Speaker on WWII Resistance

Check out the pics of Sabrina and Marine in Rennes below.

Yesterday we had the honor of listening to a speaker who was in Lyon at the time of the Resistance in the second world war. Her father was killed by the nazis and she spent time in a concentration camp. She's 88 years old and a delightful person. We asked her what advice she would like to offer to young people in France or the US and she said the following:
-Think before you act.
-Vote every chance you get.
-Be tolerant, honest and vigilant.
-Work hard.
This speaker really inspired us and made us see how lucky we are.

Now it's summertime in Lyon!

Summer weather has arrived, I do believe! It's beautiful here now - the sun shows off the architecture. This morning we are hearing about the WWII Resistance from a woman who was a child here in Lyon during the war. Then we have the afternoon free!

Il fait beau!

It's a nice day today (yes, this is news). A good day for a trainride and French countryside.

le 14 juillet

I almost forgot . . . Happy Bastille Day! Cheers to the Hexagon!

Pique-nique

After an apero at a bar called "Le chat qui peche", Sabrina, Marine, their friend Virginie, and I enjoyed our goods from the market this morning as an indoor picnic. It's still a bit grey outside, but the weather seems to be improving. I've been to Rennes a couple of times many years ago, and today I stumbled upon a few spots in the city that I remembered from before, and had a bit of deja vu. The most charming part of Rennes is the rickety old houses that look like they are out of a fairy tale. What fun to laugh, eat, drink, walk, shop, and chat with the girls. Sadly, I must leave tomorrow after lunch. Back to Lyon via Paris.

Rennes

Yesterday I took the TGV to Rennes from Lyon via Paris. I arrived in the evening and Marine and Sabrina met me at the train station. We had an aperitif at Marine's place and then had the MOST DELICIOUS galettes and crepes in the world with delicious cider. We are in Bretagne! Afterwards we saw a great fireworks show with the whole city of Rennes. Lots of people and lots of fun! Then we called our friends Pierre and Bitao at the French table in Cedar Falls.

Today we went to the open-air market in the morning and bought lots of beautiful foods for our dinner. Fruit, cheese, olives, bread, etc. It is a nice day and soon we will go shopping - hopefully for some shoes.

Vieux Lyon

Yesterday we had a fab tour of the old part of Lyon. We had a lengthy architectural tour of the apartment buildings and tiny stairways - gorgeous! Also a gargantuan cathedral called St. Jean. We also visited a high school that is interested in having an exchange with the US. It's in an old building that looks to me like an old English boarding school. I was glad to have the chance to see a school that is different than the one I know in the Paris suburb.

My host family is extremely hospitable. I have a great time dining and chatting with them in the evenings and playing with their boxer, Oxanne. This entire week we've had rosé wine from Provence for dinner, which is curious. Apparently it is in vogue at the moment.

In a few hours I take the train to Rennes to visit Sabrina and Marine. Hooray!