Middle-aged flash packers

It was an early start today as I couldn’t sleep and was out of bed by 5am.

Most of our stuff (emergency tent, rucksacks, chairs, kettle, kitchen sink etc,etc) was packed last night so there really wasn’t much to do but I still managed to faff around until 6.15, much to Steve’s irritation. 

There’s a lot to think about when you go away for a couple of months especially just before you leave, eg, if the cafetière doesn’t get rinsed out, there will be a green mould growing in it that would make Alexander Fleming very proud.

We got the ferry from Dover to Dunkirk. The sky was cloudless and for once the English Channel looked a beautiful turquoise rather than its usual sludge grey. 

It was a relatively painless journey to Godendorf, near etchternach in Luxembourg apart from a half hour hold up in roadworks.

Yes even our European counterparts have to put up with seemingly pointless road “improvements” with no workmen in sight. Quite comforting really.

Slightly offensive observation number 1 of European comrades – Belgian people can’t drive properly. They do not look ahead when driving so they either end up braking crazily when they realise they are about to smash into the back of a lorry or just pull out, regardless of whether there is a vehicle in their way or not. 

SOO number 2 -it’s ironic that German is such a comedic language when German people have a reputation of being quite serious. How can you keep a straight face when every other sign on the motorway says ausfarht and someone’s name is Rummer Von Gas? (I’m not sure what an ausfarht is but I know what a carfarht is and there is an on the spot fine should Steve do one.)

We arrived at our apartment by 6pm and we struck gold! Kitchen, dining area, living room, bedroom, shower, huge balcony. And so clean! All for £35. Amazing.

Explored Echternach which is a very picturesque medieval town. Cobbled streets, nice restaurants and an extremely old abbey.

Sat outside and had the menu du jour and a beer in a very nice restaurant – very good value at 25 euros for the two of us. Who would have thought Luxembourg would be so cheap? Maybe Amazon has donated all their tax to the Luxembourgers. At least I’m benefitting in a small way.