Summertime means holiday! To get out of The Netherlands once more. And when we reach the other side of the border by car, Luxembourg appears te be overgrown, over-clarifying, due to extended number of road signs and over-laidback.
Even the maximum speed is limited at 90 km/h for most of its ‘highways’. And compared to The Netherlands, or any other former EU-country, it turns out all kinds of basic needs are still very cheap here. Including gas, which is priced: € 1,12/l Eurosuper95. Wether you fuel your car in the middle of nowhere, or on the highway.
Also, we can clearly see there is a big difference between the Luxembourg people and the Dutch: drivers definetely respect each other as well as traffic regulations!
Camping Du Moulin
After driving and all kinds of good mood small talk for 4,5 hours, we arrive at Bourscheid.
On Camping Du Moulin. I dislike travelling by car, especially in The Netherlands. Therefore, I heave a sigh of relief since we made it in one piece.
We are warmly welcomed at the office by Marie-Jeanne. And she preserved our camping place 1,5 hours longer. After we clear paper work, other formalities and placing a bread order for some ‘Kaiserbrötchen’ we make our way through the water.
This is because our camping place is on the other side of the Sauer River.
Camping issues
During the packing-unpacking issues, we face all kinds of challenges already: one of our tent sticks is broken, my inflatable bed is leaking air and we seem to have forgotten to bring tea towels and any kind of light (bulbs).
Thanks to our kind neighbours, I find myself a new inflatable bed, an air pump and a useful LED-lamp for the upcoming evenings.
And due to my Permanent Bèta background, this is without a doubt settled without money, paper work and other strains of bureaucracy.
“Sie müssen sofort bestellen: die Küche wird gleich geschlossen!”
Shortly after 2100 hours our tent is standing flawless. And all our stuff has been transferred. We go to Brass Du Vieux Moulin - Buurschter Millen, which is rather late for having dinner. Even for us.
It is a good thing the waitress makes us an exception tonight. Generally speaking, the kitchen is open “bis neun Uhr” according to the restaurant manager. Still, I catch some sort of a blazing row in the kitchen…
After our main courses, we have our desserts: “Bratapfel mit Kanneille und Vanilleeis” with pure cinnamon and a dame blance with pure chocolate sauce.
Our holiday has officially started! Quality and quality time it is!
Jardin de Wiltz
The next day, we are going to see the ‘Jardin de Wiltz’ and Wiltz Castle. Which is a little on the way back for us: far to the north of Luxembourg.
The garden is open to the public the whole year. And we soon find out that the entrance is free. It won’t cost you a penny!
Indeed, it is also a living work of art. The project is called “Resisting the dark” and the garden looks magnificent!
Beers, ales and its history
Although pretty much every part of Wiltz Castle, that is fitting the description of a ‘building’, is kept for a wedding day today, the castle itself is not exactly open to the public.
So we are going for the museum that is situated in the former stable of the castle. After we pay € 3,50 we are handed over an audio guide.
When we make our way upstairs, chamber 1 turns out to be the start of a ‘beer museum’. This chamber used to be a real Luxembourg pub where beers like Gambrinus, Henri Funck were served. While we have a seat and listen to the audio guide about the origins of these alcoholic drinks, we take a look at an infinite number of beer mugs and jugs on the tables. Also, in every corner of this chamber, there are several bars and liquor cabinets.
There is more to it. In the next halls and chambers the audio guide explains how it is produced and all details about the fermentation process.
Quite interesting, as you might gather from the snapshots below:
Tiny brewery
All the way down, in the basement, there appears to be a tiny brewery. And I understand it is still in use. Every week, there is education for students who would like to brew their own beer or special ale.
I am well aware that this is a professional occupation. And so far I heard of crowdfunding, crowdsourcing..
But what’s next? Crowdbrewing?
Back at the campingsite we figure it might be wise to get some sleep early this time. We are only here for a couple of days. And we definitely want to go to Vianden tomorrow morning.
Vianden
I have quite a recollection of Vianden and its surroundings. I’ve been camping here with my family several times. My first time was back in 1994, when I was a kid.
Because of the location, the laidback atmosphere, Vianden Castle, the cable car, walking as well as motorcycling tours, this town is quite popular… and touristic. Not just for retired seniors, but for professional bikers, young people, families with children and anyone in between.
Télésiège
One of my favorite ‘worth seeings’ is the Vianden Télésiège: the cable car. It takes you from a little more quiet part of the town all the way upwards.
When we arrive on the mountain, the view is truly amazing!
Today, the only Luxembourg-like thing I’d say is missing, are a bunch of hot air balloons.
Viewpoint Cumulux Paragliding Club
About 2000 hours we arrive in Bourscheid again. And since the Télésiège didn’t take us all the way to the top in Vianden, I’ve found myself a challenge in visiting a viewpoint that is located close to the camping.
Sometimes, we see people circling around here, because this spot belongs to the Cumulux Paragliding Club A.s.b.l. in Beckerich.
I am going for a steeply walk by myself. And because there is no one to be accountable for, it takes me approximately 15 minutes to reach the top of this mountain.
This photograph is taken after the climb: 900 meters straight up.
Tomorrow, our packing-unpacking issues will start all over again. Than, we are bound for going back to The Netherlands unfortunately…
I hope you enjoyed the story of my holiday. Please feel free to add any comments below.