Metz isn’t far from Luxembourg — less than an hour due south by car or by train. In Luxembourg, its Christmas Markets are well-known but not as popular as those of Trier. With friends willing to join us this year, it was finally time to see them for ourselves.
We began at the train station, where there were a few chalets and something quite unusual in France…
A Nativity scene! A manger! A crèche — in a public space in France? Surely not?! (more…)
I hope you’re not fed up with Christmas yet! On December 21, Anita and I went to the Christmas Markets in Cologne (Köln to the locals). As in Trier, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, and Aachen, the city arranges for distinctly themed markets in several squares around the city.
The market furthest from the center (and closest to where we parked) was the Village of St. Nicholas on the aptly-named Rudolfplatz.
While writing has never been a pleasure for me, I have enjoyed creating these Random Happenings posts. I hope those reading at home have also enjoyed hearing a bit about our routine life in 2014. I plan to continue in 2015 if for no other reason than to remind myself about all the things that happen, both large and small.
Unfortunately I did not manage to write the detailed posts on various topics I promised in 2014. I have hopes to manage one or two, but my track record says to not get excited about those anytime soon. We’ll see if I do better in 2015. (more…)
We have just some bits of text for these photos — hopefully these holiday decorations will speak for themselves. As usual, click on the photos for larger images. I must point out that, to the right, a cartoon panda appears to be photo-bombing Anita’s pose with Santa at Luxembourg’s Christmas Market on the Place d’Armes.
Luxembourg’s Christmas Market at Place d’Armes
Are you tired of looking at that snowy photo from the last post? I am.
It took a long time for spring to arrive in Luxembourg, compared to the past three years. But it is here at last, bringing us stuffy heads in the morning and tons of flowers the rest of the day.
When Anita and I left for a brief visit to London last Thursday, Luxembourg was colored in greys and browns. We returned to find that our town gained a much brighter palette over the weekend.
(more…)
After two days of sun and relatively warm weather, it’s safe to bring out our photos of this winter’s snowfall in Luxembourg. It was the most cold and snowy winter since we arrived here. As good Illinoisans, we didn’t mind it a bit. A few more sunny days would have been nice… but we don’t miss late-winter lake-effect snow at all.
One of the good things about living in the city is that the Christmas Market is a place that I pass by — or wander through — on my way to other things. So I get to know the season’s decorations very well, and the sight usually lifts my spirits just a little bit.
Furthermore, I occasionally remember to bring a camera and take some photos to share! (more…)
Translation: Did the man in black bring you a stick?
Today’s the big day, when Kleeschen (also known as Saint Nick or Sinterklaas) comes to town to leave gifts for all the good children … and when Housécker brings a bit of wrathful justice to the bad ones. If you’re looking for more words, revisit last year’s post about Kleeschen’s arrival in Luxembourg, or read The Wort’s summary of the tradition. This year is all about the holiday ambiance here in the Ville. And the first order of business was to ride the new Ferris wheel at the Christmas Market!
Let’s look back at the 2012 Tour de France! After La Planche des Belles Filles, we drove a little way off the course to our hotel in Mulhouse, which is not far from the Swiss border. Also in our hotel: the promotion team for Nesquik. We enjoyed watching their nightly routine — mostly refilling the hoppers for the young women who tossed goodies to the crowds each day.
This first photo is where we watched Stage 8 the next morning: halfway up a small mountain above Saint-Hippolyte in Doubs. It would be a magnificent race for some of our favorite cyclists. (more…)
Today marks the thirty-first birthday of Prince Guillaume, The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg. And that comes just a few weeks after his marriage to Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy. The Bugle celebrates His Royal Highness’s birth to Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa by posting a few photos from Guillaume and Stéphanie’s wedding spectacle on October 20th.
Powered by WordPress