After a mid-trip break with the kids after our time in the UK and Germany, the kids headed back to Sydney for school and the wife & I spent the week in Luxembourg, a tiny country with big ambitions when it comes to reinventing how we make things and and how dispose of things, aka the Circular Economy.
Before we get to the business end of the week, we start with just how fabulously unique this country is. It is landlocked, surrounded by France, Germany and Belgium. It is a mere 82km top to bottom and 57km wide. So two marathons would do it north to south and one and a bit left to right. At one point we took a wrong turn between meetings and ended up in France. It's that small.
Luxembourgers kiss three times when they meet each other unlike the Frogs who go for a one-two peck and Aussies who just head in for one, usually awkward kiss. Given over half the population is born from outside Luxembourg – France, German and Belgium, every greeting moment is a cacophony of kisses creating great confusion. Also interesting to note, the daytime population of the City of Luxembourg swells from 50,000 residents to 200,000 employees who pour in.
The old town is stunning and sits atop a sheer rock cliff with old fortifications. Below several rivers run. As a runner, it is a great place to be. They have a night-time marathon coming up. So tempted!
There are three official languages and English isn't one of them. At school they start with German, then French and finally Luxembourgish – a Germany-ish dialect.
To my school French teachers Owen Hanson and D'Jo Hillaire, I'd like to apologise for the heinous linguistic crimes committed this week by me. "Ma J'ai soif je voudrais une Orangina" can only get you so far. To my Quebecois wife / co-founder, thank the good Lord you were here otherwise it would have been burgers and fries every night.
That lead bloke looks overly eager. With a 7pm kick off, the average punter will be coming home at 11.30pm. Grim.
Great running track down there. Getting there's a bastard but it's worth it.
So many of these fellas.
A city on the edge.
Old town, cobbled streets…just like the Rocks but with less convicts.
Gratuitous family holiday snap with special guest star, adopted daughter Kemana. She demonstrated an ability to end all the Civil wars in this household…destined to lead the UN.
the early years 
