Waterloo 1

Trip Day 7 - November 5th - Luxembourg -> Waterloo

Part 1 - Luxembourg to Schengen to Bastogne

The genesis of the European Union started in Schengen. It started in 1985 between 5 countries: France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. 

It eliminated internal borders between the countries. It's a small town in Luxembourg where 3 countries meet (in the river). The European Union is known as the Schengen Zone and citizens of certain countries will need a visa. From what I can tell, the US has a reciprocity agreement and we don't need one.  

Why did I go here? Well, it was only 30 minutes from Luxembourg and I wanted to see the buoy that was in Google pics. Couldn't find it but found an orange one instead. Hope that was it, or so I tell myelf.

When I was in St Vith, I saw signs to Bastogne, the main holdout to the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge, and since it was on the way, I went to the Bastogne Battle Museum. It was pretty interesting. I should watch the movie again. 



So not exceptional stops but more curiosities for me. Also, not a lot of pics.

Trip Day 7 - November 5th - Luxembourg -> Waterloo

Part 2 - Bastogne to Waterloo

Bastogne is about 90 minutes by car from Waterloo. Belgium has been subject to many invasions and battles. Just to name a few, Waterloo, the First World War when Germany passed through Belgium to get to Paris but got stopped at Ypres, and the Battle of the Bulge. The fog continued and after driving about 4 hours and stopping at 2 places, I caught up for some other days. I ate in the hotel. I ordered a burger (mistake here) but also the Irish Cream Creme Brulee or is that Irish Creme Brulee? Very yummy - fruit was pointless other than a garnish!This time I had my own battle with the hotel - I do not rate many hotels as a 1, but this one did it. The toilet was in a separate room without a place to wash hands, there was a see-through shower wall (that way the bad guys can't come in to the room without you knowing), and there was no closet, just a framework. There were also stairs into the building (pictured) and no ramp, so lug the luggage up the stairs. Internet went out at 4 AM or so, the automatic nightlight under the nightstand came on randomly at night (but didn't go off when sensed and needed), and there was no breakfast on my last day. I wrote a 1-star review and with very detailed comments on Google Guide and Tripadvisor. I got an email from the manager who basically told me it was either out of his control (staff out) or my fault. He asked me to remove my review. Guess who got ornery and didn't? On the contrary, the hotel sent me feedback as well and I blasted it pretty much the same, but adding that the manager had contacted me.

The final picture is my tech setup. I take an Echo Show with me, hook it up to my laptops mobile spot, and have Alexa play Pink Sound at night which is my favorite noise machine and when the internet goes out, it goes out too.