Bon baisers de Bruges

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Location, location, location.

No matter the industry or the field of activity of your business, it always comes back to location! It is such a crucial factor in a business environment to find that perfect spot, the one that makes your target audience meet your ambiance.

Well, Luxembourg definitely has a great location in Europe and  after making you travel to New York, Madrid and Rome, we are headed to Bruges, a beautiful city in Belgium, near the North Sea.

  

Labelled the Venise of the North, this small town is circled by a canal, reminiscent of its history and location. The historic city center is recognised as a prominent Worl Heritage Site of UNESCO and is a pleasure to wander around. The little streets, many churches and bars make a for a lively and yet charming town. The preservation of the historic buildings from the 15th and 16th Century can transport you to an age where horse carriage was the quickest mode of transportation. And you can still enjoy a ride in one of the carriage to explore the city in its purest form.

If you feel more like taking a boat ride, the city offers you a great 30 minutes boat ride for only 8 euros to discover the city from the canals. And the comments of the captain about the history of the city are hilarious!

Now a visit of this city wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Beer Wall, a bar that has a truly incredible wall of beers! They propose a great tasting of local beers on a little terrasse that has a great view on the canals.

Once you have finished drinking your beer tasting, the House of Waffle is your next stop. This establishment has been around since 1929 and it is one of the only waffle palces that lets you choose between a Gaufre Liégoise and a Gaufre Bruxelloise, the two types of waffle of Belgium.

When night comes, head to Geernaartstraat, the streets of bars. You will find there the « Bar des Amis », literally the Friend’s bar that has great ambiance for a night out.

What to do when the TV/internet fails you…

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It’s not working… no, it’s definitely not working! The only thing appearing in your TV screen is « no signal »… at home at least it works …

Who has never had this desperately black screen, empty of content, right before the time of their favorite show?

Well, we are here to try to helping because sometimes it is just a matter of simple manipulations.

The most obvious thing to check: is everything plugged in? Are all the plugs connected and the devices turned on? Yes ? Then maybe it is a cable that is unplugged? Is the HDMI cable well attached to both ends ?
Is the internet box switched on and synchronized? Is the wifi enabled? And the bluetooth of your laptop (for a chromecast) active?

Yes ? Well, in this case, it should be working…

Ah! The input of the TV, did you select the correct one? Check the input menu of the TV to make sure you are connected to the right one.

Finally, the only thing remaining to do is to properly set up your chromecast and your mobile (or laptop) and everything will roll. You didn’t know it had to be set up? Well, it does ! You’ll find here how to do it!

Now you’re sure to be able to see your favorite TV show on the big screen!

Summer in Luxembourg

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Summer is most people favorite season. Holidays are just around the corner and the whole world seems to brighten up.

Luxembourg is no different and when the summer season kicks in, the plethoria of festivals and activities suddenly transform this tiny country in a lively, modern, nature-orientated paradise.

Every year, the « Fête de la Musique » launches the festivities with many concerts on the main squares of the city center. And then, there is of course the National Day that actually runs over 2 days with a spectacular firework at midnight on June 23rd. And since the next day is always a bank holiday, you will be able to enjoy the party well into the night… or early morning!

Another very important event of the summer season is the Schueberfouer, a fair that brings the most exilerating rides and food trucks to the city for a week.

As you can see, summer in Luxembourg is far from dull! And we haven’t even begun mentioning the many music concerts, theater and opera that are open to the public throughout the summer months. You will find a full program of the activities here !

Of course, this summer, or at least its beginning will be focused on the FIFA World Cup… and while Luxmebourg is not particpating this year, the enthousiasm from the hundreds of thousands of expatriates living in the country will certanly make for some entertainment with outside viewings on gigantic screens.

Roman Holiday

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Audrey Hepburn understood back in 1963 that there was nothing better than a holiday in Rome. Now, more than 50 years later, Rome remains one the most visited city in the world. With good reason!

The city offers not only history and architectural marvels but also a distinct and delicious cuisine, (almost) supplanted by the equisite wines and spirits and the incomparable ambiance of the city.

And while traipsing through the many hills of the city might not be your cup of tea, Rome has many other attractions for you to discover! One of them is without a doubt, Trastevere, the boho-chic, thrift shop-filled shops and a great neighborhood for the Aperitivo, a Roman tradition of drinking and eating after work.

We would also recommend stopping by the Villa Borghese and its incredible gardens that will offer you a welcomed shadow to rest under.

And because European cities does have similarities, you can walk along the Tibre and step over the island in the middle, Isola Tiberina, almost believing you’ve traveled to Paris by simply crossing the Ponte Garibaldi.

And of course, Rome is the home of pizza and pasta and gelatti and insalata and all those fabulous dishes (and drinks!) that are uniquely Italian!

If you don’t have the opportunity to travel to the Eternal City, stay tuned to our Instagram this weekend, we’ll make you discover Rome in all its splendor!

 

Bigger is better

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Luxembourg is not a big country but we like to see things big!

(Have you seen the size of the flag?!)

Most houses and apartments in this tiny country are made for families and do not represent big surfaces but as we develop the flat sharing concept here, we realize that we are far from the big flatshares of London or New York. It’s a given that we will never reach the astonishing number of 548 flatmates in a same building but slowly by slowly we are building residences of up to 22 flatmates!

(Yep, watching a funny video on Facebook is part of the package deal when living in a flatshare).

