French Supermodels

Grandma Lee and Aunt Gwen take Lyon!

Hi, all!

It’s a grey, windy day here in Lyon, and our entire district is vibrating with the sound of no less than four different drum corps…today is the St. George Dragon Festival, which involves food, fireworks and a slow-travelling parade throughout the neighbourhood, accompanied by very, very loud drumming.

We were out in the midst of it for a while, but we got cold, and came home.  So, coffee in hand, I’m happy to post some pictures from my Mom and Aunt’s recent visit to Lyon.  

Anytime we have visitors we are thrilled, but adding a “Grandma component” adds another layer of happiness. 

Stocking up on groceries for Grandma's AirBnB

If you follow this blog, you know that my Mom and Dad were here for a month-long visit back in June.  My Aunt Gwen, however, had never been to Europe at all, and we could hardly wait to show her around, and introduce her to the French way of life.

The French Way of Life

Mom and Gwen had quite an adventure in the Paris airport…but after a long delay and a missed flight, they were re-booked and made their way to us, in Lyon. When Leo and I picked them up at the airport, they looked fresh as daisies.

"Bonjour, Grandma!!!!"

"Welcome back!!"

February in Lyon isn’t exactly ‘tourist season’ so we had no crowds to contend with, and we were able to spend their 10 days here strolling the winding streets, and partaking in the heavenly gluten and chocolate that is around every corner.

The Famous "Bugnes Lyonnaises" available in late-winter throughout the city

Gwen sampling a delectable "Salade Lyonnaise"

Our friends here were also happy to see my Mom again, and delighted to meet my Aunt.  That made their visit even more rich, and allowed Gwen to experience a side of France that many never do, such as dinners in the homes of our friends and guided tours by people we know who’ve lived here all their lives.

We took a wonderful tour of Lyon's Traboules with our dear friend, Janine

Janine and our kids know enough about "Les Traboules de Vieux Lyon" to fill a book.

My Mom (and we) have a Lyonnais friend forever in Janine

They were also treated to apéro de fromage with our friends the Andrés 

11 different cheeses.  How could anyone look at this table and not cry just a little?

And, of course, with every adventure come some surprises...

This trip's biggest surprise came in the form of my first ever fashion photo shoot. (And no, that’s not a fake sentence meant to amuse my brother).

Nope, that's neither Brad Pitt nor Matt Damon having his picture taken...it's me.

What happened was this…

Katherine (who used to be a professional hand-model), came home from work one day and dropped the news that the owners of her shop, who’ve become our good friends, were looking to arrange a professional photo shoot with some models, for their beautiful silk scarf creations.  

“Great!” I said.  “Where are they going to find the models?”

  

“Well,” Katherine replied, “They’d like to have us be the models.”

  

“Ummm, us meaning like, us-us?” I said, adjusting my posture even though no one was yet taking my photo.  

“I’ve already told them that we’d be delighted” she said, (pretending she didn't notice that I was adjusting my posture.)

Katherine is a natural.

And so, on a chilly morning in February, Mom and Gwen (grinning from ear to ear) followed us around Vieux Lyon as we were photographed for the new CathAm publicity shots.  

As you can imagine, Katherine was a natural.  I, on the other hand, was fairly certain that the photographer kept shooting my profile from my slightly inferior left side, but I decided to go with it.  Hurrumph.

I think I’ve got a knack for this, actually….and I’m available, in case any readers are also planning upcoming photo shoots.  I can do: smouldering, brooding, melancholy, disinterested and “happy”.

In front of the Lyon courthouse

And at the Rose Tower

Katherine is even more natural.  I think she could actually make a career of it.  I married up:)

With our wonderful and creative friends, Catherine and Jacques

Even more fun than having our pictures taken was watching Mom and Gwen gleefully taking pictures of us having our pictures taken.  In fact, they were moving faster than the photographer, himself.

We finished up and were all treated to a really nice lunch and then the greatest hot chocolate in Lyon (and possibly the world), at the famous "Bernachon Chocolaterie."  

I took it easy, though.  Models need to watch their waistlines…

Our reward after a long morning.  Being a model is super hard work.

Mom and Jacques

We talked about that day throughout the rest of their visit.  And Mom and Gwen continued to enjoy all that Lyon had to offer.

Daphne and Cora, guiding Grandma around the neighbourhood.  They look so grown-up to me, here.

Gwen, enjoying the amazing St. Vincent Market

Leo at Ile Barbe

Cora and Gwen eating dessert near Ile Barbe

The view of Grandma and Gwen's side of the river, from our side of the river.

On their final day, Mom and Gwen departed Lyon really early in the morning, and since we were heading to the States to celebrate the birthday of my Favourite mother-in-law (next post), I booked our tickets out of Lyon at about the same time.  So that morning we headed to the airport at around 4:30am.  

Saying goodbye was difficult as always, but we had such a wonderful time with them both, and eagerly hope for their return, soon.  These sisters travel very well together.

Waiting for our cab to the airport...at 4:30am.  Leo has already finished a chocolate croissant. 

See you again this summer, Grandma!