September 2016: Luxembourg (1st to 10th)
Wasserbillig is a town in eastern Luxembourg. Wasserbillig has around 3000 inhabitants, which makes it the largest town in Mertert. So having one of the best skateparks in Europe would sound a bit bonkers wouldn't it?
Luxembourg is one of the world's top-three nations in wealth, which makes sense as the cost of living is pretty nuts, So why would you build a very well built facility in a place with such a low population and from our experience with no kids interested in riding, skating or scooting and more focused on football/soccer.
Its hard to understand, but why should it matter waking up every day with the sun blazing and a empty skatepark maintained by an gentleman who spoke no english, regardless he looked after us like guests and made a big impression on us, he was a chain smoking groundsmen who'd open the doors to his man cave (shed) offer us coffee and the use his his computer. He even plumbed up an outside shower which we could use, if you ever get to meet him you'll understand he’s the one of the characters you'll remember from a trip.
A bit more about the park, Our friend Will Evans visited here to film part of a Bmx edit for Fox Racing of a Bmx Legend Rubén Alcantara https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEw9n5bEY14
The park was great and we had some awesome sessions there, having to usually wait until the evening to ride due to the heat being unbearable and of course the reflection off the concrete itself was dazzling. So far Wasserbillig and Kortrijk (Belgium) are up there to be visited again, we even meet some locals.. i say locals, they weren't from Wasserbillig, more like Germany etc.
I was able to visit the city twice, one time with the whole crew and the other just Nath and I, travelling via rail the price for a day ticket for the whole of Luxembourg was 4 Euros , i didn't have much expectation of the place if I'm honest, i mean the reason for going was the multi million euro facility built in the heart of the city, when we googled the park it was like wow! that looks incredible, but as you may be aware don’t be fooled by images, don't get me wrong the park was a paradise for skateboarders or street riders, but for ramp/transition riders it had no flow and was difficult to find lines with it being so busy.
As for the city, even with all the money its like any other, though the business district was full of street gems, on the second trip to the city we were tipped off by Oscar a well spoken local whom we had met at Wasserbillig, he said to go check the area out. Rails, ledges and wall rides in abundance if was a pity our lack of skill couldn't take advantage of such a delight.
I was starting to get the gut feeling the period of time free camping next to the at Europe's best park was coming to and end, i don’t know why maybe passers by made a complaint or the neighbours paying to live, seeing us living freely became jealous and wanted us gone, well it happened for the first time of the trip we were moved on by the police, freedom camping in Luxembourg is actually illegal so no longer could we call Wasserbillig home, that night we parked up next to an old house over looking the town and went back to the park the evening after that under a bridge on a service road.
The last day at the park was sad and we moved on to a Lake in Echternach, Probably a busy Lake in the summer but being off season was quite and apart from the occasional walker or bike rider were the only ones sleeping here, though. The facilities were pretty good as well with an ultra modern Hostel with inside climbing walls beer and free wifi... get in.
To top it all off it had the weirdest cobble like mounds, maybe an old playground of some sort, maybe what used to be an attraction. Nether the less its like many places and got session. I think thats the beauty of riding, the world is our playground.
