Home away from home

This past weekend I decided to take it easy (after a mishap with a booking for a flight to Oslo and the realization that my bank account does indeed have a limit) and stay in Luxembourg for the weekend. It was actually a pretty popular weekend for people to stay in, as most people wanted to save energy for the impending spring break and field study tour. And, spring weather had finally decided to grace us with her presence and the sun was shining and people were throwing off their coats. (We actually do have other clothes, despite how you have only seen the same four coats in every picture we’ve taken)

On Friday, a group of us went on a tour the local brewery for the Luxembourgish beer called Bofferding. Owned by a Miami alumnus, the company is located about 20 minutes away from the chateau and is a cheap and popular beer for the population. We took a bus there then went on a pretty intense and interactive tour of how “the secret of Luxembourg” is made. This is the third brewery tour I’ve gone on (I feel like I’m becoming an expert on hops…) and even though it is a much smaller company, I felt Bofferding did a great job! The tour ended with a “taste test” in which our group of Miami students sat in a little tavern themed bar and drank our fill of Bofferdings. Ahh, sighs of content were rampant.

That night we all met up for dinner in the city center and to explore the local night life. We were pretty impressed! There were great dining options, the weather held out, and I came to the realization that Luxembourg is absolutely adorable. The cobble streets here are populated with high line shopping and local boutiques, as well as ample out door restaurants and bars. And you can’t forget the beautiful sights of the Grund, the little area of Luxembourg located in the ravine. Standing above it you can look down on the city lights and canal, and it’s pretty breathtaking. We enjoyed a great dinner and hit up some of the local bars and dance clubs, really taking in what Luxembourg has to offer.

Saturday represented spring’s evil sister as it poured all day. To battle the miserable conditions, a group of us went to the movie theater and saw Shutter Island and Alice and Wonderland. I was a little disappointed in Alice in Wonderland, but Shutter Island was definitely good. Although I have to admit I’ve been having nightmares… keep in mind I had nightmares about Hocus Pocus. But, the Luxembourgish movie theater is impressive! It’s huge, with restaurants (including much sought after sushi) and the screens put the Darien Playhouse and the Oxford Princess to shame. We again grabbed dinner Saturday and enjoyed a few pints during a rugby tournament. We had taken after Alice and gone on a rabbit chase for a bar playing the basketball games, but to no avail.

Overall, the weekend was pretty great! I had an awesome time really seeing Luxembourg, using my French, and getting to know some of the kids on the program who I hadn’t traveled with yet. That really is the hardest thing about Luxembourg… people don’t get to know this country. And, I think traveling fatigue was starting to get us down. It was definitely a great decision and I’m glad I took a weekend off to enjoy where I’m living!