T minus 100 hours

One hundred hours until I leave Lyon.


I had most of my possessions packed.   Finished laundry and boxing up all the items that I would not be taking back.  I would hold a giveaway on Friday.  I had laid out all my clothes for each day and food to see me through until I left.

We decided to go out to eat dinner at the Greek restaurant in Lyon.  A group of seven sat at the outside tables on a nice summer evening. The waiter gave up trying to understand our bad French and just spoke Greek with Akis.  Most of us ordered the tasting menu to enjoy all the different dishes.  We also ordered a bottle of Ouzo for the table with the appetizers. And then another bottle to enjoy with dessert.

The only thing I will miss when leaving here and heading home is the people with whom I have developed friendships.   I enjoyed learning about their lives and ways of thinking that are so different from mine.  There is a strong culture of going out to lunch with friends and I will miss the daily gathering of people, trying to decide where to eat, and walking and talking.

I also enjoyed walking along the river.  The swans are very large and beautiful birds.  The trees are now fully leafed out and the plants along the river are all green and flowering.   The street markets are always busy and I like buying from the same people each week.  I don't think that they recognize me, but I like the consistency of their upbeat and tasty offerings.

48 hours to go.


I gave my new chair from IKEA to Rachel and Torsten because it rocks a little and I thought it would be nice for rocking the baby.  They are also the only ones with a car that can fit the chair.   In return, they offered to buy me dinner when they picked up the chair.  Akis joined us and we headed over to what has become my favorite restaurant, Le Paradis du Fruit (Paradise of Fruits).  It was mostly because of the ice cream shakes and their platter of twelve different items served family style.  Vegetables, fish, chicken, and cheeses are all shared among the people at the table.  Good food, and good friends.  I could not think of a better way to end my time here in Lyon.

24 hours to go.

I took four boxes and bags in to the lab on Friday.  They were filled with all the stuff I collected, but will not be taking home with me.  It included sheets, towels, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies and laundry soap.  I also had cooking utensils, cutting boards, spices, bowls, and a few cans of vegetables.

The graduate students came over for a shopping trip and each left with a bag full of goodies.  I was happy to see my stuff go to good homes.