City of LUXury

On Saturday I took a day trip to Luxembourg with Youlia, Ludivine, Necco, and Raafi. It was a comfortable one and a half hour bus ride from Saarbrücken, and I enjoyed the scenic views of the German countryside. We arrived in Luxembourg two days after a national holiday and there was a festival in the city center. After visiting a Gothic-style cathedral, we explored in the underground labyrinth of the Casemates, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Viaduct in the background

Youlia & her beautiful new Longchamp bag

One thing about Luxembourg-- it's really expensive! Finding a student-friendly place to eat in the city center was impossible with most lunch specials costing around 16 euros! So instead we opted for street food at the festival. Afterwards, Youlia and I took a three hour coffee break in a little cafe near Willhelmsplatz. We sat and talked and people watched, taking shelter from the cold wind outside.

our little group (excuse the creepy background)

the strangest stilt walkers I've ever seen

Luxembourg is a really unusual place. The country has three official languages: French, German, and Luxembourgish (which to me sounds like a combination of the first two). I wasn't sure which language I should try to speak with the people there. As the world's second largest investment fund center, Luxembourg is home to a large amount of wealth and has one of the highest GDP ratings per capita. I imagine that the cost of living is outrageous, judging by the higher prices in stores and restaurants.

The city is small and can be seen in just one or two days. Some of the buildings are beautiful and ornate, but the majority tend to lack any real character. They all look the same with squared windows, grey rooftops, and paint in some shade of beige. However, there are lots of gardens and a couple of rivers which add to the overall charm of the old city. Though Luxembourg is a tiny country and has been influenced largely by its neighbors (France, Germany, and Belgium), it still has its own folk traditions and unique culture. And the Luxembourgers seem to be pretty happy and proud about their heritage. The national motto is "Mir wölle bleiwe wat mir sin," or "We want to remain what we are."