International Fest

Luxembourg International Market

Each year in Luxembourg they hold a huge international festival where booths representing various countries set up and sell the food and other items their countries are most famous for. We got Colin a babysitter, went with a group of friends and had a fantastic time. We ate all kinds of amazing foods from various countries and shopped a little too. We had Hoegaarden Rosé beer in Belgium, yum! Chicken samosas from Pakistan, French crêpes, paella and sangria in Spain, shortbread and tarts in the UK, and I can't remember what all else! It was very neat to go around to all the booths and see what each one had to offer for sale and the things they are most popular for. We bought a cheese wheel from Holland and a handpainted ornament from Russia. We saw Russian, Pakistani and Spanish performers doing their thing to entertain the crowds too. The USA booth had lots of Christmas craft type things and at their food table they were selling popcorn, hotdogs, nachos and then they had a grocery/pantry section. It had all kinds of American grocery items like macaroni and cheese, cake mix and famous brand name cookies. I had to laugh at how people were going crazy for the stuff too, I guess they just don't make it outside the US. I know my German friends are always asking me to bring them macaroni and cheese, instant mashed potatoes and drop and bake cookie dough. So I guess they know about this stuff but just can't get it here. LOL

After the festival we headed to downtown Luxembourg city to check out the views of the city covered in snow. We had been there this spring and fell in love with the town, it's gorgeous, so we were excited to see it covered in snow too. It was beautiful, though VERY cold! We ate dinner at a French restaurant and the food was amazing! I had escargo for an appetizer that was scrumptious, then creamed spinach soup and a steak with ratatouille on the side for dinner. Shelby had lamb chops for dinner that were also delicious. After dinner we headed outside to wander the Christmas market and just as we headed outside the snow started falling. It was very cold, but wandering the market with all the lights, the snow falling and a chorus singing carols was magical. After about 30 minutes at the festival the snow started really coming down and we decided we'd better start heading back to the parking garage and start towards home. By the time we made it to the autobahn it seemed like a blizzard had blown in. We were stuck going 50 kph on the highway in snow that was the closest thing to whiteout we've ever seen. The trucks were out salting and plowing but the roads were still a mess, the drive home felt like it took forever and an hour a half drive turned into twice that long. Of course, once we got about 40minutes from home all the snow stopped completely and never did make it down south enough to us here at the house. Aside from a long drive home the day was great and the bazaar will be something we probably check out again next year too.