Trip to Schengen and Remich!

For the last day-trip that the Trips SC organises, let’s go to the south of Luxembourg and visit its wine region on the valley of the river Moselle next Saturday, 31st January 2015.

Let’s start the day in Schengen.
“The name Schengen is inextricably linked to peace and freedom in Europe, as it was in this small wine-growing village on the River Moselle that an important chapter in European history was written in 1985. Signed onboard the MS Princesse Marie-Astrid, the Schengen Agreement was the first step towards the disappearance of borders in Europe. It also put Schengen on the map. Schengen was chosen because of its ideal location in the Three-Border-Region. It's here where the three Benelux countries meet Germany and France. The abolition of controls at the internal frontiers consolidated the Member States of the Schengen Area. Now the Schengen Area counts 26 Member-States and the Agreement allows over 400 million Europeans travelling without barriers.”
More at http://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/moselle/schengen

In Schengen we cannot miss the European Museum:
“Located within the European Centre, the European Museum Schengen was inaugurated on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement. This interactive museum retraces the development of Europe in nine chapters, while providing background information on the famous treaty. It is open from 11:00 to 17:00 and admission is free. “
More at http://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/moselle/schengen

Picture source: http://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/place/misc/monument-schengen-agreement

And then grab lunch and discover the town of Remich
Known as the pearl of Moselle, Remich is a popular site where “people love to stroll along the shady esplanade or through the narrow lanes and squares of the charming town centre, attracted by the gourmet restaurants and the quaint little shops. The marking feature of Remich’s main church is its 12th century tower built on the remains of a Roman watchtower. The St. Nicolas-Gate was part of a medieval fortification that was torn down in 1867.”
More at: http://visitmoselle.lu/en/remich

We can end the day by visiting a wine cave and trying true Luxembourgish wines (to be confirmed – unfortunately there are many caves that are not opened for visitors during winter, but we’ll try our best ;))
“Luxembourg wine is primarily produced in the southeastern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, with vineyards overlooking the Moselle River. Along this river, which for 42 km makes up part of the border between Luxembourg and Germany, wine is made in three countries. There is a continuous history of winemaking along Moselle and in Luxembourg going back to Ancient Roman times. Luxembourg mainly produces dry white wines and sparkling wine under the designation Crémant. There are also some rosé and red wines made, as well as some sweet wines.”
More info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_wine


Picture source: http://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/moselle/remich


Transport:
To go to Schengen:
Let’s meet at the Gare at 10:00.
Take the bus 175 at 10.10 from Gare Centrale to Mondorf, Christophorus (arrives at 10.35)
At 10.40 we take the bus 185 from Mondorf, Christophorus to Schengen, Koerech (third stop in Schengen, opposite Total gas station), arriving at 10.55

To go to Remich:
Take the bus 185, runs every hour at -54min

To go back to Luxembourg:
Take the bus 175, runs every 30 min, at -14min and -44min.


Hope to see you all there!

Enjoy your time in Brussels

Our last trip in 2014 will be Brussels. The European Commission has organised an official visit to the European institutions in Brussels. We have the opportunity to visit the Council, the Commission, the Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Parlamentarium. But Brussels is not only the capital of Europe, the city offers its visitors plenty of activities to spend a lovely time.

As the majority of us are going to spend also the weekend in Brussels, we have some suggestions so you can make the most of your stay!

Christmas market
Brussels has a huge Christmas market with approximately 230 chalets situated in the Grand Place and around the Bourse, the Place de la Monnaie, the Place Sainte-Catherine and the Marché aux Poissons. Don't leave Brussels without drinking a hot chocolate or mulled wine! In addition, the Christmas market offers an ice rink for skating and a light show on the Grand-Place every day.
More information on: http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm?id=4843&agendaid=59

Place du Luxembourg
This place is the meeting point of the crowd living in Brussels on Thursday evening after work. It’s also the perfect occasion for networking opportunities. One of the bars of the zone (Ralph’s Bar) has “happy hour” from 18 to 19.

