A sea day. Magic invention. Luxurious and lazy. A day to consider where we have been or plan where we are going. Time to sit in contemplation, connection and conversation with new friends.
Important also to sit with the present moment, this, just this. Not wishing it was otherwise and not longing or remembering.
A time change, an hour later. We have breakfast in the buffet with lots of fresh fruit. A swim in the salt water pool.
A painting class with acrylics- the study of a small seascape. Yesterdays class with charcoal sketch of an apple still life. Yesterday’s art now hanging on the class room wall for all to see.
Reading a book about the wisdom from trees. Shallow spread out roots of the spruce. The fir digs down deep and shoots up high. Some species can better survive and thrive the weather and sunshine.
As i breathe today, although at sea, noticing the breath, the give and take, rise and fall, in and out. Automatic rhythm where no one is falling behind, no one is getting ahead. Still, we compare. No one is of any greater value!!
Peaceful. Private. Pleasant.
******
Beautiful relaxing day in Malta yesterday. Also time at the pool and with new friends. Grateful for this vacation. Grateful for time and space to relax. Time for sleep, eating well and enjoying the ports of call. Tomorrow is a day at sea, grateful.
May gratitude foster deep connection and tenderness towards myself and others. May the benefits radiate outward like gentle rolling waves. May we all be well.
Beautiful port of call today, Amalfi. We took a tender boat. This is a charming little town, beaches, sculptures, history of paper making and shops to visit that still sell the products. Walked through the windy streets and old archways, taking stairs and looking in shop windows. The temperature was still hot today, the sea created a bit of breeze.
Back to the ship for a cooling dip in the pool and fresh salad with tasty toppings for lunch. Stayed in bathing suit with dress cover up – great way to beat the heat!!!! We explored the ship and started a jigsaw puzzle of colourful Venice. Signed up for 4 art classes this voyage.
Tonight is captains cocktail party and dinner at Polo. I am trying to stay awake so I can sleep at night. Jet lag is a thing!!
Messina and maybe Taormina, Sicily tomorrow. Ciao from the Med sea and this beautiful ship.
Grateful for the sleep in. Sound sleep in the dark cool room after cooler evening walk in our area of Rome near the hotel. Mary woke me up this morning. She had been up 4-5 hours. I slept.
Termini station and Yes hotel. Rome. Quick breakfast. Back to room to gather belongings and walk in heat and sun to train station. Posted postcard to grandboys. Purchased tickets to Civitavecchia. We had help from attendant selling tickets at the station. And long walk through Termini station to a far away train to take to the ship.
On the regional train. 4 Euros. In and out of tunnels, watching countryside and enjoying Italian language being spoken.
Trees (could be called umbrella trees??) with large open green tops, long tall twisty trunks.
About 8-12 or more little stops with Roma names. Red terra cotta roofs. Ahhhhhhh. Italy!!! Solar panels on the roof. The landscape opens to seascape with electric blue reaching out to the horizon. Dotted with white sailboats. We must be nearing our destination. S Severa looks like a beach stop. Young people in hats carrying bags with towels.
The people we have interacted with have been fabulous- The gal I talked to days ago at Westjet to rebook flights, the two guy servers at moxies restaurant in Sandman, the Hula poke bowl staff at airport, the manager at Westjet counter in Vancouver who arranged vouchers for accommodation , transportation and meals, the manager at desk at Sandman in Vancouver, the desk clerk at Yes Hotel who remembers me and printed off train schedule for us. And the Italian man selling and explaining tickets for rail pass to get us to cruise ship. They give off energy of loving what they do and we respond with deep appreciation.
Civitavecchia is hot in the sun but we walk to town to make a purchase of Prosecco from the “super mercato”. It’s on ice for another day. Enjoying the art on the ship, dinner in Toscana and a beautiful walk in warm breeze watching the sunset. Wow. So beautiful
Now on the cruise ship sailing to Amalfi. Grateful for this opportunity to rest and explore, to have great conversations, to notice and be present. Good night from a luxury ship (Oceania Riviera) in the med.
