Luxembourg

My plan today is to do a day trip to Luxembourg. So bright and early I head to the train station to catch one of the first trains down to Luxembourg. With a coffee in hand I settle in for the three hour journey. It isn’t too crowded so I’m able to find a comfortable group of seats to myself.

Upon arriving at Luxembourg’s train station, I hop on a tram that takes me into the centre of the city. One of the coolest things about Luxembourg is that public transportation is completely free. So at first It feels a little weird jumping onboard a tram without paying. But It’s such a great benefit to anyone, residents and tourists alike! 

After arriving in the centre, I head to the tourist information centre and pick up a self guided walking map. I set out to begin my exploration of this already charming city! It’s actually a great route so I’ll post it here for others in case they are interested. Below is an image of the route itself:

Grand Ducal Palace

The first stop on the path is the Grand Ducal Palace. This is the residence for the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. It’s where he resides and performs his duties. Tours are only offered in the summer months, so I resign myself to wandering around the perimeter of the premises. While not as grand as other palaces, it’s still looks very lavish and actually quite functional! 

Bock Casemates

From the palace I make my way to the Bock Casemates. This s an outcropping of rock which was used to build a fortress inside of. When you go into it you get a good appreciation of how difficult it must have been to carve all the different caverns into the rock in order to make it a viable military installation. On top of that, there are some very unique views of Luxembourg City from on top and within as well. You do need to pay to get in but I think its certainly worth the entrance fee to see a pretty unique piece of history.

Chemin de la  Corniche

Upon existing the Casemates you arrive at the Chemin de la Corniche which is an elevated walkway with SPECTACULAR views of the city. It is endearingly called the “most beautiful balcony in Europe” and I would be inclined to agree! It is a beautiful path that runs along the top of a cliff side and overlooks the valley (still part of the city) below. Even though its a fairly rainy day, I still very much enjoyed this stroll and taking the time to stop and take in such a fairy tale landscape. 

Luxembourg City

After looping back towards the centre of the city, it’s still awesome to look around and make no mistake that you are in Europe. Even without the amount of travel that I’ve been fortunate enough to do, Luxembourg City is exactly how I would have imagined a typical European city to look like. Words like traditional, classical and elegant all come to mind. The walking tour takes you to various sites of interest including some governmental buildings and a few churches.

Luxembourg Christmas Market

Not a part of the tour, but along the path is the Luxembourg Christmas Market. I have to say that having already been to one in Bruges and in Brussels, it really doesn’t get old. It’s super festive, there are lots of interesting food options and its generally a very good time. I spend a fair bit of time wandering through the different paths inside taking in the festive cheer. They really know how to do Christmas right in Europe and I can certainly see myself returning again during this time simply to check out the different markets!

While exploring, I pick up different snacks along the way. I pick up some potato fritters which come with apple sauce. It’s a neat combination of sweet and savory! I also stumble on a place serving Pea soup. And if you have been following along, you know that I have a current obsession with pea soup so it is a must for me here. A little later on in the afternoon, I pass by this stand with a big wok of interesting pasta? I ask and it is called spaetzle which is a traditional egg noodle. It’s something new so I order some for takeaway for dinner later on. I can safely say the food options at these markets are top notch. There were so many things I wanted to try but my stomach and wallet simply did not allow. It just means another trip is required!

Curious Buds

In the late afternoon, the rain starts to come down pretty hard. Seeking shelter I pop into this tiny coffee shop called Curious Buds. It’s a tiny shop that serves some pretty stellar coffee. The owners seem to be pretty big coffee nerds and you totally get that sense when you have a sip of their delicious offerings. Warming up, getting dry and waiting out the rain this is a perfect spot for it!

With my takeaway spaetzle in hand I head back to the train station and hop onboard my train back to Brussels. It’s been a very full day and I still have a few hours of travel ahead of me. By the time I get back to my room I am pooped. I freshen up a little and settle down with my food, throw on a few shows and settle in for a chill evening in. I also need to do a little packing. Tomorrow is my birthday and I have a special birthday flight down to Abu Dhabi lined. up.