On a quiet Saturday afternoon stroll through Vieux Lyon, I stumbled on to a street performance being put on by five cute french guys. These guys weren't just dancers, they were comedians and crowd pleasers. They entertained us for half an hour...for free, in front a temple. It was awesome. I gave them 2€ and then I left there feeling really happy*.
*Probably because these guys made me realize that there might actually be some cute boys in this city. Not all hope is lost!
Here's a vid of some of the stuff they did. (I know you love my rhyming skillz... admit it.)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Beau-Beau-Beaujolais
Well, it's definitely been a busy week. It started on Monday when Emily and I decided to go on a wine tour around the Beaujolais region. We wanted to do something a bit -- touristy, and although it was quite pricey, we figured it would be a nice way to spend the day.
We were the first to be picked up by the tour guide, Olivier, at 9am, then we went to pick up the rest of our pack - a retired American, and finally a middle-aged couple from England. We were a small group of 5 ready to embark on our wine-tastic journey.
We were the first to be picked up by the tour guide, Olivier, at 9am, then we went to pick up the rest of our pack - a retired American, and finally a middle-aged couple from England. We were a small group of 5 ready to embark on our wine-tastic journey.
We visited castles, churches and vineyards throughout the day. We knew lunch wasn't included on this trip and that the restaurant he was planning on taking us too was quite pricey. So we did what normal budget tourists do and stocked up on croissants before we left Lyon.
Needless to say, it was a pretty long day to just be running on croissants and wine. So by the end of the second tasting, we weren't only the youngest people on the tour, I think it's safe to say... we were also the drunkest. Wait! Before you throw that disapproving look my way through your computer screen, know that we weren't plastered and sloppy... just a bit too buzzed for 4 in the afternoon.
Overall, the day was great. We had some fun, we made new friends and we learned alot. Here are some pics from the day. Merci Olivier :)
Needless to say, it was a pretty long day to just be running on croissants and wine. So by the end of the second tasting, we weren't only the youngest people on the tour, I think it's safe to say... we were also the drunkest. Wait! Before you throw that disapproving look my way through your computer screen, know that we weren't plastered and sloppy... just a bit too buzzed for 4 in the afternoon.
Overall, the day was great. We had some fun, we made new friends and we learned alot. Here are some pics from the day. Merci Olivier :)
Monday, June 22, 2009
Arrivals/Departures
My roommate Valentin went to Paris for the weekend. That meant we would be a house full of girls...English speaking girls, for three days. Eimear and I promised to get the English thing out of our system now, because come Monday it's going to be All French-All the time!
So...Friday night, the girls and I went to go pick up my friend Emily from the train station. She had spent a few weeks in Greece and was nice enough to come hang out with me in Lyon for the weekend. Emily is also spending a year abroad living in Ireland; she's been traveling for the last 6 weeks. We got back to the apartment, relaxed and did a little gift exchange. I surprised her with Kraft Dinner from Canada and she brought me three giant chocolate bars from Greece! Mmmm chocolate. Milk chocolate ION chocolates that I used to eat when I was a kid. Melts right in your mouth...I digress.
On Saturday afternoon, after a long day of rifling through the book market and strolling through Vieux lyon I wanted to take a little afternoon nap. 
I got all ready for my little sieste when I heard some music coming from the street level. I looked out my window and to my surprise, Robin S' 90's hit Show Me Love was blasting from a float covered with shirtless men waving rainbow flags. And behind that float were hundreds of people dancing in the streets. Looks like I wasn't going to be having that nap anytime soon...
So...Friday night, the girls and I went to go pick up my friend Emily from the train station. She had spent a few weeks in Greece and was nice enough to come hang out with me in Lyon for the weekend. Emily is also spending a year abroad living in Ireland; she's been traveling for the last 6 weeks. We got back to the apartment, relaxed and did a little gift exchange. I surprised her with Kraft Dinner from Canada and she brought me three giant chocolate bars from Greece! Mmmm chocolate. Milk chocolate ION chocolates that I used to eat when I was a kid. Melts right in your mouth...I digress.
On Saturday afternoon, after a long day of rifling through the book market and strolling through Vieux lyon I wanted to take a little afternoon nap. 
I got all ready for my little sieste when I heard some music coming from the street level. I looked out my window and to my surprise, Robin S' 90's hit Show Me Love was blasting from a float covered with shirtless men waving rainbow flags. And behind that float were hundreds of people dancing in the streets. Looks like I wasn't going to be having that nap anytime soon...
Fete de la Musique
Dimanche: 21 juin. Father's day, summer solstice and France's own Fete de la Musique!
After a long day of walking around the neighborhood, I tried to take an afternoon nap. I knew there would be music but I was under the impression that it would be played in different large open spaces around the city. I was not expecting for there to be Sting and Rolling Stones songs being played outside my bedroom window. Apparently, wherever there was 5 square feet of space, someone with a guitar, a harmonica or a saxophone would be playing music in the street. In front of bars, on church steps....everywhere.
But I'm not complaining! This celebration of music on the longest day of the year, was a magnificent display of talent, artistic appreciation and community spirit.
After my failed attempt at a nap, we walked around all night and watched different bands play all sorts of music, from jazz, to rock, to ska and big band; the streets were filled with people dancing and singing along until the wee hours of the morning.
I've got a wine tour scheduled for 9am, here's hoping they'll stop playing the U2 music before 2am so I can get a good nights' sleep.
