Luxembourg in December
Yes, yes Miha can say she has been to Luxembourg now, and on more than one occasion. However “really been to Luxembourg” may be slightly debatable. Willing and ready, another trip is in order. Upon arrival in Frankfurt we moved from the landing gate to the Bahn terminal at the airport and found a café for some much needed coffee and food. We had just enough time to get a snack and dose of caffeine after the overnight flight, and get up to leave before falling asleep at the table. It would be another four hours on the train to Luxembourg along the scenic Moselle River, once home to many robber barons whose frequent castles still stand. Romania bound for the winter holidays we were off to a later departure than originally planned. We had a previous date set with a friend currently living in Luxembourg to visit about 7-8 weeks earlier. We were then going to float around Europe and into Romania late December, but had to delay our departure due to other responsibilities. Being late December now we would have to shorten the plans and save the little jaunts to nearby Belgium and Germany for another time, but a few days with a good person and friend anywhere in the world always makes for a great trip, so Luxembourg remained on the itinerary. We arrived in Luxembourg, taxied to our friend’s and had just enough time to shower, change, and artificially wake up again, just before he arrived home. We walked some of the town where he pointed out directions and landmarks, had dinner at a little neighborhood Italian restaurant, and learned a bit about life in Luxembourg. We enjoyed a bottle of wine with dinner while he informed us that was one of the benefits – very good wines available at reasonable prices. We returned home, talked, looked at maps, and made our plan for the next day while he would be working. We would [naturally] wake up in the morning and be on the town by 9-10 am after enjoying coffee, tea, and the chocolate croissants he had picked up for us. Unfortunately, the previous 34 hours or so of sleep deprivation had a more profound effect than expected. The time on CNN was 7:30 am . . . but that was a US feed, meaning 1:30 pm in Luxembourg. So we got a late start. Not all is lost however. We walked most of the town. Turns out the Casemates, tunnels under the fortified castle built in 963, are closed for the winter months anyway. Nor did we make it to the lower portion of the town, Grund, during the day, which is disappointing to have missed. Held captive by an Englishman teaching English in China who was telling delightful stories mixed with political speculations on the future, the sun started to drop and so did the temperature. We went for the Christmas market for a little food and drink with the crowd to warm up. A little warmer, we made our way back to the house to meet up with our host who would soon be due home from work. (Click on the photos below for a larger image and comment option, then again for a full screen view). Learning of our overslept mishap and failure to walk La Grund, our friend took us on a driving tour of what UNESCO calls “one of Europe’s greatest fortified sites.” Enormous stone walls that would seem too high for any enemy to climb, narrow, winding roads, old stone streets, shops and restaurants built into the caves – the area was loaded with history, charm, and style. We parked and walked, and ended up having dinner at another Italian restaurant, in a cozy, elegant cave like setting at Come Prima on Rue de la Eau. Once again the service, food, wine and ambiance were great. (Go light on the wine if you anticipate using the restroom. It is up a steep spiral staircase that can disturb a sober equilibrium). That pretty much wraps up Luxembourg this trip. We won’t be able to comment on hotel or hostel lodging. We had the best accommodations – with a friend. So having not seen the Casemates, walking La Grund during the day, Vianden Castle nor the Notre Dame Cathedral, can we say we have “really been to Luxembourg”. Sort of, but certainly another trip is in order. And sure, we extended the route time to Romania, however the late December arrival created additional opportunities, like seeing the famous Christmas Market in Munich along the way for example.
