Whenever we come back to France, I try to see it through the eyes of a newcomer. Here's what I saw this time...
- Veils and scarves. I've never been anywhere with as many covered women as France - and that includes living in a Muslim country and walking around the neighborhood of Europe's largest mosque.
- Graffiti. I know Budapest has its share (and a few other cities' share) but Lyon looks to me as if it has more.
- Dream-worthy markets. We made a trip downtown for the Sunday market and stocked up on everything beautiful and yummy smelling. I know summer's not over yet, but I couldn't resist. So we came home with watermelon, red peaches, white and yellow nectarines, a sweet Charentais melon, red and yellow bell peppers, fresh garlic... to be eaten with the zucchini, tomatoes, and cucumber from the grandgarden. (I think the carrots are a lost cause.)
- Diversity. I guess this falls under the 'ears of a newcomer' as opposed to the 'eyes', but I was amazed again by how many languages we hear on the bus out to our 'hood and then walking around.
- Veils and scarves. I've never been anywhere with as many covered women as France - and that includes living in a Muslim country and walking around the neighborhood of Europe's largest mosque.
- Graffiti. I know Budapest has its share (and a few other cities' share) but Lyon looks to me as if it has more.
- Dream-worthy markets. We made a trip downtown for the Sunday market and stocked up on everything beautiful and yummy smelling. I know summer's not over yet, but I couldn't resist. So we came home with watermelon, red peaches, white and yellow nectarines, a sweet Charentais melon, red and yellow bell peppers, fresh garlic... to be eaten with the zucchini, tomatoes, and cucumber from the grandgarden. (I think the carrots are a lost cause.)
- Diversity. I guess this falls under the 'ears of a newcomer' as opposed to the 'eyes', but I was amazed again by how many languages we hear on the bus out to our 'hood and then walking around.
6 comments:
This sounds like a great way to make coming back a little easier. I'm gonna borrow it next time I visit home and have to come back!
I'm with you on the diversity...I hear so many languages on the train or on the sidewalk every day (lots of French!). It makes me feel like a dunce that I only know one. Oh well. As an editor, at least I'm REALLY good at that one!
Well put, as always.
Believe it or not, I've had similar thoughts about the diversity of Rutherford...you hear so many different languages just being out and about. I love it.
Enjoy all your yummy fruits and veggies!
Love you :)
a couple of days ago, on the way to wal-mart, we passed a car with a middle eastern couple in it. she had on a full black veil...nothing but her eyes showing. THAT is something rarely seen in OKLAHOMA.
oh dear, the picture of your market made my mouth fill with drool. that might be what i miss most...open air markets full of fresh veggies and fruit.
I know it's a bit superficial, given all of the great things about Lyon (and yes the awesome markets are right at the top), but the amount of graffiti here really bothers me. And it seems to be increasing steadily. We are currently doing some apartment hunting--maybe that is making the graffiti stand out a bit more to me :-/
I really enjoy your blog entries from Budepest. I would love to go there.
I don't think it's superficial Michael, graffiti is a big costly global urban problem. It was my first observation about Lyon as a newcomer. And when a tagger began to tag our beautiful building I got motivated and did research about ways to prevent it.
Great website www.graffitihurts.org/getfacts/fastfacts.jsp
It was a dynamic faceoff with the tagger. I took pictures of the tags and found his/her work all down the street. I'd clean he/she would return. My French husband thought I was crazy.
Researchers say a tagger lives near their work and most are not poor disadvantaged or troubled youth. There is a 48-hour window. I was on it and all my neighbors walking by would smile, thank me and strike up conversations even with my pitiful French. Now our building manager is motivated and I don't have to do it. On the block where I live others have defied the taggers.
I do know that the city of Lyon spends a lot of money cleaning up after the taggers.
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