We took the train to Saarbrücken and then the bus to Luxembourg. Seating was tight and Dennis was cramped, his knees stuck into the seat in front of him. We crossed the Moselle River about noon and then made our way into the capitol.
As the bus went through towns, I wondered what the folks were doing in their homes. Were they preparing Sunday dinner, reading the Sunday paper, and lazing about? Or were they busy with chores they could not get to during the week? I have a feeling most Europeans relax on Sunday, the towns were not a bustle of activity. Would I relax on Sunday as they did if I were to live in Europe? Probably not, unless I changed my ways—I have forgotten the lessons learned on the Camino. For this reason, I plan to retire after finishing this last series of books and enjoy my leisure time with Dennis.
We had no reservations, but were able to find a room in the hotel we stayed in last year. Hotel Bella Napoli. It is reputedly the best Italian restaurant in town with a few rooms above it that have no TV, phone, or WiFi. Without reservations, we were lucky to get that. Since the restaurant has Internet, we have to stand on the landing or sit in the café to get access.
After settling in, we took the local bus 15 to Hamm, the end of the line, and then walked to the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial where Dennis’s cousin Erving’s body is buried (Section H, Row 9, #15) along with 5, 075 other dead soldiers, including a female army nurse. Each grave has a cross or Star of David with an American and Luxembourg flag. Between the flag, lays a fresh rose bud, placed by the local people of Luxembourg.
General Patten, commander of the Third US Army, is buried between the flagpoles in from of the memorial and overlooking the grave area. His grave is has 3 dozen roses.
There are also two memorial Tablets of the Missing, listing the names of 371 whose remains were never recovered or are buried at the cemetery, unidentified.
Sad, but beautiful.