Esch sur Sure

Luxembourg has a lake. Although I'm not sure it counts entirely because it was created by a dam and was built to supply drinking water for the country. A hydro electricity scheme has also been added. It is a pretty lake, if not highly accesible, and we will probably return soon as autumn grips us and turns all the greens to red and gold.

Downstream of the dam wall is a very old village called Esch sur Sure, named after the Saure river (Esch of the Saure) which winds it way around a rocky outcrop forming a natural moat.

Records show that people have lived here since the 8th century, but the fortifications on top of the rock were not started until the 10th century. The chapel here was built in 1757, on the foundations of the first church constructed 1000 years earlier.

Still wearing T-shirts on a nice day!

Schubi time!

We've been 3 times already! The Schuberfouer is a very old Luxembourgish tradition, originally established as a market by John the Blind, Count of Luxembourg and the King of Bohemia in 1340. It remains an annual fair in Luxembourg that runs for about 3 weeks at the end of summer. Entry is free, and, as it is only 10 mins walk from where we live, very accessible for us!

I've read that there are over 2 million visitors every year, and by the crowds we have seen I can believe it. The traditional foods scoffed by many include spicy potato based fritters and fresh waffles piled with cream and strawberries. There are lots of things to buy, such as the gingerbread hearts below, and heaps of wild rides all centred around an enormous ferris wheel.


It is a feast for the stomach and the senses, with an overload of voices on load speakers presumably telling you to "step right up" and have a go in another language, sweet candy laden air, meat served in bread everywhere, a sea of flashing neon lights, hoardes of people to wade through, screams from plunging and spinning rides, popping guns, and endless merry-go-round music. I kind of like it! The grand finale is tonight with a huge fireworks display.

short wheel base

This is the view from our apartment on a hot August afternoon. The fact that there are almost no cars on the street can only be due to the majority of the population being on holiday. I can assure you there are plenty now!

Since we arrived I have had a fascination with les voitures (that means 'cars'). Perhaps it is all part of the culture shock after living for 3 1/2 years in places where AWD/4WD vehicles are almost essential. Or maybe it is just one of the adjustment processes that we are experiencing.

Apart from the ferraris, porsches, mustangs and jags on the streets here, there are a myriad of small cars, ranging from the swift and sporty to funky fiats to the almost ridiculous smart car. Here are a few photos from around town.

The smart car makes me giggle, and when driven at speed around a bend it looks challenging to keep four wheels on the road! I have even seen a convertible smart car - but didn't get a photo of that one. We've decided that our favourite is the fiat, but I am also paticularly fond of the mini coopers that are very popular here too.

The small cars do make alot of sense around the city where petrol is twice the price of that down-under and parking is at a premium. Last week I observed a car wedged between two others in a parallel park with approximately 6 inches clearance at the front and one inch at the back. But the real reason I suspect for the proliferation of such tiny vehicles, are the narrow city streets - yes they do drive up these!