Where to eat?
As Brussels is a multicultural city, its gastronomic offer is also very varied.
You can taste the typical Belgian dishes as the vol au vent, carbonnades flamandes, chicons au gratin in Mokafé, a typical taverne bruxellois. The prices are affordable and it is also worth to try their delicious desserts.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188644-d1625626-Reviews-Mokafe-Brussels.html

In Saint -Gery, you can find a wide range of Asian restaurants. If you prefer the Portuguese food, Flagey is your best option. Restaurants as Caramulo, Portugal or O’Braga offer typical Portuguese dishes. In this place, you can also eat the typical Portuguese sandwich – bifana. If you have time, you have to have a coffee and a pastel de nata (the typical Portuguese custard pie) in Pasteleria Garcia.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188644-d4035798-Reviews-Pastelaria_Garcia-Brussels.html

Where to go out?

City –center
- Place Saint-Gery: This place is always full of people and there are very nice pubs.
- Delirium: An obligatory visit for tourists in Brussels. The pub has more than 3000 different beers. http://deliriumcafe.be/
- Moeder Lambic: An ideal place to taste the traditional Belgian beer, as well as a wide range of Belgian cheeses. If you have doubts about your choice, ask the waiters! They are there to help you! http://www.moederlambic.com/
- Cabraliego: It is not the most beautiful bar ever, but the prices are very cheap. Beers for 1 euro, a bottle of cider for 4 euros and long drinks for 3 euros. You can also eat the typical Spanish dishes (Raciones). It’s only open on Friday and Saturday! http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188644-d2413488-Reviews-Centro_Cabraliego-Brussels.html

Place Flagey
- Café Belga: Large, lively café/bar with what looks like its original 1930s art deco details intact in the interesting jazz age Flagey building next to the Ixelles ponds. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188644-d1023649-Reviews-Cafe_Belga-Brussels.html
- Bar du Marché: Happy hour from midnight to 1 am! 2 cocktails for the price of one. http://lebardumarche.tumblr.com/

Ixelles Cemetery
The neighbourhood of the university students, with a lot of restaurants and cafés. In “El Café”, there is happy hour every day from 19 to 21, and you can taste the Mexican food. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1136493-d3848121-Reviews-El_Cafe-Ixelles_Brussels.html

Hiking trip in Echternach!


On November 8th, the God of sky and thunder had mercy on us after all, and we went to Echternach for our hiking trip! The Trips Subcommittee suggested the E1 trail, which starts at Echternach and passes by Bedford.




Echternach is in the Mullerthal region, better known as Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland because its landscape is very similar to its namesake country. The region is know for its trails much appreciated by hikers. It is also the oldest town in the country. Its abbey dates from 19th century but it was founded here in the 7th century! (source)





The town is not very big so we quickly made our way to the trail.



The trail is actually a circuit, with the possibility of stopping at Bedford. However, we were enjoying it so much that we decided to do it all!










We had a great time! The surrounding nature is beautiful, with amazing rock formations and water streams. We talked and played games while walking, it was a lot of fun!


It was a great trip! We left Echternach wishing for more hiking trips!

Domain name: Metz, 22nd of November - Password: Baptiste

Metz, almost an hour far from Luxembourg, is even better than its name sounds; it is pronounced "mess".

Keep calm and let's deal with this "Metz-Mess"; first, be sure that you have typed correctly the aforementioned domain name and password. Baptiste, our favourite French, has arranged all the details and promised Metz to be nothing but a non-stop party!

Take a look at our photos:






Strasbourg, the capital of Christmas

The Trips Subcommittee has chosen Strasbourg as the ideal destination for Christmas, even if it is a bit too early; our visit is scheduled for the 7th and 8th December and combines both having fun all around the Christmas markets and visiting the Institutions based there.

December in Strasbourg means, above all, the immense Christmas market, which has existed for 445 years and is without doubt the oldest Christmas market in France! http://www.noel.strasbourg.eu/

At the same time, Strasbourg is definitely well worth a visit, to discover its history, its cuisine and its unique atmosphere. Its monumental Cathedral together with the entire city centre, which is listed as UNESCO World Heritage, make the it one of the most attractive places of the Alsace region.

Moreover, since the city stands as a symbol of reconciliation between peoples and of the future of Europe, it is home to the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.

Our trip timeline is the following:

Sunday:
Meet at 08:00 at the Lux station, so as to take the 08:29 train:

Luxembourg – Strasbourg
Lux-Metz 8.29-9.19
Metz-Str 9.36-11.11

It is better to buy our tickets on Saturday or Friday. Keep in mind that the Saar-Lor-Lux discount group ticket is valid only for the weekend.