It has been a challenging few days with Westjet …. But let me tell you about wonderful people. 4 plus hours on the phone as our flights were cancelled and rebooked on different dates. Today, an evening 15 minutes in the air and a few lineups to talk to Westjet reps to get complimentary hotel room at the Sandman on Georgia in Vancouver
Before we got booked in, the reduced cost was $760 a night! Lucky we did not have to pay that …. Westjet picks up the tab for hotel, taxis and 6 meal vouchers. We have a beautiful 11th floor room in the city. The sunset was breath taking. Then light appies , baked tomatoes and whipped feta dripping in garlicky olive oil and spice …. Gluten free crackers and toasted seed bread for Mary. We didn’t lick the bowl but neither did we leave any in the dish! It was amazing. A nice glass of house red wine. Complimentary to Westjet. We have had a series of the very nicest people for this whole experience, wait staff, Westjet agent, maître de, hotel manager.
Other guests at the hotel are Anime Comic-Con dressed up Japanese young people in wigs and elf ears and horns. It is like a scene from a science fiction movie or comic book. Super fun. Very risqué black see through net outfits, leaving nothing to the imagination… almost as revealing as the beach volleyball team at the Paris Olympics. Ha ha.
Tomorrow we prepare for arrival in Rome and a night at the Yes Hotel. Then to a wonderful relaxing cruise in the Med. Oceania on the ship Riviera.
Tonight we are settled in bed, the twinkling lights of the city on this clear summer night. It is a beautiful place. Really very fortunate to have this opportunity to stay here and take in the view. Feeling the moment and not wishing it was otherwise.
22 April 2024 in Lyon after eventful and fun day in Annecy. On reflection it was so lovely to enjoy such a beautiful place. I enjoyed the cold water dip and miles of walking through the beautiful trees and park along the lake. The mountains nearby with snow peaks, the cool mountain air and how quaint it was situated. The town looked like it was staged, bicycles and street lights, a river flowing through town, bridges, flowers, rows of trees, walking lanes and tables and chairs situated like someone just left. Balconies with flowerpots and bright colours. I loved how pretty and pristine it all was, even with a big outdoor market in the morning.
Today is a slower start, prep for going home. Online check in with Air France. Plans to walk to gluten free bakery and taste more of the fabulous French tasty items. About five kms walk over two bridges across Rhone and Saone Rivers. Through some high end shopping district. Onward.
I enjoyed a vegetarian pizza that was warmed up, so pleasant and tangy sauce. Yummm. The place was crowded but we got the last two seats. I had a bubbly lemonade to drink and the most tasty lemon merengue tart for dessert. Heavenly. Purchased a big slab of focaccia bread to take on my flight…. The cupboards were almost bare behind glass. So popular and busy, the food being bought up by many. LesGasteliers.fr is the website name. Go there if ever in Lyon. Whether celiac or not, so fabulous.
Packed my clothes into my backpack and prepared for the trip home to Canada.
23 April 2024 in Europe. Up at 430 am local time, to the bus stop for 5 am and then to the train station. Busier and busier the streets, people going about their business day. Waking up, coming alive and all abustle at the rail station …. Found the track, the train pulled up, car 5 seat 88. It was next to Le Bar, where coffee and sweet pastries were being sold to a full packed audience. Two stops after Lyon before aeroport Charles de Gaule in Paris. I did not see anyone get off but I watched the sun rise. Beautiful over the French countryside. Lucky me.
Bit of a delay as we waited for another train to whiz by, then our turn. We stopped, I gathered my bags and headed to the section of this massive place to try to find my gate. I stopped near Air France asking for help getting paper boarding pass and check on my gf meal … I was passed around and finally was told I should have done something different. Not helpful at all, it seems and they seemed uncomfortable with being asked ….. then I asked for directions to my boarding gate. Ha ha. They said how easy and quick it was. Clearly no idea what goes on after that first stop.
