Monday, May 24, 2010

Happy Mother's Day to me!

This post is by Cile's ghostwriter. She's on vacation this week, visiting us here in Lyon, France, so I offered to update her blog for her.

- Kari (Cile's daughter)



Hopping off the bus and heading into a full day...

One of the hard parts of living far from family members is that we're not able to celebrate holidays and birthdays together often. Sometimes you have to get creative and make the most of the time you do have together. So, today was Mother's Day - for my mom, at least.

We planned a day of Mom-would-like-this activities and in true Cile Style, we walked the whole day. (She loves to walk.) We started off at the arts and crafts markets at about 10am, then went to our favorite food market to buy items for a picnic lunch. Passers-by wished us 'Bon appétit!' as we ate on the curb by the river.


The best market in Lyon...

After our leisurely lunch, we walked across the peninsula to the banks of the Rhône River, then up to the Parc de la Tête d'Or for a stroll around the rose gardens. Unfortunately, due to the cold, the roses were nehind blooming schedule. Fortunately, that means we have an excuse to go back later this week!


...Sunday mornings along the Saône River.


And on the opposite bank: the arts and crafts market. Very, very cool.


Our picnic: two rôtisserie chickens, a loaf of baguette, fresh goat cheese, rillette au porc (like pâté), green olives marinated in basil and garlic, amazing strawberries, mango, some cherries...


Digging in


Happy Mother's Day!


The Rhône River


The 'rents


Hôtel Dieu on the Rhône River


Taking a break to sit along the bank of the Rhône River


Swans in the Rhône River


Walking to the rose gardens in the Parc de la Tête d'Or


Beautiful peonies in the park gardens


Walking, walking, walking... We've walked over 17 miles since my parents arrived 72 hours ago.


PS. These last two photos continue this post.

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