The other day Dave's mom (Hi, Judy!) asked me what it's like to be here for the holidays. Besides missing family and friends, it's actually quite nice. There is definitely less hype and less "buy buy buy" frenzy everywhere. The decorations are about the same except we have this really interesting light festival going on. it's more of an art show - light installations all over the city that were designed by artists from all over the world. i guess Geneva was the first city to do this particular program.
The other very christmassy element to this area is the Christmas Market. Every town has one, and the one in Luxembourg is going on for a month, all day long, every day. Here you can get really really yummy food, like the best potato pancakes ever, crepes, sausages, belgian waffles, raclette, soups, roasted chestnuts, Gluhwein (of course), beer, cookies and chocolates. They also sell various local crafts. The first time I went to the Luxembourg Christmas Market was when i was meeting a friend for lunch downtown. The main square was packed with kids off on their lunch break as well as business people taking a lunch break from the office. Everyone was enjoying the good food, and they were socializing, having wine or beer, and huddled under the shelters, even in the pouring rain.
The second time I went to the Christmas Market was last Friday night, with Dave. The night scene is pretty much the same but there is more beer and wine drinking, some drunk guys singing, and some very bad live entertainment. Dave and i had a nice little dinner, for super cheap, and then we walked home. Again, even thought it was raining, the whole city was out, with kids, on dates, with friends, all enjoying the festivities. It was really nice.
Christmas decorations at my hairdresser's.
Some of the food offerings. Can't pronounce most of them.
The Swiss raclette (cheese melted over sliced potatoes) booth - very popular.
The night scene at the market. in back is the bandstand, and the 3 singers that were singing to taped music of bad pop tunes.
Dave and me with our Gluhwein.
Two cups of Gluhwhein, and potato pancakes.
One of the light festival light sculptures.
Hi Anita and Dave,
ReplyDeleteI loved your insight about holidays in Europe. I spent one Christmas in a mid-size town inthe Netherlands one year and it was the best Christmas environment I've seen. Lots of festive activity and foot traffic, combined with old world architecture. It was awesome. Thanks for sharing the pictures!