This weekend, I stayed around Luxembourg and took a day trip to Metz, France. In this post, I'll tell you the best way to spend a weekend in Luxembourg and a mention some of the day trips you can take from here.
Song of the Week: Town & Country by Bibio
On Saturday, I took a day trip to Metz, France. It took about 2.5 hours to get there, but it was a really short and easy trip to plan compared to some of the ones I have coming up (*cough cough* Toussaint Break). Metz is an adorable town near the France-Luxembourg border and home to just over 120,000 people. A couple of friends and I spent all day exploring the city, visiting cathedrals and bookshops alike, and sometimes pretending that we actually lived in the town.
From my time here, I've learned that the measure of a town or city's greatness often depends on the grandeur of its cathedral. The Cathèdral de Metz was pretty grand, with its impressive spires and arched supports. The original stained glass even features some of the most popular saints of the time. Back in the day, Metz used to be a Roman outpost, and today it serves as the seat of the Lorraine region of France. My favorite part of the day was actually near the end, when we took a walk along the river as the sun was setting. The sun sparkled on the water, and kayaks and paddle boats floated back and forth across the banks of the river. Of course, the food was delicious as well. From the box lunch to the crepe at mid-afternoon to the Lebanese wrap at dinner, I was very satisfied with the food choices Metz had to offer.
"Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale." -- Lauren Destefano
Just like in the US, autumn in Luxembourg is a season full of apples, hearty meals and wonderful festivals celebrating the harvest. However, there are some fundamental differences in the celebrations that can be rather unnerving until you realize what they are. I had the chance to go to a harvest festival in Differdange, and once I noticed the differences, they were glaringly obvious. The strangest difference for me was the complete absence of corn. None of the food served at these festivals features corn in any way, and I assume that is because most of the corn grown in Luxembourg is for livestock. In the US, we probably have over 50 ways to eat corn, but in the time I've been here, I have rarely seen corn served as part of a meal. Another slightly unsettling difference is the complete lack of anything "Western." By Western, I mean the American West. A lot of the time our festivals include country music, cowboy boots and other memorabilia that is slightly reminiscent of frontier and simpler times. Here, the focus is mostly on local produce and farms, since there is no "West". Instead of muscle car shows, there are tractor shows (some of which have been souped up). Instead of country music, local artists take turns on the stage. Despite the differences, the festive feeling (and the mechanical bull in the barn) reminded me a lot of the good memories I have of home during the fall.
Aside from festivals, Luxembourg also boasts an impressive number of castles for such a small country. The north part of the country is where you'll find most of them, and it usually takes around 2 hours to get there by train from the southern part of the country. Some of my friends went on a tour of these castles over the weekend, and had great time. These castles are full of history, artwork and the echoes of times long past. While Metz is great for a day trip to France, the Germany and Belgium also have similar towns that could be explored in a day. The Belgian town of Arlon and the German town of Trier are also relatively near to Luxembourg and you can travel there in just under two hours. I have another weekend off in November, so I will probably visit one of the two during that weekend.
Next weekend I am headed back to back to Paris! I am really excited to be spending another few days in the City of Lights, and I hope to explore a new part of Paris this time. The 50th Anniversary of MUDEC is also starting next week, so there will be a lot of events which require students to participate. The weather is also starting to change, and that means it's time for me to start stockpiling my tea.
Any suggestions for staying warm? What would you do with a weekend in Luxembourg? Anything I shouldn't miss in Paris? Let me know in the comments!
Until then, I'll keep wandering.
Wow! Another exciting weekend. This semester will be with you and us for a lifetime. I am so happy to see how much ethnic culture you are receiving. Along with the awesome food. Ashley I wish you would have stowed me away as we planned. The Cathedral de Metz is a beautiful peice of architecture coulpled with the stain glass. Go fourth young lady and let your journey be lived by many. Love Dad.
No need to stockpile more tea...Enjoy it while you are there instead!