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Published: August 16th 2009
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DAY 127
I take the 8:30 train from Brussels. My travel is only 3 hours this morning and I reach my destination at 11:30. Luxembourg is officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and has a population of under half a million people. Luxembourg is a parliamentary representative democracy with a constitutional monarch; it is ruled by a Grand Duke. It is the world's only remaining sovereign Grand Duchy. The country has a highly developed economy, with the highest Gross Domestic Product per capita in the world.
Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union, NATO, OECD, the United Nations, Benelux, and the Western European Union, reflecting the political consensus in favor of economic, political, and military integration. The city of Luxembourg is the largest city, and the seat of several institutions and agencies of the European Union.
Luxembourg is very important to the European Union. Luxembourg City is the seat of several institutions of the European Union, including the European Court of Justice, the European Commission, the secretariat of the European Parliament, the European Court of Auditors and the European Investment Bank. The Secretariat of the Parliament is responsible for the official translation of all the EU
OFFICE BLDG.
Of the Steel Industry that made Luxembourg what it is today official records in 21 languages that make up the EU.
It also is a major banking center an entire district is newly built for the banking industry. Luxembourg sits in the middle of 2 powerful EU cities of Brussels and Strasbourg, so it plays a vital role in the new economy of Europe.
Luxembourg is a trilingual country; German, French and Luxembourgish are official languages. The newspapers will print articles in any one of the 3 of the languages as written by the authors.
The city is clean , fairly compact and has a rich history. New sections of town displays beautiful modern buildings and the Old sections of town have wonderful old structures that are completely renovated.
I just happen to be in town for a public holiday so very little is open this Saturday. Only a few tourist shops and some cafes. The tourist buses are running so I take one to see the town.
My hotel is a 4 star hotel that I have been able to get for 70 euro a night. And it is very convenient to the train station and the old town. I plan on having a
couple of slow days. Try to plan the last week of my trip with hotels, trains, planes and activities. I have access to WI-FI so I plan on using it to the fullest.
DAY 128
Today is Sunday in Luxembourg. Once again there are very little things open other than a few souviner shops and cafes.
I have to say that the Hotel Carlton is the classiest place that I have said in during my trip. Upon signing in I was greeting with a fresh cold glass of orange juice, like they used to do in Florida years ago.
The manager is also smiling and greets you personally every time you come and go.
For breakfast this morning I was served was more food than I could possibly eat with a mini buffet on my table.
Oh the life!! I really am ready for some pampering after all this time!!
I watch a little TV limited to BBC and CNN the only things in English. I walk to center city for a late lunch of pizza and a Luxembourg beer.
This city has no problems that the US is facing,
PETRUSSE VALLEY
and on top the Constitution Square there are no empty store fronts. There are fancy sport cars everywhere, there are no gangs of young people loitering in the streets. It has been able to keep it's ahead of the economic down spiral that we seem to be experiencing.
The cost of things is higher, but I am sure that the wages here are in line with the cost of living.
I have had time and the WI-FI connection to plan the rest of my trip. So I should have it easy from here on out.
This is my first real day in 128 days that I have been able to really relax with little to do. But one day of lazy time is enough for me I am ready to move on tomorrow.
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