First line up was massive and they just were more so the further into the belly of the airport. Passport line up. Security line up. Line up to shuttle to another terminal. Then to find the gate … flight already boarding, people hurrying everywhere. No announcements. I just got in yet another big line and hoped it would get me on the correct plane. It did. Then they had a gate open that should not have been and we were all rerouted again back to another line and a man asking tricky fast security questions so must have been an incident or looking for someone …. Breathe.
I have the most lovely seat. Bulkhead row, window and behind premium economy so lots of leg room and quiet. No washrooms nearby so no body stepping over me …. Two windows. Free wifi for texting. No gluten free on board (maybe a strike in the food department) so I am making do with the very dry day old gf focaccia bread out of a paper bag. Ha ha. Grateful! I also have a gf bar or two …. On my way to Seattle. It has been a few years I think since I have been in the United States…. It is a short stopover and then fly onward to Vancouver before south terminal Harbour Air to Victoria.
And with that, the end of this journey and my quick France vacation. Busy over the next few weeks and months – catch up with my work, 10km walk Times Colonist, few plays and productions at the theatre, road trip to Revelstoke and conference in Kelowna. Conference in Winnipeg end of May and then in June to Nova Scotia for some quiet time with my mom. I will continue cold water dips each morning when in Victoria … my 4th summer coming up. And of course daily walks and time with friends and family.
Not sure where the next big vacation will take me, hoping for the northern lights in Norway maybe in January 2025 and for some polar dips (brrrrrr). Till then, or until I travel again ….. thanks for following and I hope you enjoyed the journey. I always appreciate the support when I am away.
Feel free to look back on some of my previous travels to Italy and Greece or almost a month in Africa last year, India twice, South America a few times, other travels in France and other parts of Europe. I use the search feature to enter a fave place and then as I read, I find myself right back in some wonderful destinations by cruise or land tour.
Last night we played cards, Sweet Home Alabama movie in the background, more laundry and chat. Trouble falling asleep. Likely the rich food but …. Pourquois pas? Quand en France …..
Up by alarm and out the door within 15 minutes. Walk to metro and arrive just as train departs. The timing is brilliant. Old American song playing over speaker. At each metro stop as the doors opened I heard the same song still going. lol. How do they do that?
Grateful for the connections and catching glimpse of blue sky as we head out today for a new town, Annecy. It’s a lovely destination town in northern French Alps. Expecting a two hour train ride departing at 850 am that we pre booked a few days ago. Ok. So Sunday happened and tried walking to rail station but metro wasn’t running and tram was 20 minutes away. We walked fast, but not fast enough. So hopped an Uber. To Part Dieu rail station. He literally dropped us on a street, we hustled stretching our legs and off we sped. Hopped on train with two minutes to seat. lol. Heart racing for early Sunday morning. Woo hoo. On our way!
Later: back on train to Lyon. 849 pm with our reserved second class seats on beautiful evening. Fullish moon. Spectacular sky. Let me tell you about my 30,000 step, 22 km walking day. And a cold water swim in the glacier fed mountain alpine lake in a most beautiful city in France. If you don’t have Annecy on your list, put it there. I hope to be back.
We had breakfast on the train. We brought cheese and olives. Wow. Beautiful breakfast. Then played some cribbage the board game and enjoyed the French countryside.
Upon arrival around 1115 am we were delighted to notice a huge local market. Stalls with enthusiastic vendors selling all manner of goods and foods. Olives, cheeses, meats, scarves, shoes, clothes. Fruit and very colourful vegetables, rotisserie chicken and potatoes, sweets. Local shops selling tourist items, teas, clothing.
I saw a shop of Sarah Pacini, one of my fave designers. Shop closed today, Sunday. But excited to look in her window.
We purchased more varieties of olives, more flavourful cheese, juicy oranges, delicious prosciutto made locally. Caramels. Nougat. Yumm
We walked through town stopping at Monoprix to get drinks. Then found bench around lake, enjoyed lunch. We walked around the lake and found a spot to swim. We got changed in a handicapped bathroom. Then cold water dip about ten minutes. Lots of expressions as people passed by. It was a chilly day with people in scarves and warm coats. Got changed again into dry clothes.