Meet at 12:30 at the Strasbourg Cathedral, so as to go all around the city:

We should not miss the cathedral of Notre-Dame, the Kammerzell house, the Petite France quarter, the Church of Saint-Thomas and, if the weather is nice, the Orangerie Park. http://www.otstrasbourg.fr/en/discover/monuments-museums-and-other-sites-to-visit.html

Moreover, around the city's squares we can find a lot of interesting places; go shopping around Place Kleber, buy souvenirs in the Cathedral area, have coffee or drinks at Place Broglie (Opera) and discover the student life at Place de la Republique (University).

Meet in the evening (time to be fixed) for the Christmas markets:

The Christmas Market itself spreads out into many streets and squares of the city centre, in particular Place Broglie and the Cathedral Square. Several hundreds of stall holders tempt the stroller with original gifts and traditional ornaments for decorating the tree and the nativity scene. There are also many treats to feast ourselves on: sweets, mulled wine and doughnuts. A giant Christmas tree is planted in Place Kleber close to the "Sharing Village", an ice skating rink at the foot of the cathedral.
http://www.otstrasbourg.fr/en/discover/strasbourg-capital-of-christmas.html
Unfortunately, we can only check in at F1 Hotel after 15:00.

Monday:

Meet in the morning (time and place to be fixed) and visit the Institutions together:

1. 9:30-11:30 – European Parliament, we have to arrive at least 20 min earlier
2. 14:30-16:30 – Council of Europe
Since the Institutions are not located in the centre, we can have a light lunch there.

Take the train back to Luxembourg:

Strasbourg - Luxembourg
Stra-Metz 16.50-18.29
Metz-Lux 18.38-19.30
OR
Stra-Thionville 17.50-18.29
Thionville -Lux 18.38-19.30
OR
Stra-Lux 19.50-21.59

We can book our return tickets from Strasbourg on Saturday, as soon as we arrive at the station there.


More suggestions:

- The Petite France district and the cathedral are definitely a must-see (we can also climb to the cathedral platform, it is free the first Sunday of the month and you can see the city panorama from there.)

- If anyone wants, they can take a boat ride, it takes one hour and goes through the city centre and to the European institutions (it’s 12,50€ with some reductions for +20 groups). More info: http://www.batorama.fr/

- Visiting the Christmas market – there are several markets across the city, one of them is a visiting country village (Belgium this year). However, Christmas market closes at 20.00 on Sundays.
More info: http://www.noel.strasbourg.eu/

Christmas programme (different concerts etc.):
http://media.strasbourg.eu/alfresco/d/d/workspace/SpacesStore/c389f048-c6ce-4630-9b95-6b7dd1d39745/programme-noel-strasbourg-2014_fr.pdf


Food and Drinks:

- We should not miss the local white wine and the local specialty tarte flambée at "au brasseur". http://www.aubrasseur.fr/

- Coffee at "cafe des anges". http://www.cafe-des-anges.fr/ OR on a boat, as some of the famous "peniches" are transformed into cafés and restaurants, tram stop "Gallia".

- Drinks at "La Taverne Francaise" and "Chez Jeannette". http://www.cityvox.fr/bars-et-cafes_strasbourg/la-taverne-francaise_200008065/Profil-Lieu
http://www.lenetdejeannette.com/


More info:
http://www.otstrasbourg.fr/en/accueil.html

Domain name: Metz, 22nd November - Password: Baptiste

Metz, almost an hour far from Luxembourg, is even better than its name sounds; it is pronounced "mess".

Keep calm and let's deal with this "Metz-Mess"; first, be sure that you have typed correctly the aforementioned domain name and password. Baptiste, our favourite French, has arranged all the details and promised Metz to be nothing but a non-stop party!

And now some headlines of the trip to Metz:

Meeting point:
1) For those who want to visit the Center Pompidou, a contemporary art museum (http://www.centrepompidou-metz.fr/), it would be nice to take the train at 11am (for those over 26 years there is a return ticket + Pompidou entrance for 25€ for those under 26 ask for a Saar-lor-lux ticket http://www.cfl.lu/espaces/voyageurs/en/billets-et-abonnements/billets-internationaux/saar-lor-lux/saar-lor-lux).

2) For those not interested in Pompidou you can take the train at 12.30.
In any case, we will all meet at the back of the railway station in Metz (Pompidou side) at 1.30pm.

