Shake & Bake Survivor Level

You would think that I know Shake & Bake pretty well by now but you'd be wrong. I spend most of my time in the 6th or Presqu'ile downtown between the two rivers. I actually know very little about my own neighborhood. To remedy this I set out late this afternoon to kill two birds with one stone: 1. go for a run and 2. in Shake & Bake unexplored territory. Well, I found out how far the town hall (pictured above and below) is from my apartment and I saw a really small but nice commercial center and a few nice houses. Then, just as things were starting to get interesting, I realized I was totally lost. I had my old phone with me which means I can listen to local radio  which is nice for running and listening to (and therefore practicing) French. However, I can't make calls from it but can only receive calls. I had been out for a couple of hours, which is about an hour and 20 minutes longer than my usual run, and I was hoping that I would get a call from my boyfriend to ask something like "where are you, you've been gone forever and it's dark." But no such call came through. Add to the inability to make a phone call the fact that I had no money on me and so could not have used a payphone. Further add that when I started out it was sunny and so I was wearing my sunglasses. My prescription sunglasses. So after sundown I had the choice of continuing to wear my sunglasses, which looks weird, or remove them. I opted to remove the sunglasses which meant I couldn't read signs and everything past the length of my arm was pretty much a blur. I also should mention my attire. It's not normal in France to run around in the streets in workout gear. It seems that this kind of clothing should only be worn either in a gym or in a park where other people are running or riding bikes. If you wear running clothes out on the boulevard you will attract attention to yourself. Unfortunately, at this point it was rush hour so all of Shake & Bake got a good look at the crazy blind lady in the workout clothes on the main street. No doubt, there were lots of shaking heads in those Smart Cars and Mini Coopers with exasperated mumbling such as "What is the world coming to that crazy blind ladies in workout clothes should be free to run about Shake & Bake with no shame?"  And so after a few wrong turns , some adventures down some wrong roads and a lot of squinting, I finally figured out how to get back home and made my way there. Seemingly unrelated is the fact that I passed my second level French courses this week. The certificate I received from the school at this level states "Survie", which means "survival". How true. 

Qu'est-ce que c'est? / What Is it? Friday

Qu'est-ce que c'est? Well, it's the ubiquitous macaron being peddled by the Golden Arches....

Macarons are available for a limited time at McDonald's, or more specifically at McCafe's in France. The fine print says, "for your health, avoid snacking between meals." I was walking past so I have no idea what these are like. I haven't darkened the door of a McAnything since June. And anyway, I was between meals and even though I was feeling a bit peckish, I wouldn't have compromised my health by having a snack 'twixt lunch and dinner. 

Things You Don't Expect to See in Vieux Lyon (like Teeth of the Sea..read on)

Once a month our class takes a trip to some interesting place in Lyon. Today we braved the cold wind and rain and headed to the Miniature and Film Museum in the Old City. Here we saw a large collection of miniatures of all kinds and a collection of original film props. I had just finished reading "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" two weeks ago but I have not seen the movie. So, I was surprised to see some of the set designs from the movie (called Perfume) like Grenouille's workshop and Baldini's perfume shop set in 18th century France.

The model of the flying ship from the 2011 movie "The Three Musketeers"

Costume from the movie "Gladiator"

This was cool to see : a USA Today prop from the movie "Castaway". It was interesting to see so many props like this one that are made with mind blowing attention to detail. This "USA Today" is complete with a photo caption and an "article" about the rescue of Tom Hank's character.

The guns look real don't they? They are props from various movies like "Munich", "The American" and "The Bourne Supremacy". The one from the film "The American" is made of foam rubber and resin.

Model of the Lewis & Clark spacecraft from the movie "Event Horizon"

This is the Jaws shark puppet that was used in scenes where the full sized mechanical shark could not be used. The French title for "Jaws" is "Teeth of the Sea". I'm snickering.

I was so busy snapping photos of the movie collection that I didn't get any of the miniatures collection. There were miniatures of famous places in Lyon and of various scenes from all over the world. 

Brotteaux

The improvements to the square in the Brotteaux neighborhood are complete. This is my favorite square in Lyon because the buildings surrounding it are so beautiful and it has the old train station as its centerpiece.

This almost looks like a black and white photo but it's just the way the light was. I like the way the lights look like table lamps and the benches are arranged in a semi-circle. It gives the feeling of being in a living room.

This glass "floor" near the center of the square covers the top of the stairwell in the parking garage that is under the square. It gives a view of the unusual light installation in the stairwell. The raindrops make it harder to see and if I had had a squeegee with me I could have fixed that.

Lyon from Another Memphistanista's Point of View

So what happens when two Memphistanista's meet for the first time in Lyon? Visit this blog to find out: Oui, pass the wine

Meanwhile, Back in Memphis...

Sitting here in Lyon, a city of LIONS, I am thinking about TIGERS and (Grizzlie) BEARS.... 

GO TIGERS!!!     GO GRIZZ!!!

Downtown Shopping

It felt like the Christmas shopping season has begun as everyone seemed to be out and about today, including me. And my camera...

Holidays Under Construction

The annual installation of the giant ferris wheel (grande roue) in Place Bellecour was underway today. It will be there through February, I believe.

A little way down the Rue de la Republique, in anticipation of skiing season, a tiny ski village was being set up by a company representing several ski resorts in the French Alps. For a few days the Place de la Republique will be dominated by a mini ski slope, ice rink, luge and other fun winter-time outdoor activities. And of course, there will be mulled wine and lots of heavy winter food like tartiflette. 

The video from 2010 (go to 1:12 when the real fun starts):

Thanksgiving Decorations (?)

Scenario: You're an American living in France and you've invited people over for Thanksgiving dinner. You'd like to decorate the table with a Thanksgiving theme, of course, but you need to do it today and all you have to accomplish this are: an assortment of paper napkins your family sent you, wine corks, ribbon, crepe paper, toothpicks and tape. 

My result: an origami rose wreath made from the napkins and cork turkeys. Any other ideas? Now it's not that I couldn't do something more Thanksgiving-ish here mind you but with the time constraint thrown in, I had to punt. And anyway I had fun making these goofy little things. And yes, I should be studying.

The Big News

Thursdays in November are for traditions. The fourth Thursday of November means Thanksgiving to an American and for the French the third Thursday in November is THE day for Beaujolais Nouveau, so today is the day. Le Beaujol'ympiades  is an event sponsored by the Young Winemakers/Young Farmers of the Rhone and kicked off last night with a parade, fireworks and music culminating with a Beaujolais Nouveau tasting at midnight. My personal favorite quote from the event website: "breathalysers are available to people who come throughout the day." 

Unfortunatley, I did not learn of this until today otherwise I would have gone to help taste the B.N. Tonight, as I was returning home from a friend's house, I walked past many bars and wine shops and all were full of French flags and people gathering around to share bottle or two of a wine that is somewhat of a red-headed stepchild in the wine world. 

This Is What I'm Talkin' 'bout

France, schmantz. I wish I could have been there. Go Grizz:

The River is Rising and The Basement of Curiosities

The Rhône is swelling thanks to lots of rain. 

These are pictures taken of an area I really don't visit that much between Bellecour and Perrache, which is on the south side of the city. I know some of you may not have your Lyon maps handy so this area is in the opposite direction from Shake & Bake. This "cave" of curiosities was just that, curious. Once you walk in that blue door you immediately descend a few narrow stone steps and you are in a shop packed with all kinds of things; tableware, purses, pottery, scarves, art, jewelry, glassware, some antiques and some new items. The ceiling is a series of low arches, the walls are stone and there are lamps scattered around giving off a warm, inviting glow.

Place Ampère