Sunday, January 27, 2013

Trier and Luxembourg

So this Saturday my roommate, Sunshine, and I woke up at 4am to join the Outdoor Recreation Department on their trip to Trier, Germany and Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. The bus ride took about 4 1/2 hours and then we were finally there. We stopped in Trier first and then we were allowed to roam the city for 3 hours. Trier was pretty easy to navigate and it was my favorite of the two cities we visited for the day. Trier was a residence for many Roman emperors and was sometimes called the second Rome.

 Constantine Basilica was constructed in 310 during the reign of Constantine the Great

City street leading up to the main market 

Cute little bread and bakery shops lined the streets 

St. Peter's Fountain 

Cool scenery 

The Hauptmarkt or Main Market of Trier. Located in the left of the picture is the Steipe and Red House that was bombed in 1944 but then rebuilt in the 70's it functioned as a meeting center.

Porta Nigra--Old Roman city gate and fortifications that are left in Trier. Built between 180-200 AD. The biggest block weighs 6 tons!

Neat artwork

Saint Peter's Cathedral--Oldest Church in Germany

Our Lady's Church next to the Cathedral

Funny knocker to the entrance of the Cathedral 

Me sitting in a cut out of the church wall 

Very impressive ceilings 

By far the most impressive organ I've seen here 

Up close of the ceiling 




Römer Express, the little tourist train

Cool statue at the intersection of two streets 

Karl Marx's House. Birthplace of the famous philosopher  and creator of Marxism

Thermen (Baths). They had a glass building around them to protect them from harm.

The smaller of the Roman Baths in Trier 

Another Fountain 

The House of the Three Kings

Rokoko-Palais der Kurfursten (Electoral Palace)

Palace Gardens. I went on the Pond turned into an Ice Rink. The Statues on both sides reminded me of Weeping Angels from Doctor Who. 

We then found an icy walkway that led to the Kaisertherman Ancient Imperial Roman Baths.  They are one of the largest baths built in the Roman Empire. 





Ruins of the Roman baths from a distance. They were closed for entrance because of the snow

Full shot of the Vineyards that Trier is famous for and the Imperial Roman Baths 

A cool picture of a city street in Trier 

At 1pm we hopped back onto the bus and drove about 45 minutes to an hour to Luxembourg. Our first stop was to the American Cemetery and Memorial Grounds where the unnamed soldiers are buried who gave their lives in WWII. Also, this is the burial site of General George S. Patton. It was a very powerful place to visit with rows and rows of white crosses and Stars of David. 

Memorial Statue at the entrance 

One set of names of the soldiers who died

Statue at an angle 

'Merica 

The statue also serves as a prayer room and this is the entrance 

Map of the invasions of Europe 

Second set of names 

And now the burial grounds with all of the crosses

A few Stars of David can be seen. A picture with information is later 

General George S Patton is buried here. He is "overlooking" his soldiers' graves

Enjoy all of the artsy pictures of the crosses and the amount that are there. 

I personally thought this was beautiful with the sun hitting the grounds 




So many rows of crosses 


Beautiful stain glass window 

Prayer alter area 

Ceiling of the prayer room 

Information about the Star of David and the stones that can be placed there 

Me standing at the gate entrance to the Memorial 

After that, we took a quick 5 minute drive into the main City Center of Luxembourg City 

Grand view from off of the bus. Includes the State Saving Bank, the Bank Museum, and the Adolphe Bridge 

Adolphe Bridge in Luxembourg

View from the bridge of the garden walls 

Then we decided to walk down to the lower ground where a lot of the ruins are located and to get a better shot of some of the bridges that surround the boarder of the city. 

The Viaduct

Ruins 

View of the main ground 

There were a lot of these archways 

Walking back up to the main ground

Fortress Wall 

More ruins 

View of the City 

Dent Creuse

Cool fountain

Coo Coo Clocks are very popular here. 

Statue 

The Gëlle Fra monument commemorates those who volunteered for service in the armed forces of the Allies of World War I

Then we got back on the bus for the 5 1/2 hour bus ride back to Ansbach. It was a good day and I definitely enjoyed my time. I wish it was a bit warmer and sunnier, but hopefully the weather will get better for my next trip. Sunshine and I are going to plan out our next adventures sometime today.

First Roommate picture! :) 

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