Luxembourg

Luxembourg Fortress on a rock

It was a 30-minute drive to reach the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and then about 20 minutes to reach the old town area of Luxembourg city. 160,000 of the country's 600,000 live here. The city of Luxembourg was founded in 963 when Count Ziegfried built his castle on the rock. The city wall defended this community for 1000 years. The views are spectacular on this 44-meter-high rock island in the sky.  We visited the Jesuit church and school which is now the Cathedral as well as the palace of Duke Henri. Across the valley we saw the newest part of the city, which hold the EU offices as well as the Court of Justice.

Grand Ducal Palace 1562

In the afternoon, we visited the Luxembourg American Cemetery. The Battle of the Bulge was fought just north of here. This was Hitler's carefully planned attack to split the American and British forces. The Germans outnumbered American forces by 6 to one. The Americans were pushed back for two weeks but held long enough for reinforcements to arrive. The battle continued for another three weeks with 80,000 casualties. Then the battle to reach the Rhine continued. Forces had to cross multiple rivers and the Siegfried line of 18000 fortifications. They reached the Rhine in 2 months and Germany surrendered six weeks later. There some 5000 Americans buried here as well as General George Patton. He used to have an ordinary grave, but it was constantly a muddy mess because of so many visitors. They moved the grave to protect it and he now faces his troops.

Patton reviewing his troops

We then had a flower laying ceremony with the veterans among us as they played taps. Nearby was a German cemetery, a headstone for one to four soldiers among the oak trees.

The German Cemetery

That evening, Mariya, a member of the crew, gave her first concert. She had been encouraged by the President of Grand Circle after he heard her during karaoke.