Soon after our meeting we recieved an email inviting us to Sunday lunch. We met at the markets this morning to photograph her buying the ingredients and talk about what she was planning to cook. We wandered the markets while she chatted to the regular stall holders. She has a favourite one for meat, for fish, cheese, fruit, vegetables and flowers. Her favourite guy from whom she buys her fruit filled up a paper sheet with new seasons strawberries. He twisted the top of the brown paper to make it into a bundle and gave them to us. I guess we will be buying our fruit from him from now on also.
After returning home to Alex, who had not been long out of bed, we planned the rest of the day. We spent a while harnessing Alex's hormones into a 'ready for public exhibition' state... adolesence is rearing its head!
We all wandered up Cours Gambetta all the way to the Rhone which flowed opaly green under the bright sunshine. The walkways and bikeways teamed with people all out to play in the warmth, their heads held a little higher and their lips upturned into the beginnings of a smile. There was a feeling of optimism in the air.
We walked for what seemed an eternity, John, Alex, the hormones and I, until we reached Parc de la Tete d'Or, Lyons favourite green space. We entered through gates embelished with gold. The park was filled with families picnicing, strolling and generally loving life. We had packed the cheeses we bought at the market this morning, and enjoyed them while sitting on the grass, along with a fresh baguette. There we sat with a view of the lake, eating French cheese and having a great time together. We threw the ball and laughed as two little kids interupted and demanded that John and Alex played with them, they were so funny.
It was a long walk home but we got there in the end... exhausted.
