My Week in Lux

I have not been to any new places to tell you about this week, but as I go about my usual routine, I always notice something that I didn't before.  Often is the same street I've walked a hundred times and out of the blue I see a house with interesting architecture or a beautiful garden that I just didn't notice before.

This house is an example of one that I often pass,  always thinking that this street is so cute, but this week, the green house with the beautiful red flowers really caught my eye.  I see all sorts of interesting colors on houses here, but this minty green is just lovely... Subtle enough to blend in, but still standout enough to make me want a green house!

You can get a little glimpse of the crystal chandelier hanging upstairs.  There is another gorgeous chandelier on the first floor too.  They always seem to be lit in the late mornings when I pass.

The Wednesday market is not to be missed in Luxembourg.  All sorts of specialties, many Luxembourgish, but there is an Italian vendor (who promised me Italian sausage next week!), German, French and most likely some of the farmers are Belgium too.  The flowers are always so pretty to browse.

Oh, learned something kinda cool this week.  Maybe this is the standard in Chicago, NYC and other older cities, but I've never known about it.... I've seen this metal covers on the sidewalks all over.

Inside, they are small lifts that raise/lower deliveries to the lower level of the building.  I see the beer distributors delivering beer this way and picking up empty bottles.  The restaurant food deliveries are often being lowered down this way also.  Kinda cool.

To round out the week, on my walk home from school this morning, I glanced back and noticed the steeples of the Notre Dame Cathedral from the south side looked especially pretty with the sun and had to snap a picture.  This is the same cathedral that I recently posted a picture of from the front.

Best Sister Ever!!

Yes, I am trying to start a competition :)

Renée and family sent us a care package filled with goodies from the US that we are missing!  Blakely cheered so loud and cute when he hear we had goldfish!  He begs me to buy these fish looking crackers all the time, but we tried the letter version and no one would eat them, so no point in buying the same thing in a new shape!

The cough medicine... I cannot tell you how amazing that is to receive, after learning that the doctors here won't give you anything like it.  Honestly, I won't give it to my kids anytime but before bed, but it's so nice to have something to help calm a cough at night!  You may think all the protein bars are funny,but everything here is lacking protein!  Even Greek yogurt is so sweet and not at all like what we eat in the States.  No such thing as protein bars except these mini-things I found that have 5g of protein in them.  Portions of meat are way smaller than we are used to also.  Lots of chocolate to replace it  though!

Autumn in Luxembourg

Fall weather arrived a month ago (ushered in by 2 weeks of rain--Yuk!).  Since then, I have been loving the fall weather and my daily walks home from dropping the boys off at school.  It's a 45 minute walk home that often turns into 2 hours due to shopping, coffee or just finding a new route home.

The morning sun is really beautiful, but getting in the way of my photography (I'm clearly lacking skills).... But I managed a shot of the Notre Dame Cathedral that I walk by most days.

Up near my house in Limpertsberg is where several embassies are located.  The US embassy is the most beautiful and located at the corner across from the park that I love to walk through.

On another note, Jeremy and I had lunch at a cool sandwich shop today.  Not only was the shop cute and the fresh cut fries delicious, but the sandwich was possibly the best I've ever eaten.  It was a gourmet BLT with sliced hard boiled eggs on baguette.  Jeremy's bacon, brie and cranberry was great too.  I was so anxious to eat it that I didn't get a picture first.  I guess I will have to go back soon so I can "food spot" about this place!

That's all for now... Just a little update!

Sunday in Trier

We spent our Sunday afternoon in Trier, Germany, one of several cities built along the Moselle River Valley.  The River Valley is farm and wine country.  It is so lush and green, a lovely afternoon drive from Luxembourg.

Trier is said to be the oldest city in Germany and even older than Rome. It has some impressive ruins to show.  We saw the Porta, which are Roman City Gates built before 200 AD.  We enjoyed the Trierer Dom also, beautiful inside and out!  It is the oldest cathedral in Germany with its original construction beginning in the early 300's.

The pipe organ and dome were particularly impressive.

The boys were definitely intrigued by the street performers dressed in mid evil dinosaur-like costumes.   I thought they were really cool too.

While in the city center, we enjoyed some of the street food, opting for hot fresh waffles with sugar over the many ice cream options.  It's interesting how popular ice cream is here in a climate that is barely hot in the 2 months of summer.  I saw a cafe called "Cafe 1900" that will be returning too.  It had the most beautiful cakes and only cakes.  They did not appear to be for take-away... just to enjoy with your café.

The boys also took turns in the pilot seat of a German fighter jet!  A highlight of the city visit trip for them!