summer hiking holidays, how i love thee
Viewing the Grund, Luxembourg
Echternach
Route B
If you are planning a holiday to Luxembourg, don't tell a soul because people might think you are a lousy traveller. They say there's not much to see, flat land throughout so no chance of going hiking, and it should be the last country on your list to conqueor Europe. A senior person said that the best thing about Lux is the train heading to Trier, Germany. Hehe. I wouldn't disagree with that, but the affluent, little country is still worth a visit, once. Luxembourg City is very clean and compact, everywhere is within walking distance. You can take the little train up and down the valleys and fall asleep listening to the audio guide. Go and get lost in the casemates, a Roman fortification in the past and now a UNESCO world heritage site. There's lots of winding staircases, dark holes and pathways, so be sure to find your way out before 17.00! Unfortunately, the restaurant my local friend K recommended wasn't open (they are mostly away in August), so we had Luxembourg stew (pork with beans) + bunny rabbit somewhere around the central square.
Next, take coach 110 or 111 (a 40-minute ride) to a small town called Echternach on the border of Germany. This place is situated in Mullerthal, a valley notable for hiking trails. Though it was pouring rain, HY and I were well-prepared to trek up the hills at Gorge de Loup. Go me! Well, more precisely HY for that matter--he was wearing new gaiters like a pro. As the only hiker who has them on route B, he mentioned more than ten times how everyone is giving him respectable and envy looks. In that case, I'm going to get a pair, too.
Surprisingly, Luxembourg has quite a few Chinese tourists and Chinese restaurants, either named 'Golden Lotus' or 'King Kong Shan'...
Grand Place, Brussels
Hot Chocolate
Brussels was the last stop before we went into the tunnel. Nothing much to say because most of their shops are closed on Monday (apart from London and Asia the rest of the world is sitting on their lazy bums), and it appears that a few roads were under construction. The long walk from the train station to the Grand Place smells of wee, but once you arrive at the square it's a different world of glittering rooftops. Swiftly took some pictures of art nouveau + art deco buildings, the peeing kid and Tintin, had hot chocolate and took off. This was my first time taking the Eurostar and the myth of seeing marine life swimming outside my train window is shattered.