Traveling in Europe is entertaining in and of itself. A road trip becomes an adventure as you come across adorable little towns, castle ruins, cafes and historical sites. For this trip, we stayed five days on the western side of Germany at a B&B just outside of Gelsenkirchen. Make sure you have purchased outlet adaptors prior to your trip so you can charge all your electronics as soon as you land. I always opt to have a physical guide book with me because you never know how wifi coverage will be at any given time.
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Luxembourg
On our first day, we hopped in the car and headed over to Luxembourg. We visited the American Cemetery where over 5000 soldiers and General Patton were laid to rest. Many crosses and several Stars of David (Jewish soldiers) dotted the landscape in perfect symmetry. Although the monuments represented death, the simplicity and uniformity created a breathtaking view that called for a moment of silence before even realizing what was happening. Visiting the German cemetery was disheartening. Four soldiers were represented per cross and the grounds were in disrepair, unlike the American cemetery. It was interesting to walk the rows of headstones and recognize familiar names since so much of my hometown in northwest Ohio was settled by Germans.
Germany
A short drive away is Trier, Germany. During the Roman Empire, this city was 2nd in command to Rome. As you can expect, an amphitheater was amongst the ruins, albeit much smaller than the one in Rome. The kids had fun pretending to be gladiators out on the sand floor. There was an admission fee, but once inside the gate, you are free to roam in, on, under and around the arena.
We came to the city of Cochem just after dusk. It has to be one of the cutest towns in Germany. Unfortunately, the majority of the stores were closed but window shopping was an absolute blast. A castle sits in the middle of the town so many of the store windows were filled with swords, armor and all things knights. Add in the German clothing window displays and the half-timber four-story buildings all set along the Rhine River and you’ve got yourself quite a setting.
Day 2 was spent in the city of Aachen, Germany. Oh. My. Goodness. We had a ball here! The bakeries had window displays so beautiful they almost looked fake. Outdoor seating lined the edges of cobblestone streets, block after block. Each restaurant was just as cute as the next. Alas, the German clothing was too much for us to pass by and we tried some outfits on. Talk about feeling like a kid playing dress-up! My husband and youngest son even got in on the action. I think we were pretty entertaining because the German clerks kept snickering at us when we’d come out of the dressing rooms. They’d immediately readjust our straps, brassiers and belts to look official. An authentic cappuccino, a toy store with a slide instead of stairs, a huge ferris wheel that affords views of the city and a gorgeous basilica rounded out the day.
Because we were so close, we drove to the Netherlands for breakfast to add a third country to our belt. From there, we caught the train to Cologne, Germany. As soon as we stepped off the train we were wowed by the sight of the famous Cologne Cathedral. This beauty took over 600 years to build. Inside was a small canoe type of boat that had carried over 100 Libyan refugees. We were all feeling very humbled from both the boat, the beauty and the enormity of the church. You can easily see why over 20,000 people visit this site each day. I didn’t pay enough attention to how much time we were spending at the church and therefore we ended up missing out on the tour at the chocolate factory. It’s supposed to be the likes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Guess that gives us a reason to return!
Belgium
Day 4 blessed us with country #4, Belgium. We started our visit by eating breakfast at De Pannekoekenbakkerij (ya, good luck saying that name out loud) and ordering, what else, but Belgium Waffles. The unexpected twist was that they are served with ice cream on top. Talk about starting your morning with a kick. As seems to be the European norm, spontaneity came into play. We were walking around the village square when we heard bagpipes in the distance. Soon, a whole troop of bagpipe players came into view followed by a SLEW of horses. Come to find out, they were having a horse show that day. They were beautiful, majestic beasts who paraded around the roped off square like they owned the place.
We had evening reservations at the Remember Museum. Talk about having history come alive. This elderly Belgium couple has transformed their homestead into a WWII shrine. Not only that, but they can tell you the story behind every uniform, newspaper article, telegraph machine and pair of underwear. To make it more interactive, they have small static displays of scenes depicting life during the war: winter battle scenes, home life, encampments, and newsrooms. This is my #1 recommendation if you are in the area!!
Having a bit of background knowledge makes a huge difference. There’s so much to know about not just the war, but what led up to it and the repercussions of it all. Here are some resources for both children and adults.
An evening meal at Vieil Aubel topped off the day. This restaurant has been in business since 1700. Encounters like this are hard to fathom, considering our country isn’t even that old. Of course, the food and ambiance were top notch.
Castle exploration
Our final day was spent hanging out and exploring the castle Burg Eltz. Once you arrive at the castle, after a short walk through the woods, you can easily see how it was unharmed during the wars. It sets so far back off of the road and is completely hidden in and among the trees. That being said, it creates quite a beautiful spot to enjoy lunch on the outside patio before or after touring through the castle. Somehow the magic of a castle seems to cast a spell on young and old alike. Our little knight had quite the day pretending to protect not just his family but all those in attendance. 🙂
As always, there is never enough time in Europe and there are so many hidden gems to enjoy. If you’ve traveled to the western side of Germany, please comment below on places you’d recommend. Thanks!