Most people look for smaller residences where they can be closer with their flatmates but there is an appeal to bigger residences. A chance of meeting more people and that is what flatsharing is about. Settling in a new city or simply a new place and not living alone (and sharing the expenses of course!).

(I’m not sure if this is what a big flatshare looks like but I’m torn between fascinated and scary…)

What would you rather have? A flatshare that offers small amenities and a closer  relationship with your flatmates or a bigger one with lots of people (and probably noise) and have great adventures, traipsing through town and hiking that mountain like you said you would but never had the courage to do alone?

In any case, we’ll have all options available for your here in Luxembourg!

 

A weekend in Madrid

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Viva España !

 

What is great about Luxembourg is that enjoying a weekend in an European capital is so easy to book! With many destinations available either by train or flight, Luxembourg is definitely at the heart of Europe.

But this weekend, we are bringing you to Madrid! The Spanish capital is a paradise for « cervezas con tapas ». The city is full of little restaurants that offer Spanish cuisine and, above all, the Spanish ambiance. Imagine entire streets with people drinking and eating after a long day of work, under the Spanish sun and surrounded by culture and historic buildings.

Apart from food and drinks, the city is a true gem for museums and botanic garden such as El Prado and its extensive collection of Picasso, Goya and Velasquez. The old Post building is an architectural marvel and let’s not forget, La Puerta del Sol, iconic square of Madrid.

Green areas and parks are also common with the Palacio Real and its beautiful botanic garden or the Retiro park with its lake. Why not take the time to rent a boat and relax under the sun in this « green lung » in the middle of Madrid ?

Don’t forget to stop by the Rastro, a traditional street market in Madrid that covers an entire neighborhood ! And of course, La Plaza España, unmissable if you want to do some shopping!

And if you want to trade the city for the countryside on Sunday, head to Aranjuez, the home of the Royal Family and a beautiful Medieval town that has a rich and tasty gastronomy!

 

 

Five resolutions to improve your flatshare

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Do you remember how it was back homne? The full fridge, the fluffy towels, the liberal use of central heating. Luxuries all distinctly lacking, you notice, as you arrive back at your flatshare.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. With these five resolutions, you can make your flatshare a little bit nicer every day.

  1. Get Some Plants

Plants are living things that you take care of. Under your watchful gaze they develop into flourishing fountains of beauty, instilling purpose, joy and pride into the life of the gardener. What’s not to love!

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See them as the first step on the tripartite progression to parenthood (plants à puppies à babies). Or keep them for their health and stressbusting properties. Either way, you’ll be glad you did. Here are some great options for what species to get.

  1. Recycle

In most boroughs and councils, bins are now collected once a week. That means bin space is premium property. Not as premium as a Belair studio flat of course, but still pretty premium. Recycling more is better for the environment, but it also means your bin won’t be full after two days! Hurray! Take that, urban foxes.shutterstock_108327635

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Buy Some Local Art

Those pegs on your walls are for pictures, not hanging up your shirt to dry, y’know! Why not use them properly and support local artists at the same time by buying some cool local art to hang up? You’ll become Cool Host #1 at house parties plus you’ll help your local art scene, meaning more art for everyone! Yay! 

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  1. Splash out on Everyday Items

Come on, you’re an adult now. It’s time to get good bed sheets. You use them every day, you might as well have nice ones. It’s time to get that throw to cover up your pre-furnished sofa. It’s time to get the doormat with the witty saying on it. Don’t fight the Inner Dad. Embrace it. This is who you are now.

  1. Sit Down Together Every Once in a While

A good flat dinner at the end of the week is a great thing. You’ll feel closer, happier and also get to have some delicious food and wine. Plus when you spend the rest of the week buried in work/the library/your boyfriend’s house, you know that there’s some quality flatmate time booked in.shutterstock_172085942

Portugal, our weekend getaway recommendation!

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Looking for a good deal for a weekend away?

Located in the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is to a great extent border with the Atlantic Ocean; which explains its maritime vocation! In the 15th century, thanks to its brilliant navigators who braved the sea and opened new maritime routes, Portugal reigned over the world.

Lisbon boasts iconic monuments, such as the Jerónimos Monastery (known as Mosteiro dos Jeronimos) and the Belém Tower, as symbols of this glorious period. Portugal is also the alma mater of cod fishing, thanks to their venturing into the cold waters of Newfoundland, and the drying and salting process, which has become a symbol of Portuguese gastronomy and probably the most reknown product of Portugal.

For half a century this country lived with a fascist political regime, under the government of Salazar, but was able to shook it off thanks to a peaceful revolution in 1974, « the carnation revolution ». To this day, there is a mixture of joy and sadness, strength and gentleness in the Portuguese population, feelings that translate to its unique music – Fado and the untranslatable word « Saudade« .

Portugal attracts more and more tourists each year and its largest regions (Porto, Lisbon, Algarve, Alentejo) collect the prices of the best tourist destination in the world. The reasons are many: quiet and authentic countryside and cities, optimum sunshine, beautiful natural sites and a varied heritage, a welcoming population that is very often multilingual and a country that is only 2 hours away from the main European capitals by plane.

Everyone finds their pleasure « farniente » on the beautiful white and black sand beaches of the Algarve, sports, tourism and cultural activities, scenery in the picturesque villages of Alentejo, passing by the Nazaré for the best waves for amateurs Surf.

Many words call to mind Portugal and irresistibly evoke the pleasure of travel: porto -fado – pastéis de nata – azulejos – Manueline art – golf – marble – cork …