Biking in Luxembourg

Getting settled in Luxembourg has been going mostly well, but definitely more difficult than moving within the states.  There's a lot of little differences.  A good tip someone gave me was to make no assumptions!  For example, almost all apartments don't come with a washer and dryer (and most don't have hook-ups in the apartment, only in the basement).  Actually most people don't use dryers.  

And getting internet is a mysterious process that takes 2-3 weeks.  I'm crossing my fingers we'll have our internet in our new apartment on Wednesday.  I'll write more about some of our learning experiences later, after we're mostly settled and got everything to work out ;)

There's also some pleasant differences.  My favorite so far is discovering what a bike friendly city Luxembourg is.  In the US, Seattle is considered a bike friendly city with a bike tunnel and lanes on our bridges, and extensive biking trails.  

But Luxembourg takes the cake.  One of the biggest differences is that the city planned bike routes through the city with actual bike lanes.  I find it silly when cities paint bike symbols on lanes that are just wide enough for one car.  It helps to have a completely separate lane, that's not for driving or parking (with opening car doors).  I think it also alleviates frustration from drivers stuck behind cyclists. 


I also love how sometimes there are traffic lights and red painted lanes in intersections for cyclists.  The differences makes biking around the city much easier and safer.  So we've been thankful that we got our bikes in the air shipment, and have been able to bike to work almost every day.  It's good to have daily exercise :)

Oh, another fantastic biking related aspect of Luxembourg are the bike rental stations (Veloh!) all around the city.  It's a bike sharing program, where you can pick up a bike from any station and return it to any other station.  We haven't used it yet since we have our bikes.  But I see people using it quite a bit - it's a bit funny to see guys in suits biking around on them to get to work. 

There's also extensive routes planned around the country.  We tried National Cycle Route #1 last week, and according to our GPS it was 48 km.  This is the route we took - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3925623.  The first part of the trail was my least favorite as it uphill on gravel and dirt through the forests.  But then it got much better as we biked through wheat and corn fields, cow farms, and cute little towns around Luxembourg.  It was a fun way to explore the surrounding areas of the city.  I'll post pictures to flickr soon. 

General biking info:

• Veloh! stations
• Info about biking in the city
• Bike maps - for trails around the country 

Living in Luxembourg

It's official!  We received our Luxembourg residence permits in our passports, Lux social security cards, and signed a lease to an apartment.  I still feel like I'm in limbo since we're in temporary housing and living out of our suitcases (it's been 1.5 months since we've slept in our own bed), but in one week we'll be moved in our new semi-permanent home.  We'll get the keys to our new apartment next Monday, and our sea shipment will arrive next Tuesday.  Very exciting!

Thankfully, getting settled and adjusting to Luxembourgish life has been going smoothly.  Our jobs are interesting and challenging, and we bike to work almost every day.  And it's fun discovering the little differences of living here with respects to home design/appliances, how bike friendly Lux is, grocery shopping, food, and communication.  However I do miss my family and friends, the beautiful Seattle summer, and the comfort and conveniences of living in the US. 

Here's a couple pictures from our 48 km bike ride around Luxembourg last weekend.   This is the route we took - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3925623

Seattle Things to Do

Since there's quite a few friends and family moving or visiting Seattle, I put together a list of recommendations on things to do.  I'll update this post as I remember more suggestions.  Definitely let me know if you have any questions!

General Things to Do in the City

1. Pike Place Market
2. Woodland Park Zoo
3. Aquarium
   
4. Washington Park Arboretum
5. Kayaking and canoeing around the Arboretum or Lake Union
6. Underground Tour
1. Tour of the streets below Seattle, and a funny brief history of Seattle
7. Space Needle
8. Columbia Center
1. Panoramic view of Seattle - I like the view here better than the space needle, it's also much cheaper :)
9. Theo Chocolate Tour
1. They're the only fair trade, organic, bean to bar chocolate factory in the US. 
10. Farmer's Market
1. There's a few around Seattle, but the biggest one is in Ballard on Sunday
11. Ballard Locks
12. Ride the Ducks - its kinda cheesy, but it might be fun for kids
13. Exploring the neighborhoods of Seattle - each of the neighborhoods around Seattle usually have a main drag that have fun local restaurants, coffee shops, bars
1. Areas I generally recommend is Fremont and Ballard for families
2. Seattle Pi website of neighborhoods
14. Visit the wineries in Woodinville
1. While you're up there, there's also Maltby Cafe and the Redhook Brewery 
15. Rent electric boat on Lake Union
1. I haven't tried yet but heard many good things

