A Weekend in the Gibraltar of the North

Maurenn and I at some of the fortifications...
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We took the train to old Luxembourg City for St. Patrick's Day weekend.  We stayed at the hostel there trying to save a little on lodging because we spent a little more on dining usually when we travel.  We visited the old ruins of the city which were just up the hill from the hostel.  It was impressive to see the remaining fortifications as 90% of the fortifications were removed after Luxembourg was granted its automony in 1867.  So on the first day we spent most of the time walking the old city and seeing all the cool sights as the old town itself isa n UNISCO Wolrd Heritage Site.

a very sombre place, but totally worth the trip
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On Saturaday we took a bus trip to the U.S. Military Cemetary at Hamm out side town.   There are more than 5000 US war dead from the Battle of the Ardennes (the Battle of the Bulge) and the liberation of Luxembourg.  The most famous grave at the cemetary is of General Geroge Patton Jr.   Anyone who know what a WWII nut I am would know that this was an awesome experience for me and something that I have always wanted to see.

On Saturday night we went to a St. Patrick Day festival in the city center with live music and lots and lots of beer

The St. Pattys Day festival
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On Saturday night we went to a St. Patrick Day festival in the city center with live music and lots and lots of beer.  It was a very festive and we had a great time.  The people were freindly once you talk to them and we had a wonderful visit to Luxembourg.  The trip home was a little long and the train track were down for maint. for part of th trip to tha train ride became a bus ride and it was raining and we had long waits for buses on the way home.  They run less frequently on Sundays.  Our trip home was almost 7 hours vs. the 4 hours to get there...but over all a great trip.