Walking to get warm we walked up many stairs and a hill to the local basilica to enjoy the view and peace within.
Walking back down alleys and unexplored areas to old town again. Following river to the lake. Watching birds and ducks. People watching. Enjoying the sky and weather and scenery of this beautiful northern French Alp town. Final walk through the streets taking pics of the flower boxes and fast moving river reflecting light and colour. Beautiful golden lights turned on for dusk.
One more day tomorrow to pack and head home Tuesday… almost over. Great vacation. Wonderful experience. Beautiful sites. Deep chats. Happy memories.
Trainride almost over. Wine almost gone. Tired. It’s late. Home by midnight Good night. Bonne nuit de France.
Up after a sleep In, how to spend a Saturday in Lyon? Put a load of laundry on….. out the door.
We walked to the Metro and travelled about 6 stops. (Heading to the outdoor market) Music violin accompaniment with his speaker box. Bungee cord holding speaker to wheels, middle aged man playing violin with a paper cup to collect donations. A young mom and her daughter contributed and a man at the door who came in when the musician arrived. They stayed about 3 stops. He played Desposito (Latino-pop music), very catchy and uplifting. Toes tapping and some heads nodding to the beat.
Listening. Watching. Saturday morning activity in the city. We walked to the outdoor market about 15 minutes following the Google Maps.
People with puppies. Couples holding hands Older solo shoppers. Hats. Scarves. Running shoes. High boots. Coats. Tshirts. Shopping the booths. Market. Colourful. Fresh fruit. Beautiful firm red strawberries, crisp apples and many other round fruits. Plump purple blueberries.
Round shapes of hundreds of cheeses. Mostly whites, dairy cow and goat. WOW. Seafood, shrimps, salmon. Tiny tiny breaded fishes. Olives!! Regional, stuffed green, dark black dried, large bright with pits, multicoloured, local, tasty, firm. Tasty. Fabulous. Breads. Loafs. Sweet treats.
Hands in pockets for cash. Exchanges everywhere. Merci,merci beaucoup. Purchased cheeses, olives, strawberries.
Church bells call my attention. We look over, another beautiful church ringing the sound, I can see the bell up high in the steeple. We go in for a wee sit and enjoy the peace of the moment. Candles burning, wishes made, people praying.
We took the bus to centre of Lyon, Part Dieu stop ….we were tempted by fries at Five Guys. Fabulous dipped in mayo and ketchup. Totally gluten free!
Then we walked to Les Halles De Lyon Paul Bocuse. Food. Food. Food. Rows and rows …. a huge room chock a block full of every imaginable French cuisine served, sold, salivated over. People drinking wine, eating seafood trays including oysters, scallops, shrimp, scampi, muscles ….. cheeses, rows of cheeses, sweets and breads, charcuterie boards serving all manner of flavours. Olives … finally!
Walked to Les Gasteliers. Sans gluten patisserie Boulanger Lyon 6. 123 rue de Seze. Quiche. Pizza. Bread. Biscotti. Chocolate. Tarts. Cream puffs. Eclairs. Cookies. I had spinach and ricotta quiche warmed up. A bottle of organic lemonade and a chocolate nut brownie and je suis tres rassasie. We decide we will return here on Monday so not to fill our pockets today. Merveilleux! So full of food and lots in the back pack. Oh vey!
The destination is an urban adventure (aventure urbaine) to parc de la tête d’Or and outdoor zoo. Botanical rose garden. Plethora of Peonies in full bloom. Beautiful gardens, trees in full blossom. People walking on paths, the blue sky, the greenery. We must have spent an hour wandering and enjoying the rose archways … then animals, giraffes, zebra, monkeys, pink flamingoes and pelicans. Beautifully decked out in spring behaviour. Fun and colourful. We kept walking….