Around the City:
For those who want to discover the city with Baptiste the plan is the following: Cathedral, Opera theatre, Trinitaire, Temple neuf, Musée de la cour d'or and Christmas markets.

Dinner:
For those interested in having a French dinner in Metz, a restaurant will be reserved (approx. 15 euros).

Drinks:
First drinks at around 9pm at "Mojito bar", from where the party begins. The place closes at 2am but there is a free shuttle bus to the club "Le rouge" for those who want to keep partying till the first train or the second… or even the third!

Can’t wait to meet you there!

Plan B for Saturday

Rain won't be a reason to skip a trip. In case it rains this Saturday, we'll go to Schengen.



The name Schengen is inextricably linked to peace and freedom in Europe, as it was in this small wine-growing village on the River Moselle that an important chapter in European history was written in 1985. Signed onboard the MS Princesse Marie-Astrid, the Schengen Agreement was the first step towards the disappearance of borders in Europe. It also put Schengen on the map. Schengen was chosen because of its ideal location in the Three-Border-Region. It's here where the three Benelux countries meet Germany and France. The abolition of controls at the internal frontiers consolidated the Member States of the Schengen Area. Now the Schengen Area counts 26 Member-States and the Agreement allows over 400 million Europeans travelling without barriers.

The plan is as follows: 

Morning Meeting:
Meet you at the Gare 10.00.
10.10 bus 175 from Gare Centrale to Mondorf, Christophorus 10.35
10.40 bus 185 from Mondorf, Christophorus to Schengen, Koerch (third stop in Schengen, opposite Total gas station) 10.55
Total duration: 45 min

Way back: There is a bus every hour at 9 past (15.09, 16.09, 17.09…)

Activities there:
European Museum Schengen: Located within the European Centre, the European Museum Schengen was inaugurated on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement. This interactive museum retraces the development of Europe in nine chapters, while providing background information on the famous treaty, it is open from 11:00 to 17:00 and admission is free. http://www.schengen-tourist.lu/index.php?idnavigation=43&fidlanguage=1

Walk around the town: Schengen is the sunniest region of Luxembourg. A mild weahter characterizes the small, romantic village with special flora in the Luxembourgish Moselle. The medieval castle of the region is operating as a hotel. However, for your information, the castle's most famous resident was the French writer Victor Hugo, who during his stay in 1871 as a guest of the Collart family created a drawing of the building using coffee grounds.

Lunch: http://www.tripadvisor.de/Restaurants-g1137930-Schengen.html 

Tourist Info:
www.schengen-tourist.lu 
www.si-schengen.lu 

Trips Subcommittee - fasten your seat belt!

Hop on board, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for unforgettable experiences! 

We are Anthea, Baptiste, Danae, Kasia, Sofia, Urša and Yiota and we are the Trips Subcommittee.

Get ready, because together we will explore Luxembourg and nearby countries. Luxembourg, although tiny, it is still full of surprises. Located in the heart of Europe, this beautiful little country will give us the chance to travel all around Belgium, France, Germany and - why not - even further!

Winter is not going to stop us. True travellers are not afraid of the weather conditions! Our activities include daily trips, cultural visits, hiking tours and, of course, we are in charge of this traineeship's final trip as well!

Almost every Saturday we will have a trip suggestion for you. You just have to follow us! Keep in mind that the destination doesn't really matter; the most important is the experience itself and the travelling all around!

We hope that you have enjoyed this description and we would like to thank you for choosing us as your Trips Subcommittee. We also hope to see you all in one of our next destinations.

Here you can find some information about the first activity organized by us:

Our first activity is set for the 8th of November in Echternach:

The Trips Subcommittee is proud to invite you on its first (wait for it ...) trip! If the God of sky and thunder has mercy on us, we will visit the city (village?) of Echternach, put on our hiking shoes, explore its beautiful surroundings and finish in the city (village?) of Berdorf.

Here are some photos to get you excited: http://kewl.lu/2009/07/hiking-pictures-in-mullerthall/

And some technical information:http://www.mullerthal-trail.lu/sites/mullerthal-trail.lu/files/page/attachments/Tourentipp%20Echternach-Berdorf_2.pdf 

Meeting point: Gare de Luxembourg
Means of transport: Bus 111 & Your smelly feet
Budget: 4 € for the bus ticket...

Stay tuned for more details!

Yours faithfully,
Trips SC