Scenic Parks

1. Green Lake
1. Large lake with a walking/bike path, near Woodland Park Zoo
2. Sculpture Park
3. Ella Bailey Park
1. Big open areas, BBQ, and a big park with views of the sound & Mt Rainier
4. Golden Gardens
1. Beach in Ballard
5. Gas Works Park
6. Kerry Park
1. Another great view of Seattle 

Great Trips around Seattle

1. Hiking - there's lots of hiking within a couple hours of Seattle, where you're walking through old growth forest, meadows, and creeks, and arriving at alpine lakes, waterfalls, or mountain views
1. Pictures of hikes I've done (mostly in Seattle)
2. Ferry rides
1. There's a few islands with small towns west of Seattle - you can also go out to the San Juan Islands and the Olympic Peninsula
3. San Juan Islands - has cute towns with hiking, camping, whale watching, biking activities
4. Whale watching around Anacortes 
5. Olympic Peninsula
1. This is west of Seattle and has wide range of activities, you can get here with a ferry ride
2. There's a mountain range with great hiking, beaches on the Pacific coast, rain forest
6. Leavenworth
1. Small touristy Bavarian town couple hours east of Seattle
2. Its fun to walk through town (only a few blocks though), we mostly go for the activities nearby - hiking, camping, water tubing, etc
7. Vancouver
8. Portland - only a few hours away
9. Mt. St. Helens
10. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
1.  Wildlife Park - I haven't been but have friends who highly recommend it

Events

1. Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - April
2. Cheese Festival - in Pike Place market,  May
3. Seattle International Film Festival
4. SEAFAIR - lots of activities from June - Aug
5. Bite of Seattle - delicious food booths set-up in the Seattle Center,  July
6. Chocolate Salon - July
7. Bumbershoot at the Seattle Center - Labor day weekend
8. Fremont Oktoberfest

Music

1. There's a lot of great music in Seattle
2. Some locations:
1. Showbox
2. Neumos
3. Jazz Alley
3. Ever year, there's Bumbershoot at the Seattle Center
4. The Gorge, a few hours from the city has a number of shows.  Below are 2 I consider ever year:
1. Sasquatch
2. DMB
5. Latest on Seattle Weekly 

Snow in Washington - what makes the winter fun!

1. Checking conditions
1. Sign up for Larry's Powder report
2. Cascade Crud - aggregate of the various mountain conditions
3. WSDOT - road conditions
2. Skiing or Snowboarding
1. Crystal Mountain - 2 hours south of Seattle
2. Stevens Pass - 2 hours northeast of Seattle
3. Mt. Baker - 2.5 hours north of Seattle, nearby has great cheap cabins for the weekend 
4. Snoqualmie Pass - 40 mins from Seattle, good for night riding after work
3. Snowshoeing

More Activities and Ways to Get Involved in Seattle

1. DiscNW - ultimate frisbee community
1. Lots of leagues and teams for all skills and commitment levels
2. Indoor Rock Climbing at Vertical World
1. If you're new to rock climbing, they have a great deal for beginner lessons and a week of free visits.  I haven't been, but I heard Stone Gardens is better if you prefer bouldering
3. Dancing at the Century Ballroom
1. Great classes and dance nights for salsa, swing, etc
4. Washington Trails Association 
1. Their website has useful trip reports of recent hikes and trail/road conditions
5. World Affairs Council 
1. Local non-profit that hosts lots of interesting talks, language tables, etc

Public Transit

1. Metro Trip Planner
2. Seattle Bicycling Guide
3. Bikewise - public bike reports

Some Places (mostly food) I Like in Capitol Hill

1. Sushi Maki
1. Best priced and good sushi in Cap Hill
2. Stumbling Monk
1. Great selection of Belgian beer, and they don't mind if you bring food (like Sushi Maki which is just down the block :)
3. Than Brothers on Broadway
1. Delicious cheap pho, and they give you a free cream puff :)
4. Bleu Bistro
1. Love their caprese appetizer and pasta dishes
5. Indian Express
1. Really good Indian food, and you can do take-out
6. Bikram Yoga at the Sweatbox
7. City People
1. Not really Cap Hill, but close.  If you sign up for their newsletter, you'll find out about their classes (went to one on chicken farming) and get a 15% coupon every month
8. Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant
1. Also not really in Cap Hill, but close and worth trying if you like Ethiopian food

4 Months of Married Life

It seems so long ago, but it was only 4 months ago today we got married at Mohonk!  Maybe it feels  longer since married life isn't much different from before.  On the other hand while Mohonk seemed so long ago, it's still strange to think of myself as a married person.  Probably because I don't feel grown up yet.  Well despite how strange it is to think of myself as a wife, I'm lucky to have such a loving husband, friends, and family (old and new!).

2009 in Pictures

January

February

March

April

May

June

 July

August

September

October

November

December