Luxembourg - General Patton's Grave - We Spent Sunday In This Small Country - Then Flew To London

General Patton's Grave is the
top American tourist stop here

the second most important grave to me was
Cameron Everhart from Florida

General Patton finished 5th
in the Jim Thorpe Olympics in
pentathlon 

Luxembourg is a tiny country of 2600 square miles - about the size of Rhode Island - our smallest state. It has almost 600,000 people. It has rich deposits of iron which ran a booming steel industry. Now it is the judicial capital of the European Union. It is ruled over by the Grand Duke Henri. The country has one of the highest standards of living in the world. 

We drove from Jodi's Castle in Oberkail to Luxembourg to catch our plane and to see General Patton's grave. It was about 40 miles mostly on the autobahn. 

First - we went to the American Cemetery near the town of Hamm. It is a beautiful peaceful setting - except when the giant jets from the airport come by low. The gardening and landscaping are beautifully detailed. When taking off from the airport - the cemetery can be easily seen just out the left windows. 

Patton was serving as the commander of Bavaria after the war when he was killed in a questionable auto accident. He had a broken back and survived for 11 days. He chose to be buried with his troops near the battle. His grave is the top attraction that draws millions of visitors to this secluded spot. 

We looked up the names - Everhart and Cox - and found those graves. 

After the cemetery - we drove to downtown Luxembourg City to eat and see the points interest. We ate in a Chocolate House just across from the Grand Duke's Palace. The only thing separating us from  the royalty was one lowly honor guard. It was unusual in that the honor guard made eye contact with you. 

After a great hot chocolate and a strange green pancake wrap - I was happy to see a McDonald's that offered hot dogs. Harry Wallesea said - I hope you are not that guy that eats in McDonalds in Europe. Any chance I can get Harry. 

After a short jump over the English Channel to London - we notice all the fireworks over the city for Guy Fawkes Day. We landed by 8 PM - and took the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station. Joan's flat is one short subway stop on the Brown line. We were gabbing with Joan by 9 PM - and in bed by 10 PM. 

The visitor center at the American Cemetery

Cameron Everhart

John Cox - Nancy's Dad was named John Cox

Lots of crosses and stars of David

Royal Palace Luxembourg

This giant Airbus A380 buzzed the cemetery

All grave semi-circled this chapel

You can see the one honor guard of
the Royal Palace of the Grand Duke

General Patton's grave

Cameron Everhart about one week before
World War II ended in 1945.
I was born 3 years later. 

Gate to the American Cemetery near Hamm

Map of the Battle for Europe

Chapel Ceiling

The famous Chocolate Shop for lunch

View of Palace from Chocolate Shop

Royal Palace

Grand Duke Henri

They give you hot milk and a spoon with a chunk of
chocolate on it. There were 20 different spoons.

He was killed in a car accident after
the war.

One of the nicest bathrooms we visited - and we visit plenty -
was at the American Cemetery

Panorama of grave

Panorama of Patton

Everhart

Patton

Normandy Invasion

Cemetery Chapel

City Hall Luxembourg City

American Cemetery beautiful grass