A Day of Contrasts

July 10
Den reminded me at breakfast that it was 4 years ago today that I was diagnosed. We talked about how our lives changed then, and about the uncertainty of a long life. His advice? Fill up the life you have.

And we are. Today was one of extreme contrasts. It began in Lyon, the third largest city in France, after Paris and Marseille. We took the funicular (tram) up the hill above old Lyon to see the Basilica. It was one of those things we thought we should see, since we were here, but Catholic houses of worship are not high on Den's list of must-do's. However, we were sure glad we did. It was the most impressive structure imaginable. It took 200 years to build and the interior is entirely decorated in tiny mosaics, all in tribute to Mary. Extremely interesting, both from a historic and architectural point of view. We stopped off at the Saturday market to watch the locals in action and bought a loaf of pain complet.

Our GPS was not in our good books today--but I believe our troubles had more to do with the directions we were give than the technology. We had to tell her to shut up a few times. After a lot of driving, mostly in the wrong direction, we arrived here at this little out-of-the-way spot deep in the heart of Provence. We have an apartment here on a vineyard for a week. It is way out in the country, at the end of a dirt road.I think we are going to like it. It has a nice pool, lounge chairs, everything we could possible need to cook our own meals, and a resident cat. Den got directions to get to a local market in the morning, a half hour walk through the countryside to the nearest village, and a chance to stock up on bread, goat cheese, and local produce.

So--definitely a day of contrasts-- from the urban morning rush in Lyon to an evening listening to the insects in the trees. By the way, Andrea, what are those buzzing things?

Beaune to Lyon

Left the Hotel Alesia after yet another great breakfast. Why do I think about food so much? We took the backroads all the way through wine country--a beautiful route through vineyard after vineyard. each little village seems to have its own chateau and une eglise. Best memory was of zooming along country roads and passing through narrow cobblestone streets of medieval villages. stopped in a few of them and viewed the monastery in Cluny where we also bought some wine, crackers and olive tapenade. Tom and Linda: Mrs. christopherson would be so proud of us! We are shocked at how much of our high school French we actually remember and can use. We arrived here in Lyon, the good old GPS brought us right to the hotel parking lot which we recognized because we had already viewed it on google street view at home. Paid more for this hotel but boy, was it worth it! Old historic place, big room by European standards, overlooking the theatre which is all lit up now at night. One highlight today was finding a Traboules, a serpentine like passageway that links the city streets. They are like hidden pathways that hide courtyards and entrances to apartments, etc. Apparently they were designed to shelter silk, a major industry here historically, when it was being moved from stage to stage, but they also helped the Resistance fighters confuse the Nazis during WW2. Den is more adventurous than I am when it comes to stuff like this, or maybe it is because he has watched so many war movies, but he found one of the old doors, opened it, said, C'mon and led me down this long passageway. Wow-- it ended up in a little courtyard with spiral staircases leading up several stories and a staircase leading down to a cellar. great place to let your imagination run wild and picture soldiers outsmarting the Nazis. . . Had dinner in an outdoor cafe and walked around the city at night. This is an amazing country. We haven't found a single thing to complain about. Everyone is helpful, goes out of their way to help with English--even the public toilets put ours to shame. Loving every minute of every day.