.

I loved the color of this building built right into the stone walls of the upper city..

With so much to do in this beautiful tiny country, we kept ourselves plenty busy.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg July 2019

Using the wonderful bus system from our village east of Luxembourg City, we would often go into the city just to wander, visit a museum or sit in a cafe and do some people watching.

Some of our favorite sights...Casement du Bock, Neumunster, Notre Dame Cathedral, Place de la Constitution,

Statue de la Grande Duchesse Charlotte.

An amazingly beautiful city with a rich culture and history.

And always a fun sign to remind us of which way to go...

Back at home we loved spending time along the Mosel; days were hot and sunny, I don't think we ever had a day of rain, maybe some clouds but no rains.

Taking our new chairs down to the river helped us cool off on some of the really hot afternoons.

Meet Bluebell, waiting for his/her dinner from across the little garden pond

Dinner one evening at the Chinese restaurant in Ehnen, trying the local beer, Battin.

flowers in full bloom

and tractors going about their work in the vineyards...

Finally the weekend of the Wine Festival.
Thinking it began on Saturday morning we walked down to the village but all was quiet; after checking in with Tourist Center we learned the major activities began Sunday morning. Everything began with the blessing of the symbolic keg of wine in church, the band led the procession to the City Hall where the keg was opened and tasted by all there. A fun experience for us to be a part of Sunday morning.