BOULANGERIES

Responding to Susanne's comment on finding THE bakery in a city, I realised I haven't found THE bakery in Lyon. Despite or because there is literally a bakery on every corner. We are in France after all.

We all know the clichés about French people and bread: Men with moustaches, wearing a striped T-shirt and a beret carrying a baguette under their arm.

TOWARDS THE BORDS DE SAÔNE

The last days have been cold and miserable and even though blossoms are appearing everwhere I go, it doesn't feel like spring if an icy winds blows through the thin layers I am optimistically wearing. Winter (if you can call it that; we haven't had snow once in Lyon) has left me coughing, and doubting myself and my capabilities.

This is not me, and I am only understanding this today, on my warm and sunny evening walk while realising how much I am craving the sun.

LE MARCHÉ AND MY FOOD JOURNEY

Living abroad changed me. Every time. I live in a new place, meet new people, learn a new language. I have to adapt to a different culture. For me this doesn't mean that once I live in France I become a French person. But finding myself in those new surroundings I see myself more clearly. It becomes easier to tell what doesn't make me a French person. And I can distiguish the layers the different experiences in my life have added to to my personality. Home - Austria, my family, my friends. Work experiences in social work with both animals and people. Ireland. Norway. Salzburg - university. Now France.

CROIX-ROUSSE

Croix-Rousse, my all-time favourite. Even though it is technically a hill. And I’m not a big fan of climbing hills in the city.

So Croix-Rousse is the other colline of Lyon besides Fourvière. And it’s the best. I find it difficult to describe the lovely 4ième arrondissement because it just is so many things. Historical and colourful, a village in a metropolis (at least that’s how the Lyonnais see their town), both tiny cobbled streets and open spaces with amazing views.

SECRET GARDEN

I love Croix-Rousse. I always go there when I’m in the mood to stroll through winding cobbled streets and take endless pictures of passages. And facades. And authentic people being authentic (#liveauthentic ;-)). Watching artisans creating bread, pottery, bouquets of flowers or wooden chairs makes me feel all authentic. And there will definitely be more posts coming on all of that. But for now, I want to show you something away from this beloved hipster/hippie heartland. 

FOURVIÈRE

As one of Lyon’s collines, Fourvière guarantees one thing: a fantastic view. And the huge plus of this hill is that you don’t have to climb it to see it. If you have a valid metro card, you can just change onto the funiculaire at Vieux Lyon, and voilà, two minutes and a little more body contact than you might enjoy later, you are standing in front of a very, very big white church. Some would also call it Basilique (de Notre-Dame de Fourvière).