Raeren

Luxembourg to Aachen
Major dramas with trains. Staff very helpful at station. We got an official paper re : train strike Belgium so we were able to travel via Germany o Aachen. We haven't had to buy another ticket so far. Nawawext stop was Kolbenz Hbf butt rain was delayed and we missed the connecting train for Cologne. Another official paper & 1 hour later we are back on a train IC one., first stop Koln (Cologne). Stephen called Deborah& explained. Hopefully next connection will occur smoothly. What we have seen through the train Windows is mostly lovely green countryside, lots of terraced vineyards on the hillsides. Oh yes we saw a group of deer in a field - cream with tan markings. The rivers are almost overflowing their banks from all the recent rains. Very grey cloudy skies ,now passing river barges on churning water.After a quick rail chane at Cologne , 2 min to spare we left for Aachen. Deborah& Emelian were there to meet us!She took us to our apartment , we dumped our gear and we drove to park .We then walked around the town with Deborah as guide.We then had drinks at a cafe & stopped at their place to get the cake. She drove us to meet her parents in The Netherlands for afternoon tea, which was lovely. Renee had stayed here in high school on exchange when she was 16. It was pouring with rain when we left for Deborah's apartment and she made a delicious asparagus soup and a tart followed by yummy strawberries in mars alone, cream with vanilla bean. We had a lovely time meeting Andie& we walked back to the apartment at 10:40.Lovely apartment , a shame we didn't get to use its facilities- kitchenette. Deborah and Emelian met us at 9:30 & we drove to a nice cafe for brunch- I wasn't so impressed with my choice and my soft boiled egg was hard. S had smoked salmon. Afterwards we went back to the car which was at Emelian's dad's parents house. We left E there and Deborah walked us back into Aachen. We went to see the memorabilia in the treasury- gold religious articles and vessels, Royal and papist clothing, some paintings. It is all gelcap within a steel door vault. We then went inside the Aachen Cathedral which commissioned by Charlamagne in the 8 C . It was added onto afterwards as well but it was a moorish structure and 8sided. Very colourful with its tiled ceilings and marbled pillars and patterned floors.We went for a coffee and cake- I had a gooseberry tart with almond in meringue on top and a pastry base- ice cream. Not too sweet! Stephen had a chocolate dessert. We walked back to Deborah's home & put our washing in her dryer. Not long after she neede to go and pick up E. Andie has come home.Read more