Scheuberfouer

Fair entrance

The Schueberfouer is the annual Luxembourg City fair. It is the biggest fair in the country and lasts 20 days. Lucky for us, the doctor we visited last week for our “contrôle médicale des étrangers” (basically a check up to make sure we're healthy enough to hang in the country) told us about Scheuberfouer or we might have missed it!

We spent a good 5 hours there this past Sunday eating Luxembourgish specialties like Gromperkichelcher (fried potato pancakes) and Gebakene Fesch (giant deep fried whiting). And oh yeah...we checked out some rides too.

Truth be told, the rides were just eh. But something about the people and the atmosphere made the day so much fun. They really get into it at Scheuberfouer. The 3EUR wine and beer (that you can actually walk around with!) probably helped. But it was more than that. For example, the House of Horrors was just your typical haunted house ride with not so scary monsters popping out of walls, smoke plumes, and annoying light effects. But then, at the very end, just when you're feeling kind of annoyed that the ride wasn't better, some dude dressed in a gorilla suit jumps out and attacks you. He chased us out grabbing our hair and pulling at our clothes. It was so freaking awesome! There was also a Fun House where the kids emerged completely covered in confetti because there was a dude at the exit whose sole job it was to ensure that they were. Don't even ask Sophia about the Hall of Mirrors where I'm pretty sure some dude purposefully directed her the wrong way. Little did he know she'd take off running. Ow. As I said, they get into it at Scheuberfouer.

Gebakene Fesch. The boys cleaned that fish UP.

Bina sporting her crazy smile on the carousel.

I'm not even sure, so just don't ask.

The Start of Sophia's Long Journey

HI, this is Sophia talking. I'm having such a great time in Luxembourg! I went to dinner at a restaurant called Le Fin Gourmand. The bill came in a sardine can. The desserts were so awesome. There was an awesome ball made out of chocolate with fruit and celery inside. It sounds weird but it tastes good. My whole family shared a creme brulee. My sister got vanilla ice cream. Today I am going to a fair called Scheuberfouer. I am so super duper EXCITED!

Thank you for listening to my story.

You will hear lots more about me.

Sincerely, Sophia!

Elephant! Elephant!

Elephant #2

That has been Sabina's call whenever we take a walk around town. The Elephant Parade has come to Luxembourg, and the city is decorated with life-sized baby elephant sculptures in support of elephant conservation. These baby elephants, many designed by local artists, have traveled across the world, and there are 55 of them scattered across the capital. The girls are bent on finding them all. Jackson couldn't care less. But we still make him take a picture or two.

In October, these babies will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Asian Elephant Foundation. Sophia asked if we could buy one. Each piece will likely go for thousands of euros; we think she'll have to settle for one of the smaller knockoffs from the Elephant Parade store.

Elephant #3

Elephant #4

To learn more about the elephant parade and their work 
to help the endangered Asian elephant, 

visit http://www.elephantparade.com/index.php/home/.

xoxo,

Kristine, Dan, Jackson, Sophia, and Sabina

Coming in Hot

Well we made it. On the afternoon of Saturday, August 17th, we arrived at Luxembourg airport customs with 10 checked pieces (4 of them overweight), 5 carry ons, 2 sleep-deprived adults, 2 overstimulated big kids, and 1 crazy toddler...and they still let us in.

We are slowly settling in and exploring a little bit everyday. The biggest challenge has been the jetlag. Every night from 2am-5am is a party! Bummer for Dan who started work on Monday and is already on a business trip to Paris and London.

We are in a temporary apartment (nice but tight with only 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom) and look forward to moving into our permanent house after all the renovations are complete in mid-September.

The kids couldn't wait to get back to the "pirate ship park" that we discovered on our trip here in June. So our first excursion on Day 1 was to Park Monterey where there is a pirate ship run aground right in the middle of the city tricked out with massive slides, rope ladders, planks, tire swings, and hideouts, not to mention a water play area. And it is walking distance from both the apartment and the house! 

Having a great time. Wish you were here.

xoxo,

Kristine, Dan, Jackson, Sophia, and Sabina