Luxembourg!

A tiny marvellous place. I really had no idea how pretty it would be. And easy to get lost in. Lots of twists and turns and steep hills. A gorgeous run along the canal surrounded by trees and stone walls, scattered community gardens with families having barbecues. Had the delicious unfiltered beer at the Mousel Cantine, which has been there forever. And the tiny piano bar, Cafe des Artistes was the real deal, a classy old lady belting out the cabaret classics, a crowd swaying and singing along, drinking wine and smoking. Sometimes I truly love Europe, even if cigarettes make my whole body sad. 

On the quest for 108 sun salutations, I made it to 72 before we left Poland. A pre-pirogi venture in the quiet of the morning. Really once you do 36 you might as well do 72. And if there’s time, I see no problem with 108. Taking a pinch of consideration for my shoulder health, I’ll do the full monty later this week. But all in all, I love this practice. The routine of doing the same few motions on the same breaths over and over again takes the thinking work out and leaves only the breath, and the subtleties of movement. Mid-way through becoming super energized, buzzing and hot. Again with the coffee before-hand, I’ll finally admit that it’s not what I need in a moment like that. Coffee and a well rounded yoga practice, sure, great even. Coffee and then this ultra stimulator of a practice and it’s an overload. Too much yang. 

The show in Luxembourg was not the finest moment. It was up and going for the first few songs, then boom. Something like bad chemistry occurred. And this was not universal, a few of us had a really good one and I’m sure a few of them were absolutely loving it. But a bunch of us felt the same- Is it me? Is it you? It’s us! Luxembourg, maybe it’s just bad timing! Ha! I’m way too sensitive to crowd dynamics, that’s for sure. But it’s part of the life, that’s also for sure.

And not to sound negative about Luxembourg at all, the place really is beautiful and all that, but the one noteworthy coffee shop in town is closed on Sunday and not even open until noon on Monday. What kind of coffee shop culture is that?! I mean going out for coffee is definitely a Sunday kind of thing. In a social, long time hang out way. And Monday, that’s a whole other crowd- business people on they’re way to work, the same ones on they’re coffee break, all this before noon for sure. Ok, I’m done with that line of complaining. But hot burnt milk in a paper cup walking through the downtown mall sector did sour the experience of this town slightly. 

On to Paris, home to another sort of bad coffee. And if the foodie blogs are right, some good coffee has begun to sprout up and take root. Let’s go there!