a vacation (part 4)

There were a few other places we visited briefly including Cologne, long enough to tour the famed cathedral. The rain combined with traffic made it so we pretty much had to turn around without doing much of anything else.

We also spent a few hours in Luxembourg viewing the old casemates and battlements, watching the gurard in front of the Grand Palace, and eating a delicious lunch. We also stopped at the nearby US military cemetery where General Patton is buried along with over 5000 soldiers (most killed during WWII; the Battle of Ardennes and liberation of Luxembourg.)

We took advantage of a few hours of afternoon sun to take a hike to Devil's Gorge near the German village of Irrel and were rewarded with some pretty spectacular scenery.

a vacation!

Apologies for the long silence and new apologies for now inundating you all with vacation photos. Feel free to click off now!

For those of you still with me I'll try to keep it brief. Ish.

My trusty travel partner and I (shout out to the sis) boarded a plane a couple of weeks ago and set off to visit cousins who are stationed at the Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany. We spent two weeks alternating between hanging out with the fam and road tripping out to fabulous locales eating our weight in chocolate and french fries along the way.

First up was a stop in Trier, the oldest city in Germany, founded by the Romans way back around 16 BC. Situated along the Moselle River, there are baths, city gates, churches, an amphitheater, and an old throne room among the leftover remains. Oh, and random miniature statues of Karl Marx, "famed" former resident.

And then there was a visit to nearby Cochem, another town situated on the Moselle. We started with a trek up the hill to tour the castle. First built in the 1100s it was ruined and rebuilt several times and has been owned by the town since 1978. It's sort of a mishmosh of styles--Gothic architecture and 19th century French furnishings. The weather (which was mostly cold, drizzly, gray and altogether yech!) made a dramatic backdrop for the views from the top of the peak; the river winding through vineyards dotting the hillsides, timbered buildings and church steeples lining cobble stoned streets. It was very quaint and picturesque.

 And then there was the countryside itself. Rolling hills, farmlands and tiny towns, glowing rapeseed fields and the continually winding rivers. It was the slow-paced, soul healing scenery this girl needed.

More tomorrow!