Last weekend was the famous “Fête des Lumières” in Lyon;
apparently around a million (4 million?) people came to see the lights that
weekend. The Fête lasted 4 days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday). People
come from all over and hotels are astronomically more expensive this weekend.
It was beautiful AND I got a visit from two friends so I was
over-the-moon.
Saturday night I got to see Elvire, my old conversation
partner back in Berkeley over a year ago, for her birthday! We went out to a
burger place after getting turned away from a swanky club where the bouncer
looked at me like I was underdressed and told us that Elvire’s boyfriend was
wearing tennis shoes which meant we couldn’t go in. Then we went to see some of
the light shows while drinking vin chaud,
which is everywhere here at this time of year. We saw the Anookis Go to the
Opera on the side of the opera and then Place de Terreaux which had a beautiful
show involving art, dancers, and nature. (It doesn’t make sense in words, you
have to see the pictures and videos-the videos are being stubborn so hopefully they will be up soon)
Sunday, Alison came to see the festival and we spent the
afternoon and evening trekking around. I played tour guide first and then we
spent some time seeing the light shows with Sara at night. We saw Place des
Terreaux again, Cathédrale de Saint-Jean, Place des Jacobins, and many more.
We also passed through the traboules in Vieux Lyon, ate at
L’épicerie, had some street-side crepes and an enormous barbe à papa (cotton candy). We spent time at the Christmas market
and time wandering the streets in general until we had to brave a rather
complicated situation wherein Alison had to find her covoiturage to return to
Strasbourg, sans phone or internet. But we succeeded! (Thank you to the nice
guy who let us use his phone!)
Finally, on Monday, Sara and I decided to hit the last few
things we wanted to hit. We went to Parc de Tête d’Or together where there were
lanterns in the trees, lanterns on the water and flying lit-up fish in the air.
It was really cool and mystical. Then I hit the universe light show (1000 mini
light bulbs on stakes and a beautiful projection of movement through the
universe) on my way home as well as another one on Rue Auguste Comte where the
artist had made statues of people on benches out of plastic wrap.
Anyways, it was incredible but I really wasn’t a fan of the
crowds Saturday night. I think I was happy with the way I did it—spread out and
a little bit everyday. I loved the atmosphere, it was cold but everyone was out
and there were so many street vendors everywhere you went—selling vin chaud, crepes, gaufres (waffles), kebabs (NOT a shish kebab, but a sandwich
with a long flat bun split in half, shredded spiced meat, onions, and a variety
of sauces, late-night food), hot
dogs, etc. Here are some pictures and (fingers crossed) videos. I hope you
enjoy!
