Romans & Royalty!

As I said before, I am lucky enough to have long weekends - or I am have just planned it out that way ;]  So, for the first weekend of the semester, my friends and I went on two day-long excursions!  On Friday, we took the train for 3.5 hours to Trier, the oldest city in Germany!  It was settled by the Romans in 16BC and was used as the capital of the Western Roman Empire!  So, it is a city full of striking examples of the Roman presence, 9 of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites!  The first thing to be seen upon entering the city is Porta Nigra (Black Gate in Latin).  It is a massive gateway to he city that served as the entrance to Trier during Roman times.  After making our way through the gate, we were in the central pedestrian zone, leading to the Hauptmarkt, which is just incredibly surrounded by thousands of years of history!  With the Roman Porta Nigra to the north, the Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals to the east, and Renaissance and Baroque houses to the south and west, one of which is a former bishop's house converted into an H&M...ahh the progress of modernity!  We next visited the Konstantinbasilika, a former Roman throne room which is the largest Roman building outside of Rome!  Right next to it was the charming garden of the palace of the former royal electorate!  Next we made our way to the Trierer Dom, the oldest Christian structure in Germany, whose foundation was laid in the 4th Century!  On its left is the Liebfrauenkirche, the oldest Gothic structure in Germany, begun in 1235!  It was just incredible to me that there are so many historical monuments in one small area...and there was still so much to see!  We walked past the home where Karl Marx was born in 1818 and then to the Roemerbruecke, which provided beautiful views of the Mosel River!  Then we trekked all the way across the city to see the Kaiserthermen, one of the largest imperial bath houses of the Romans, now left to ruins.  They were massive, taking up an entire city block!  Then we were off to see the Roman amphitheater, which was unfortunately closed, bust still cool to see.  It's just hard to imagine what the city would have looked like 2000 years ago, without the cars and big buildings.  These structures must have been even more imposing and incredible!  

Porta Nigra

Hauptmarkt

Konstantinbasilika

Gardens of the Kurfuerstliches Palais

Trierer Dom and Liebfrauenkirche

Inside the Trierer Dom

Mosel River from the Roemerbruecke

Kaiserthermen

Path leading to the Amphitheater

The following day, we took the 4.5 hour train ride to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg!  The train ride along the Rhein Valley was incredibly magical!  The river is lined with rolling hills, covered with tiered vineyards!  Nestled between the hills are fairy tale villages and atop each hill was the ruin of a castle, hiding in the mist of the early morning!  I had to just stop doing my reading for class and stare out the window the whole time, sinking it all in and admiring it!  This is one region of Germany that I definitely would like to come back to and visit more in depth!!!  Anyhow, we arrived in Luxembourg and I was once again out of element - everything was in French!  But the city was beautiful!  We crossed the valley into the city center and immediately found ourselves at the Cathedrale Notre-Dame.  This was not quite as impressive as I would have hoped, but still cool.  We then just strolled around and found ourselves in front of the Palais Grad-Ducal where the royal family lives...just right in the middle of the city!  After lunch - the best pizza I've had here! - we toured the casemates carved into the old, natural fortification of the city!  It was a labyrinth of underground tunnels leading to craggy openings with spectacular views of the valley and Alzette River below.  It was so much fun exploring - and getting lost - in the secret passageways.  I couldn't help but feel cool ;]  Since it was raining when we left the casemates, we went to a chocolate cafe across from the royal palace where we got very delicious hot chocolate...and I got cake!  Then we explored the Petrusse Valley, which may have been my favorite part of the excursion.  The city of Luxembourg is built on cliffs which naturally protect the city and below them are these beautiful valleys filled with streams and forests.  It was really magical and very pretty with the fall colors!  We even came across a small 700 year old church built into the side of a cliff!  Exploring the natural beauty of the region was a lot of fun, but even an explorer like myself can be humbled when it is time to order a hamburger in French!  I kind of didn't even know what I ordered.  I really take for granted that I am able to speak German.  I am not even that good at German and make so many mistakes ALL the time, but at least I have a sense of what's going on!  Can't wait to go to Paris in a few weeks...hehe!

Traveling through the Rhein Valley!

Cathedrale Notre-Dame

Palais Grand-Ducal

Alzette River from the fortifications

Inside the casemates

Exploring the secret passageways!

Beautiful view from the casemates!

Chocolate in Luxembourg!

Natural beauty of the Petrusse Valley!

Me in the Petrusse Valley!