Luxembourg and Germany

After a few days visiting my side of the family, G and I headed over to see G’s grandma, who lives right next to Ramstein AFB in Germany (An hour from Frankfurt).

LUXEMBOURG CITY

We were driving through Luxembourg City, so thought we’d get out a take a little tour. 

Here are a few fun facts about Luxembourg:

- It is the only country in the world to that is ruled by a grand duke.  (no kings here) However, his children are called princes and princesses.  

- If you are ever planning on moving to the area and want to speak in one of the official languages, then you have a choice between which language to brush up on.  Luxembourg actually has three official languages: German, French, and Luxembourgish (I did not make that last one up).  For those of you who have never heard of Luxembourgish (I hadn’t), its a mix between french and german and is actually considered to be the “language of the heart" for that country.  

- Luxembourg sells more alcohol, per capital, than any other European nation.  This is because the taxes are so low here that people drive from neighboring countries to stock up.  (No joke- we went into into the equivalent of a liquor outlet store that is less than a mile across the Belgian border) 

- Luxembourg is a famous tax haven, and has the highest GDP per capital in the world- it’s almost 3 times larger than the EU average 

- General Patton is buried in an American cemetery right outside of Luxembourg City.  There are over 5,000 WWII American soldiers buried there with him.

Where the Grand Duke and his family live.

For those of you who are curious- this is the royal family. (and no, I was not lucky enough to snap this shot.  I just stole it shamelessly off the internet)

DRAGONS TEETH - THE SIEGFRIED LINE

During WWII, Hitler had a line of concrete tank traps built that stretched along the German border from the Netherlands to Switzerland.  It was called the Siegfried Line, though, because of its appearance, it was later nicknamed the Dragon’s Teeth.  These tank traps consisted of large concrete triangles interspersed so that tanks could not drive through them.  The Nazis also placed land mines and barbed wire around them to slow down the enemy.  In the end, the Dragon’s Teeth failed, but many of them survive today, unintentional memorials of a devastating war.  Unlike the monuments or cemeteries that you would normally see, these Teeth have been mostly forgotten.  We came across these while driving through the Weinstrasse.  Farmers have cultivated fields around them, or planted trees to hide them, but regardless, they remain.  

WEINSTRASSE  

Glenn’s grandma took us down to the wine region in Germany.  It is a really beautiful part of the country and we had a great time touring around wine tasting.  

Soooo- check out these beauties-

Throughout their married life, G’s grandparents have collected various antique cars.  Grandma still has two with her in Germany.  These 1960s Mercedes is the same version that Grace Kelly used to drive. 

And THIS- is the gem.  This Rolls Royce is so beautiful!  They used to drive it in parades and for weddings a lot.  I think my dad and brother would drooled like crazy over her!