The truly magical thing about living in Europe is the access to the rest of Europe. Karen and Andrew went to Barcelona for a long weekend. And we went to LYON! For 5 or 6 days. I am deeply in love with Lyon. We stayed with the very dear and delightful Mellentin family which may have added unfairly to the overall captivating effect of Lyon – but OMG – I badly wish to live in Lyon now.

It is the perfect size – not too big or small. Perfectly placed within France (and the rest of Europe). Charming. Appealing. Unpretentious.

Julian and Adrienne and I had a wonderful dinner – drinks in the square beside the majestic horsey fountain; cocktails (communard = a kir, but with beaujolais) and then fois gras and roast goose. Sigh.

France is just a splendid place. Everything seems ‘just right’ – the climate; the incomprehensible-to-me language; the trees and squirrels (red! not grey); the peaches, and figs and raspberries; the wine, cheese, the marvelous dead things at the butcher’s shop; the patisserie; the architecture; the shops closing for lunch. I even like the way they drive, give or take a few alarming intersections ….

Here are some pictures: