Friday evening, I went over to the school to meet up with Eve and Nathalie, a CE1 teacher and a CP teacher. Both are fairly young, in their late 20's, maybe early 30's. They're both married and have 2 little boys who are about the same ages (6 and 9 mo. old). After a long day of teaching, they were both a little pooped, so they had cups of tea in their hands when I got there to give them a little pick-me-up. About 5:30pm, we all crammed into Eve's little red Peugeot and headed into Lyon.
Of course we got into some rush hour traffic, which I've never experienced here... I guess that is certainly an advantage to taking the metro! Eve put on one of her favorite French groups, saying, "We're going to broaden Lindsay's taste in music this evening!" I actually did enjoy the band, but with it on, I had a hard time keeping up with their conversation in the front. Nathalie would turn around occasionally and ask me questions directly to make sure I was included, which was nice of her to do... she asked if we have eekeyAah in the United States. I was like... hrmmm, we definitely don't have anything called that. She said, "Oh well we'll have to go there next time! It's a big blue and yellow building... maybe you've seen it?" I said.... ohhh Ikea. Yes, we have that haha.
We finally got parked and into Lyon, near the Perrache train station, which is where Eve used to live. She pointed out the old prison near the station... I had seen it before but didn't know what it was. Apparently, it used to be the most high security, dangerous prison in all of France. Now it is being turned into a university, among other things (it's a huge complex).
We walked up towards Bellecour, walking through a street with lots of shopping (Rue de Victor Hugo). Beginning January 12th, the nationally mandated sales began. They last for about a month, but according to Eve and Nathalie, by the end things get picked over, so if you want to get something good on sale, you have to buy now! Of course I don't have a lot of money to spend on more clothes...plus I'm not sure how I'm going to pack to come home if I keep buying more stuff! But.... I looked and thought about what I would buy if I had more time to try something on.... so I may go back sometime this week, since they are such good sales:)
We were starting to get hungry, so Nathalie led us towards a street over near Place des Jacobins with tons of restaurants. I guess I had seen this area from afar, but never thought to go there when I was actually looking for a place to eat! But it was great! There were so many restaurants to choose from and we went to one called Lo Lo Quoi (I was just talking with the girls during our potluck yesterday how French people add quoi to the end of everything, much how we use the word "like" frequently and unnecessarily). It was italian-ish food, with good looking deserts (Eve and Nathalie were basing most of their decisions on who had the best desert). Neither of them are much into Lyonnais specialties.... and I've decided I don't think I am either (besides quenelles of course!)... so we all were able to find something we wanted to eat here. In fact, we all ordered almost exactly the same thing (chicken Caesar salad and tiramisu, plus a chocolate dome thing for Nathalie). We also ordered pre-dinner apéritifs... I didn't know what kind of drink the other two were ordering... so I said I'd have what Eve was having. It ended up being something with pastis in it... a similar liquor to absinthe. It sort of tasted like licorice to me... you added water to it, so it wasn't the worst thing I've ever tried, but it wasn't something I would have ordered for myself! Now I know:) Apparently, it's a manly drink from the Marseille area of France (south France).
After dinner (and the best tiramisu I've ever tasted), we made our way to Starbuck's. There are two that I know of in Lyon. It is much more expensive and has less variety than our American version, but otherwise it's exactly the same. Nathalie is obsessed. She kept reminding us that we couldn't order coffee with our deserts because we were stopping there for coffee on our way to the movies. They were both so funny explaining how you had to drink Starbuck's, with your coffee in one hand, your purse and phone in your other... just like Eva Longoria haha. They lovveee Desperate Housewives here, so their view of American women revolves around Susan Myers and Gabby Solis.
As we were rushing to get to our movie on time, carrying our Starbuck's, Eve kept getting it all over her. Nathalie was so proud that she could walk with her coffee and not spill it (through the little hole). Eve kept saying, "I just don't understand why you would walk and drink your coffee at the same time. I'm getting so hot! And I can't figure out how to carry it!" It was sooo funny. Nathalie tried showing her how to do it (walking with coffee). People in France drink their coffee at a table, like civilized people should do:)
We got to our movie just as it was starting and had to give up our coffee (after all that!). The movie, Somewhere, was good.... Eve and Nathalie loved it. I liked it, but am not big on films that have a lot of artsy scenes or abrupt endings (the French are fans of these types of movies...makes you think a little more). I, on the other hand, like to sit and watch a movie that doesn't make me think at all:)
After our movie, we went back to the train station to pick up Eve's sister-in-law. She spoke excellent English to me once she found out I was American. She didn't even have a British accent! She's been to visit friends in Bethesda, Maryland (I swear the world is shrinking haha, what are the odds!) so she's had some more real-world experience than Eve or Nathalie, who are embarrassed to try speaking English with me. It was super duper foggy on our way back (it was about 1am at this point), but we dropped off Nathalie, and then Eve and Sarah dropped me off at my apartment. It was a really fun night and I learned a lot of interesting slang... nanas is a very informal way of saying girls... mec is the slang for guy (which they said all the time, calling their husbands their "mecs"). So I will definitely be glad for another soirée amongst the girls and hopefully Elise, the other teacher will be able to come with us the next time!
Yesterday, Hannah, Helen, Lindsey, and Caroline came over for a potluck lunch. We ate and chatted for several hours and they all left a little after 6. It was another fun day with friends and it was fun to catch up with everyone after not seeing them during the holiday break. We also talked a little bit more about me potentially visiting England before I come back to the States at the end of April.... which is incidentally around the same time as the royal wedding:) Sounds like it could be fun hehe!
Well- gotta go get ready to tutor. Corinne invited me to go for a walk with their family afterwards if the weather is warm enough:)
Reste cool and happy Sunday!
long night! sounds like fun. i guess photos would've been a little too touristy for such an outing? The old prison sounds like a neat place.
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