December 23, 2020

Wednesday

Catherine A (from coworker MLK in Charvieu) texted me early in the morning to invite me on a day trip to Lyon with her and her daughter Célia. I was picked up in Anthon at 11:00 and by 12:15 we were pulling into the city center. Our goal for the day was to explore the shops and see some of the sights.

The big stop of the day was Primark. This store reminded me of a Marshall’s or TJMaxx. They had almost anything you could want from home goods to Disney apparel. The store was absolutely packed as folks attempted to fit in all of the Christmas purchases they had been unable to make during lockdown. I felt almost claustrophobic, as it was impossible to socially distance. I haven’t been surrounded by that many people since March. Célia and Catherine seemed entirely unbothered and spent their time milling about the Disney section. They bought PJs for themselves and all their friends. Catherine made sure to tell me that matching PJ sets were all the rage in France, especially for lazy days and insisted I buy some. I told her that I wasn’t really a PJs person, preferring sweatpants and a hoodie. She was aghast. I did find some helpful items for my house! I got a little basket for dirty kitchen rags, a cutting board, some cheap shoes for walking, and two new sweaters.

We spent almost two hours inside the store and by the time we were done, it was time for lunch. Due to COVID regulations, it was illegal to eat inside the mall. Instead, we all got a sandwich and a dessert to eat in the car. Catherine proclaimed that she had never actually eaten a meal in her car and that it made her feel like an SDF (sans domicile fixé or homeless person). Remarks like these are really common in France. In the United States, they would be considered impolite, off-color, and perhaps even offensive. However, in France comments (even derogatory ones) about race, class, and social station are really common and made in an incredibly flippant manner. It can be jarring to hear in conversation. Though this particular comment wasn’t one of the worst that I’ve heard, it was still strange to hear that someone would associate eating in a car with homelessness, as I know I’ve eaten in the car many times on the way to sports practices.

As we finished our less-than-formal lunch, Catherine drove us across the city to Place Bellecour. A huge open space in the center of the city, it is a great meeting place and an easy spot to start a tour.

Catherine had hear about a giant Christmas tree in the Hôtel Dieu de Lyon, a former hospital that was converted into a series of luxury shops and eateries. Sure enough, we located it right in the center of the magnificent building.

Something I really enjoyed about the city was its mix of modern and classic architecture. You could be walking down an entirely modern street and see a building from the 1600s popping out around the corner.

Because we had voyaged into the city, Catherine and Célia decided it would be a good time to treat ourselves to some Starbucks. We joined the queue and waited about ten minutes for our drinks. I got a gingerbread latte, not bad! We enjoyed our drinks as we continued down the street. I noticed as we walked that everyone was wearing their masks, even outside. I think it’s required in larger cities.

By the end of the day, I was ready to return to Anthon. We walked over 5 miles throughout the afternoon! I discovered that Catherine and Célia are much bigger shoppers than I am. I was content to visit just a few stores, but they enjoyed popping in and out throughout the day. I was more interested in stopping to stare at the wonderful facades throughout the city. I hope to go back to explore, read some more plaques, and enjoy lunch on the steps of a beautiful church.