The enchanted forests of Luxembourg.
Choosing the one of so many exhilarating paths before us, we follow our hearts to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg—the name itself lends to wonder. This modern day financial hub remains a fairytale nation nestled between Belgium, France and Germany. One of my beloved’s most coveted destinations to discover, it is the perfect place to spend our 20th wedding anniversary.
Our five bags packed into our brand new lease, our ten feet thrilled to have the freedom of a car, we embark from Paris, through the pristine countryside of Champagne and Brie, and meet the familiar blue EU sign, ringed with golden stars—we have entered the last dukedom of Europe. Moments beyond the abandoned border control station, as if with a wink, the landscape transforms and we are transported into someplace magical.
As we wind along the gentle curves, it is astonishing that we are geographically in the same region. Although small, I imagine the forebears of this tiny realm falling upon this place of beauty and declaring it as more than adequate for a happy kingdom.
The roads carry us through small villages and creeks, into lush woods cut deep into rugged rocky cliffs, carved by ancient glaciers unearthing the planet’s most magical forest life. The tiny country feels so spacious, the air so breathable—the energy so real. Even the gentle flow of sparse traffic and occasional road construction is orderly and just so.
Along the lush green of rolling hills and forested mountainscapes, fat, happy cows laze about, munching their cud—I’ve never seen a happy cow before—but these mythical creatures do exist within the enchanted boundaries of this tiny duchy. The soft arc of the winding roads draw us into a deep cut of forest along the rich majesty of chiseled cliffs and, as if ripped from the pages of fairytale, we are swept into wonder—literally slamming on the brakes, unable to contain our awe any longer.
The magnetic thrill that courses through our marrow as we step unto the soft earth of this wooded wonderland makes our decision to lead off with Luxembourg the right one.
A challenge to articulate with mere words, the splendor of this forest, more magic than majesty, feeds a fortune of life with a mystical pull from the earth beneath our ten feet as we draw in the rich air and absorb an energy that feels like pure life force. I kid you not when I say that the feeling of this place is palpable. Simply being within this profound space in nature is one of the most astonishing experiences of our lives.
The old tales make so much sense now, for here there must dwell magic and faerie folk. If you have ever been swept away through a rich novel’s magical lands, this is where you were living, breathing, birthing your adventures—exploring the mystical reaches of imagination.
To be able to wander through the pages of long ago places and then step into a modern, effervescent city is a marvel we look forward to sharing with you.
First Luxembourg Post – Coming soon …
We will be adding detailed posts of our varied adventures in Luxembourg soon …
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