Advertisement
Published: June 26th 2017
Edit Blog Post
Geo: 50.0751, 6.04568
TIME: 13:35 HOURS
LOCATION: Chateau Urspelt, Clevaux Luxembourg.
Weather: Grey and drizzly......
SUMMARY: After battling across Central Germany on "C" Roads following a 40km tail back on the Autobahn (A6) we were relieved to reach The Hotel Panorama in Heidelberg on Friday night. Overlooking the Rhine we were within 5 mins walk of the Old Town and Castle........as this was only a one night stop we just had time for dinner comprising tasty but rather anaemic looking sausages "bobbing" about in tepid water and Schnitzel. The next morning we made quick tour of the Old Town mainly involving Cathy visiting about 30 local shoe shops........
Setting off at a "geriatric" 1100hrs we had a comparatively short drive (300km) to Luxembourg. After a week of dumplings, pork lardons and gherkins we were looking forward to the refined culinary delights of Luxembourg.......with more 3 star Michelin Restaurants per capita than anywhere in the world. Luxembourg is beautiful.....a combination of spectacular countryside, castles, sophisticated picturesque towns and villages nestled in valleys and there is of course The City of Luxembourg itself. The Country is a bit of a mystery and some of it's wealth is based on International Banking and apparently has murky tax haven goings
on...........
The Chateau Urspelt "loomed" in the distance........located in a secluded rural valley we could just spot the "turrets" and the prospect of a "CRUNCHY GRAVEL DRIVE" leading to a "flunky infested" entrance beckoned. This particular fact made me more than a little concerned that Neddy might look a little out of place parked next to Porches and BMW's...
We parked up next to an an old Opel Corsa....no flunkies in sight......so far so good. The Hotel was used as a film set in "The Battle of The Bulge" and took over three years to refurbish. It is the epitome of a Chateau...turrets...opulent... stylish......BUT..........we still have to work hard to get a table for dinner at a sensible time.........
Computer Say Non!..........Only 1800hrs or 2100hrs....EER WHY? There are no other alternatives within 5km.....and I a'int driving. "Err zee Groupen Bookings"........Cathy puts on her not happy face and summonses the Restaurant Manger.........a leggy blonde dressed in white riding breeches and leather boots..........who could have served me dinner at 0300hrs for all I cared!
I gently reminded her that they bill themselves as a 4 star Hotel and really we should not be having this converstion!
Eventually we negotiate 1900hrs........a warning to anyone thinking of staying
here.......
We take bets on her name...Sophia.........Nanouska........Annette.....I bide my time and casually ask over the cheese course....Emily...
The sands of time are running through......0900hrs tomorrow we point ourselves in the direction of Calais and home....Has it been a good experience and would I recommend driving to the Czech Republic....????
YES!........ but plan carefully and get your car serviced and properly insured! Prebook Hotels with parking and have a Sat Nav with maps of Eastern Europe. We could not have done this trip without it!
PRO's
You are you own boss......
Flexibility
Huge carrying capacity for shopping........VINO
Sightseeing is easy.
CONS'
Mahoosive amount of driving over 2,100 plus miles in 11 days....hard work for one driver....
Totally reliant on car........could go wrong.....stuff up........we had a minor incident that could have been far worse.
Driving that amount does increase the risks.....
Time Check: 1900hrs.......dinner......
Time Check: 21:11hrs........stuffed... best meal of the trip.......bed......zzzzz
THE END.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.172s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 11; qc: 47; dbt: 0.046s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 2;
; mem: 1.1mb