Am I ready for a walk up about 80 meter steep stairs? Hell, I don’t know. Sure …. Why not. Holy moly. Up. Up. Up. Stairs. Stairs. More stairs. If you are going to do this hike, practice! It is a lot of stairs and exertion. I made it. Beautiful views. Strenuous and exciting.
Toward the la Maison Des Canuts. It is a kind of small silk museum, tells story of how silk history and artistry in Lyon in 1800s. Looms and threads and results of beautiful textured scarves.
Apres, we began the walk back to the river, down shopping streets built on a steep slope. Food, ice cream. Happy hour wine drinking, views, cheese trays and a few vintage thrift type stores. We stop in a few for some laughs and ideas for a fashion accessory. We got Rachel a new suitcase for her trip to South America. Down. Down. Down the cobblestone streets, crossing roads and by people out enjoying the day. We walked to the river, it all became familiar to me.
We started walking toward home. A swan graced our walk. We walked in the sun along the river … people riding bikes, jogging, sitting, walking.
We crossed the bridge. Stopped to get ice-cream, water and wine for this evening. Leftovers, cheese, olives, berries, and wine (the least expensive I see is 2 euro per bottle, red, rose and Prosecco bubbly, and water … all very inexpensive. Success. 22,500 steps, 15.5 kms. All in sunshine.
List for Monday to come back to get gf food for our trips onward.
Bonjour a tous, de France! coucou! (bisous a la francais – a kiss on each cheek) …. Salutation Dupuis las France!
I started out for a walk on my own – saw a local street that looks interesting, in Lyon, around where we are staying.
I noticed the wisteria as I began the walk – it is a good idea to walk near wisteria when it is in bloom – it brightens the day and brings positivity. Spring in my step and sniff of the air tell me I am near. My hand reaches out so gently to graze and barely touch the delicate purple flowers. Not to disrupt their life, only to acknowledge their presence. Bonjour.
Crosswalks with no lights, crosswalks with lights, little green “persons” when ready and red ones remind one to take good care and wait for the traffic – including bicycles that can come zipping by on the road.
About every 4 or 5 shops is a vision / optical / selling glass frames kind of place. In a two block range there must be 6 vision shops. I have never noticed how many of these are present where we live, but here on this street, plenty. In between are one chocolatier torrefacteur (since 1897) shop with famous Lyon and France goodies (chocolate covered orange and lemon peels / rinds – yummmmmm and salted-caramel caramels …….. little chocolate wafers, very thin in dark, white, caramel, milk chocolate and of course almonds coated in pink caramelized sugar (pink pralines) are popular in this area, famous from Lyon used also in tart or brioche in this region. Beautiful variety of temptations.
A fabric store! Yay! In the sale bin is white raw silk ….. I was thinking about raw silk last evening and how I would like a piece of white to wear around my neck for big events (not that I really attend many big events these days). There on the street, in the sale bin, over a meter square of the most beautiful white raw silk on for less than half price …. 60% off I think, maybe end of a bolt? Anyway it belongs to me now! There were other colours and textures of silk so I strolled inside for a wee look around at all the other treasures, patterns, fabrics. It is a Maison des Tissus. Beautiful, textures, colours, some same as we have for sale for the quilter, and some extravagant for furniture recovering perhaps, maybe curtains …. Some lace. Magnifique! I lost some time there (in case you are watching me with the AirTag suitcase follower app . LOL.)
More optical shops, coffee stops, fromagerie (no self respecting French street is complete without those necessities), ice cream, sorbet and bakery shop, wine store, one jewelry shop (nothing special that I could see in the window) and one woman’s clothing shop on each side of the street – very dull, plain, ordinary daily clothes. Interesting. Oh and a shoe store!
I think I will head back to old town for a leisurely walk along the river and maybe site a swan in the sunshine. Later ………….
It is hours later. As I went out in the sunshine down over the bridge, over the river Saone, comforting cooing sounds of pigeons, quiet swimming solo duck and as I walked back a solo swan, then two more, then under the bridge I spied three more, so I crossed to the other side to get a better look and maybe 9 more in two clusters. Such a treat to see the swans, enjoying their peaceful swim, watching them float and feed, dip their heads under and stretch out their beautiful long white necks.
