yesterday, which was valentine's day, we went to diekirch for the annual cavalcade. it's basically a carnival and parade around the town, where everyone dresses up in funny costumes and has fun. one thing i've learned: luxembourgers like to be silly. and drink free beer :)

this couple asked us in luxembourgish to take their photo because they wanted to be in the newspaper. but this is close :)

it was my birthday on friday ( above is one of the little cakes i got as a present from g.) and the first one i've spent without all of my family and friends around me. it made me see the sort of life that's starting to come into existence for me here in luxembourg. i haven't met too many people yet, but i've done a major job search with lots of interviews, been hired as a freelance teacher at 3 language schools, began a course in luxembourgish which has already taught me speak in basic sentences, like ech leieren letzebuergesch, am beginning a course in french next week, have started a training course at one of the language schools, and have started studying tesol online. i've also gone to many delicious dinners and done a lot of fun things like swimming and visiting different cities. so it's been a productive month and a half and quite an interesting new year :) i look forward to what will come with this age of 24 (like maybe i'll start to look 17 years old, so that the woman at the swimming pool won't try to sell me a children's ticket, which is valid only to age 15!)

the last three sundays we went to three different towns in luxembourg: echternach, vianden and diekirch.
all were quite beautiful, though unfortunately on sundays everything is closed. i'll post some photos of echternach soon but here are a couple of vianden. it has a beautiful ancient castle, probably the most 'real' castle i've ever been in.

the quiet village

the gloomy castle on a hill