12/09/25 To Luxembourg, and The Trouble Of Teacups

Back in March I suffered from a lack of decent cups/mugs from which to drink tea while travelling in Japan. After much deliberation I purchased two stainless steel insulated beauties, eventually becoming so attached to them that I lugged them all the way back to Australia.

Whilst packing for Europe I contemplated taking my stainless steel beauties with me but eventually decided not to, on grounds of weight and space when travelling light. Not a smart decision as it turned out, given Europe was proving to as deficient in tea cup capacity as had been Japan.

Tea troubles aside, travelling by train was surprisingly restful after two full days of climbing up steep steps and walking in Brugge's old cobbled streets. Of course there was Roger's morning ritual of wrestling his full size memory foam pillow into submission in his suitcase, and an annoying bit of lugging bags over more cobblestones all the while stopping because there were still interesting things to see: 

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Once we were on the train it was all beer and skittles, or more accurately seats and chocolates, as we glided out of Brugge through Belgian countryside that was still shaking itself awake for the day and feasted on impulse purchases from yesterday's visit to the Chocolate Museum.

Not our train, but just like it.

There was another interesting bit in Brussels, involving announcements in French and Dutch pertaining to platform changes, figuring it out, doing a helter skelter run to change platforms, and then we were on our train and all we had to do was sit tight until it stopped in Luxembourg in 3 hours time. The train took a dog leg through Brussels, passing under both the EU Commission and the EU Parliament and then took us out into the countryside.

I suspect that these answers are somewhat simplified.

The rolling hills and flat lands of eastern Belgium gave way to hills and forests. We followed little creeks gurgling down valleys. Cute villages popped up momentarily, marked by church spires. Blue sky and sunshine conceded defeat to misty rain and sun showers. We passed backyard apple trees heavy with fruit.

Donkeys!

The sun shone again on our walk from the Luxembourg train station to our hotel, past more grand buildings and across the Petrusse River gorge on the Adolphe Bridge. Having chosen the hotel for its proximity to the train station, I was more than happy to find out that it overlooked the gorge itself even if the green and leafy outlook could not be enjoyed with a cup of tea given a dire lack of suitable teacups.

Nice views, shame about the tea cup.

Home for a couple of nights: Hotel Parc Belle Vue , Luxembourg.