Walking through old town at a leisurely pace, feeling the cobblestones pressure my ankles and knees to be careful in my stride. Notice the walking on uneven ground, feel the hardness of stone as my feet take turns landing on the walk ways. I walk by some coffee shops, gelateries, creperies, (scent of sweet, savoury, chocolate, fruity) and shops where they sell soaps and bath products … local scents of lavender, rose, lilac and more. Colourful puppets, postcards, candles, silk scarves, painted velvet, pink pralines, flowershops. I popped in to a shop featuring limoncello in several varieties… made in France. Caught up with a group doing some tasting:). I guess I was in the right place! A few restaurants featuring Michelin star rating, I checked out the prices.
A slow morning, listening to a Pema podcast and making breakfast. It was nice, comfortable and restful. I enjoyed being in the kitchen of the apartment where my friend has stayed while going to school in Lyon. There is a beautiful window out to the street and it opens with shutters on the outside. It’s a small place, but adequate and local. It’s nice to be in the rhythm of France here. Different than other vacations.
Afternoon walk, once I was provided orientation, I went down to the vieux Lyon, old town. I had been there the day before, so some was familiar and now, on my own, I am really paying attention!
I looked and listened for sensations and noticings as I walked. I spied a solo swan across the river at the other bank. I crossed the river earlier as there is a walking path down along the rivers edge. When tourist boats and barges go by I can hear the gentle sound of the water up on the wall just beside me. A little wake. Sometimes up over the wall and on to the walkway. Beautiful. Walking bridges are fun too, there are some just for pedestrians… dark red colour. I felt confident. Haha, I have an AirTag in my purse and download of Google maps so I can be found and can navigate to get around. Both worked. And I found my way around and home.
Tomorrow is Friday. I leave Tuesday morning. Still much to explore here. Musee des tissus … looks like is temporarily closed. I might try La Maison Des Canuts which looks to be another kind of museum where I will learn some of the silk trade history. Maybe a walking tour? Maybe a day trip to Annecy.
For now, I will sign off … heading out tomorrow on my own again for walking and exploring.
May tomorrow be experienced with ease and joy, friendliness and peace. May we be happy, healthy, safe and strong. May we be well.
I put the post cards in the mail last night. A way to connect with family while I am away travelling. It’s fun to search for them, write them and get them mailed. I imagine their little happy faces when they get mail!
Last night was the first wakeful night since I arrived and I sure feel it today. Took the local transit to EM Lyon, the business college in the area. I found a seat in the library and got into wifi for free … yay! Later today I will walk and maybe do a bit of email correspondence and generally enjoy the slow pace here in France. I will finish listening to the live Pema question and answer from the weekend and maybe do some writing and reflecting. I have many books on my kindle app that I have started and will review.
Instead, I notice the books on scattered shelves. Some in English. One jumps off the shelf at me. Head & Heart: the Art of Modern Leadership. By Kirsten Ferguson. (First let me say, I am impressed it is written by a woman and probably the reason I picked it off the rack to browse). Not disappointed I start making notes, looking at her bibliography and self reflecting. Theme of Self awareness …. I also heard at recent conference in Vancouver …. Most people are way less self aware than they think. So I am now keenly interested in how to be more self aware and how will I know it … how do I do it, how can I be it? “Always start your day with a gift of love”. Some key words I consider: curiosity, biases, wisdom, empathy, rethinking,reflection, perspective, capability, mindset, openness.
Why do we do the self awareness journey? I am listening to Tim Olmsted who gives the pretalk with Pema this past Sunday while I am in Europe. He gives 4 reasons …. If you want to know more, ask me. I am enjoying the study.
This afternoon we head out for an adventure in Lyon. To climb up and up to the Fourviers, basilica for the views of the inside of the church and the city and rivers from the church. Amazing. Beautiful. Exhausting. Haha. Day 2 Lyon.
Pamela's travel Blog 