After a long day of walking around the neighborhood, I tried to take an afternoon nap. I knew there would be music but I was under the impression that it would be played in different large open spaces around the city. I was not expecting for there to be Sting and Rolling Stones songs being played outside my bedroom window. Apparently, wherever there was 5 square feet of space, someone with a guitar, a harmonica or a saxophone would be playing music in the street. In front of bars, on church steps....everywhere.
But I'm not complaining! This celebration of music on the longest day of the year, was a magnificent display of talent, artistic appreciation and community spirit.
After my failed attempt at a nap, we walked around all night and watched different bands play all sorts of music, from jazz, to rock, to ska and big band; the streets were filled with people dancing and singing along until the wee hours of the morning.I've got a wine tour scheduled for 9am, here's hoping they'll stop playing the U2 music before 2am so I can get a good nights' sleep.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Naive New Beaters concert
I went to a concert in a park called Square de la Doua. Valentin invited us to the show; a band he really likes called Naive New Beaters was headlining. We got lost on our way there, but it was worth it. The show was awesome -- the band completely surpassed my expectations. Looks like this summer is going to be filled with concerts, not that I'm complaining...
On the way home, we were playing beat the clock to try to find/catch the last metro on time. Surprisingly enough, we caught it and didn't have to do the 45 minute trek that we were dreading.FYI: There were some eager beavers lined up outside the phone store near our house waiting to buy the new iPhone at 00h30 last night.
Lessons of the night:1) Always carry your carte bancaire so you can grab a Vélo'v home.
2) Sneaking in through the metro gate while holding on to your friend (sans paying) isn't really that frowned upon in France.
3) Just because your roommate grew up in France, doesn't mean he always knows where he's going.
Pour l'amour de la boeuf
The title of this post comes from the uniform of a waitress at the restaurant I ate at yesterday. The menu for the restaurant, called Hippopotamus*, consisted mostly of glamour shots of different meat plates. Looks to me like the french seem to take their meat very seriously. Finally, something we have in common.
*As far as I could tell, the restaurant didn't actually serve hippo meat.
Last night, after a couple of bottles of wine, me and the 'mates thought it would be a good idea to go for a beer at one of the many bars on the corner of our street. Needless to say, not only did we have a laugh getting to know each other,but I had a pretty mean hangover in the morning.
A demi-peche is pretty good (1/2 pint of Stella with peach flavouring in it... who knew!)
*As far as I could tell, the restaurant didn't actually serve hippo meat.
Last night, after a couple of bottles of wine, me and the 'mates thought it would be a good idea to go for a beer at one of the many bars on the corner of our street. Needless to say, not only did we have a laugh getting to know each other,but I had a pretty mean hangover in the morning.
A demi-peche is pretty good (1/2 pint of Stella with peach flavouring in it... who knew!)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
My new neighborhood
Here are some pictures of places and things within walking distance from my house.
My building. 1 rue Ferrandière, Lyon. My room is top floor third window from the right of the corner... does that sentence even make sense?!
My keys. Yes, the giant gold one opens my front door. (Thanks again, Emily)
The view from my bedroom at 11pm at night. Psst - on the top floor of the building across the street (somewhere in top center of the picture) you can see a flat screen TV lit up. They were watching Wanted. I watched too for about 10 minutes.
A random fountain and a carousel...
I believe this is the Centre du Commerce.
Le Pont Lafayette (I think... there are so many bridges) This bridge goes over the RHONE river.
The original 'Bixis'. Lyon's very own VELO'Vs
Place des JacobinsSo that was a little introduction to the place I'll be calling home for awhile. Au revoir :P
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
First Impressions
After a full afternoon of exploring the charming city of Lyon, I've come to realize a few things about the city and the people who reside here.
1) The people here are thin. Not in an unhealthy, celebrity mimicking, disgusting Lindsay Lohan 2007 kind of way; but there is a serious lack (and by that I mean a non-existing population) of overweight people in this city.
2) All of these thin people are constantly eating?! Eating while walking, eating while buying groceries, eating while driving... all the time.
3) Lyon is not a very multi-cultural city (at least in comparison to Montreal). And the ethnic diversity seems to really goes hand in hand with the difference between classes. About a dozen middle-eastern looking guys kept trying to give me free newspapers and then asked me for money.
4) If a guy wants your number here, he'll take out his cell phone walk towards you and straight up ask you for your number at 10am. Seriously. I was so shocked I almost choked on my croissant. I proceeded to let him down in English explaining that I don't speak french and I have no idea what he was saying.
5) It is completely acceptable to order une verre du vin blanc at 9:30 in the morning.
6) Jasmine was right... there are carousels EVERYWHERE!
Those are just a few observations from my first day in my Lyon.
1) The people here are thin. Not in an unhealthy, celebrity mimicking, disgusting Lindsay Lohan 2007 kind of way; but there is a serious lack (and by that I mean a non-existing population) of overweight people in this city.
2) All of these thin people are constantly eating?! Eating while walking, eating while buying groceries, eating while driving... all the time.
3) Lyon is not a very multi-cultural city (at least in comparison to Montreal). And the ethnic diversity seems to really goes hand in hand with the difference between classes. About a dozen middle-eastern looking guys kept trying to give me free newspapers and then asked me for money.
4) If a guy wants your number here, he'll take out his cell phone walk towards you and straight up ask you for your number at 10am. Seriously. I was so shocked I almost choked on my croissant. I proceeded to let him down in English explaining that I don't speak french and I have no idea what he was saying.
5) It is completely acceptable to order une verre du vin blanc at 9:30 in the morning.
6) Jasmine was right... there are carousels EVERYWHERE!
Those are just a few observations from my first day in my Lyon.
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