Bonjour a tous, de France! coucou!  (bisous a la francais – a kiss on each cheek) …. Salutation Dupuis las France!

I started out for a walk on my own – saw a local street that looks interesting, in Lyon, around where we are staying.  

I noticed the wisteria as I began the walk – it is a good idea to walk near wisteria when it is in bloom – it brightens the day and brings positivity.  Spring in my step and sniff of the air tell me I am near.  My hand reaches out so gently to graze and barely touch the delicate purple flowers.  Not to disrupt their life, only to acknowledge their presence.  Bonjour.

Crosswalks with no lights, crosswalks with lights, little green “persons” when ready and red ones remind one to take good care and wait for the traffic – including bicycles that can come zipping by on the road.

About every 4 or 5 shops is a vision / optical / selling glass frames kind of place.  In a two block range there must be 6 vision shops.  I have never noticed how many of these are present where we live, but here on this street, plenty.  In between are one chocolatier torrefacteur (since 1897) shop with famous Lyon and France goodies (chocolate covered orange and lemon peels / rinds – yummmmmm and salted-caramel caramels …….. little chocolate wafers, very thin in dark, white, caramel, milk chocolate and of course almonds coated in pink caramelized sugar (pink pralines) are popular in this area, famous from Lyon used also in tart or brioche in this region.  Beautiful variety of temptations.

A fabric store!  Yay!  In the sale bin is white raw silk ….. I was thinking about raw silk last evening and how I would like a piece of white to wear around my neck for big events (not that I really attend many big events these days).  There on the street, in the sale bin, over a meter square of the most beautiful white raw silk on for less than half price …. 60% off I think, maybe end of a bolt?  Anyway it belongs to me now!  There were other colours and textures of silk so I strolled inside for a wee look around at all the other treasures, patterns, fabrics.  It is a Maison des Tissus.  Beautiful, textures, colours, some same as we have for sale for the quilter, and some extravagant for furniture recovering perhaps, maybe curtains …. Some lace.  Magnifique!  I lost some time there (in case you are watching me with the AirTag suitcase follower app . LOL.)

More optical shops, coffee stops, fromagerie (no self respecting French street is complete without those necessities), ice cream, sorbet and bakery shop, wine store, one jewelry shop (nothing special that I could see in the window) and one woman’s clothing shop on each side of the street – very dull, plain, ordinary daily clothes.  Interesting.  Oh and a shoe store!

I think I will head back to old town for a leisurely walk along the river and maybe site a swan in the sunshine.  Later ………….  

It is hours later. As I went out in the sunshine down over the bridge, over the river Saone, comforting cooing sounds of pigeons, quiet swimming solo duck and as I walked back a solo swan, then two more, then under the bridge I spied three more, so I crossed to the other side to get a better look and maybe 9 more in two clusters.  Such a treat to see the swans, enjoying their peaceful swim, watching them float and feed, dip their heads under and stretch out their beautiful long white necks.   

Walking through old town at a leisurely pace, feeling the cobblestones pressure my ankles and knees to be careful in my stride.  Notice the walking on uneven ground, feel the hardness of stone as my feet take turns landing on the walk ways. I walk by some coffee shops, gelateries, creperies, (scent of sweet, savoury, chocolate, fruity) and shops where they sell soaps and bath products … local scents of lavender, rose, lilac and more.  Colourful puppets, postcards, candles, silk scarves, painted velvet, pink pralines, flowershops. I popped in to a shop featuring limoncello in several varieties… made in France. Caught up with a group doing some tasting:). I guess I was in the right place!  A few restaurants featuring Michelin star rating, I checked out the prices. 

All the senses tickled out loud. 

Bonne nuit de France! 

Pamelllla