Over the years, I've visited several destinations in mainland Europe, some more than once. I only chose Luxembourg for my few days away on this occasion in September 2020, because my flight was so ridiculously cheap in comparison to some of the other destinations that I was looking at. What struck me was their public transport, as all public transport was free to use for all locals and foreigners alike. There was a frequency of buses traversing the city, mainly using electric busses, with an efficient team route which was currently being extended towards the main railway station. Traveling out of the city was also very easy with good rail services and secondary bus services to some of the more rural locations.  

Luxembourg had a lot to offer a tourist in terms of museums and historical places of interest. Due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions, I opted to visit as many of the outside attractions as they were easily accessible and didn't have the same strict face mask/social distancing restrictions as stipulated by those indoor tourist attractions. The weather also helped with my choice and had an enjoyable time walking around the American War Cemetery, the Deutsche Soldatenfriedhof at Clausen (German War Cemetery) and the Alzette Valley looking at the architecture, the old walls and towers. Many people don't schedule walking around cemeteries near the top of their 'to do' list, however if you look at them for their historical value and their outdoor appeal in warm weather, this would make visiting them more enjoyable.  

My Airbnb accommodation was located in the Limpertsberg area of the town, which was served by several bus routes with a short walk to the tram station. I also passed the Notre Dame Cemetery, which was the final resting place of Jean-antoine Zinnen, Luxembourg's national composer and a man called Wilhelm Voigt (Hauptmann Köpenic) amongst others. Voigt was a notorious career criminal who pulled off an audacious robbery in the east of Berlin back in 1906. Cemeteries help bring the past to life through those who rest there and I personally find it quite enjoyable walking around looking at the different types of memorials and mausoleums, whilst trying to locate those more famous Graves. Cemeteries aren't generally promoted as tourist attractions, but I often find that by taking a detour to visit one, that I end up discovering something which I had no idea was there. Walking around a town or city also costs nothing and can throw up so many surprises often including fabulous restaurants serving local dishes at local prices, rather than the advertised tourist restaurants which can be pricier in comparison. 

There are numerous cafés and restaurants all over the center of Luxembourg, serving a variety of cuisine to suit every budget. Obviously, there are the international fast-food restaurants chains for those who need a quick meal or have no taste for culinary adventure, to independently owned specialist restaurants serving regional dishes made with fresh local ingredients. I always travel to a budget, and although I try and save money where I can, I do make a point of indulging in local restaurants for some of my meals.  

Overall, I was impressed with all that Luxembourg City had to offer, the efficiency of public transport and the cleanliness of the streets. Having been there for just four days, there remains numerous museums and attractions both in the city and surrounding area which I would like to explore. With the ease of access to the city from neighboring countries, getting there

The town of Diekirch is located by the Saur River, in the north-east of the country. It’s a delightful town, with a quaint market area, narrow streets and plenty of local shops, cafe’s restaurants and local businesses. The town has a train station, although, when I visited there in September 2020, the station, along with the whole railway line from Luxembourg City was undergoing maintenance. I had to travel by bus, which in itself was an experience, although I did manage to see quite a lot more of the Luxembourg countryside and some of the other smaller towns on route. The bus journey took about seventy-five minutes, thirty minutes longer than the train was scheduled to have taken. the added bonus was that the journey cost me nothing, as all public transport in Luxembourg is free. Another great reason to get out and explore other areas outside of Luxembourg City.

There are several museums located in the town. I didn’t have time to visit the  Musée d'Histoire on this occasion, but will do so on my next visit. However the Musée Automobile - Conservatoire National de Véhicules Historiques, was well worth a visit, especially as it incorporated the Diekirch Brewery Museum! No free samples were on offer, just an interesting display of old brewery equipment, bottles and signs. The main museum and probably the most popular is the National Museum of Military History, which is a spacious museum featuring vehicles, weapons, photographs & dioramas. The outstanding dioramas are a must see, as they feature scenes from the Battle of This battle, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was a major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II which took place from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945. There is also a memorial garden by the Avenue de la Gare, to this battle and those who died.

There are a few donkey statues around the town, as the donkey is the town’s mascot. Some are very interesting, especially the one depicting a local legend, where coins can be seen coming out of the donkey’s bottom! Diekirch is just one of many delightful little towns within the country of Luxembourg, and I hope to spend more time exploring this delightful country in the furure.