Another day in Mark's quest for understanding...

As many of you know, the whole reason we are now living in France is thanks to Mark's incredible dedication to his studies. He is deeply driven to understand the world--hence the math, physics, chemistry, latin, ancient greek..... This desire for understanding led him to want to live in another country and speak the language, and so, for the last few years, Mark has been studying French (largely self-taught), and he now speaks it well enough that we can conduct our lives in France. It's incredible!

If there is something that he doesn't understand and wants to, he doesn't forget about it. Instead, he writes it down to remind himself to pick it up again at a later time. Well, he recently made good on his intention to begin to understand....ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. In the antiquities section of the Musee des Beaux Arts last weekend, Mark, for the first time, recognized symbols, sounds, and words carved into the ancient stone!

Since moving to France has been such a great experience, we're thinking of trying to move to Ancient Egypt next! After all, Mark's learning the language! I'm sure we'll be fine. I'll miss the pastries, though...

A travel tip...

Cathedrals are absolutely choc full of little carvings to marvel at. Though we've been somewhat aware of this for awhile, this fact has largely gone unnoticed to our eyes in all of our cathedral exploring. When you walk into one of these medieval fortresses, you can't help but be swept away by the vastness and grandeur of the place. The columns lining the sanctuary remind us of the giant sequoias in California, for instance. What was different this time?

One of the standard items we try to remember to pack when we forge out into the wild world of tourism is a pair of binoculars. We've used them all over the world, and have seen all sorts of exotic animals and plants through them. When we were in this cathedral, Mark happened to have a pair of binocs, and it changed our lives! There was a small exhibit on some of the carvings located within the cathedral, with photos on the ground floor for us to look at. We immediately started to look up in order to identify the same carvings above us. Mark realized the binocs would help with this, and WHAM, the secret life of the cathedral was suddenly unveiled for us to perceive. As we scanned the columns and walls, up, up, up to the highest highs of the building, we found little faces of a time long-past staring back at us. Creatures of the zodiac, monsters spewing out foliage, little priests with flowing robes, animals, worshippers, hell beasts, saints, Christian and pagan symbols alike. They were everywhere, and it gave our experience within those walls an entirely new level of meaning.

And so, the next time you are in a cathedral, bring a pair of binocs, and focus on what's small. It's like opening the lid to a treasure chest.

Stop and smell the roses...

The roses of Lyon are beginning to bloom. We have a lovely pink variety outside our apartment building, with the first bloom happening last Wednesday, and now more than I want to count.

View from the balcony...

We went on a walk in Parc Tet d'Or on Sunday, and the rose garden was incredible. Flowers everywhere, and most bushes were just getting started. And so, get ready, Mom and Dad Baxter--I think the roses may just be in their prime when you are here next week!

Another much-needed holiday...

We've enjoyed another long weekend (sadly, today is the last day) here in Lyon. On Friday and Saturday we enjoyed the pleasures of France with Dad Butler by a taking a day trip to Vienne (30 km south of here) and visiting the Musee des Beaux Arts. A few photos...

Morning chocolat et patisserie in Vienne.

The cathedral in Vienne

This cathedral came alive for us unlike no other cathedral (another posting about this is in the making, so stay tuned)...

This photo and the next one and serve as handy calibration devices for determining the relative size of humans within a cathedral--i.e. very small.

Medieval stained glass...

Medieval stained glass...

Temple dÁuguste et de Livie, built in 10BC to honour the Emperor Augustus and his lovely wife Livia. One of the best parts of living in Lyon--Roman ruins!

Lunch, provided by Dad. We ordered 2 little pizzas, a quiche, a pear tarte, a lemon tarte, and a chocolate macaroon.

Mark holds the camera in this portrait of three happy Butlers after an evening picnic in the park.

Dad went home yesterday morning. He made it with everything intact (thanks to a nice customs official in Amsterdam who helped him get his passport stamped in time to make a connection). Thanks for all the CHEESE, chocolate, cookies, chips....ooooh, this would be a long list! We miss you, Dad, and we want you to come back soon. :)

A much-needed holiday...

This last weekend France celebrated Labor Day (May 1st) by closing stores, public transport, you name it. It was much like how Christmas feels like back in the USA. Mark took an extra day off, which made it a four-day weekend, and we took some much-needed time for R&R and for having fun! Mmmmmm....so nice.

Mark spent the first couple days looking much like this while delving into his various projects...

Note the lump under the bedspread---that's our cat Misha.

On Friday I enjoyed meeting up with Kari again. She showed me the stores in the Guillotiere where I can get staples I have been missing. Finally I know an Asian store where I can get reasonably priced tofu and also a store (specializing in products from Africa) where I can get black-eyed peas (Texas caviar, here I come)!

On Saturday we boarded a train and left Lyon for the first time since we arrived. It was woooooonderful! It was absolutely beautiful and so, so green.

Mark on the train

We went to a restored medieval village called Perouges. You can read about its history here.

We climbed to the top of this tower...


...then absorbed the beautiful view...


...and then smiled for the camera.

Our favorite part was the surrounding countryside...

On Sunday we went to the Gallo Roman Museum with Mark's dad, who shared with us his knowledge of the ancient history and art. What a resource for learning! The museum came alive for us like it would never have otherwise! Thank you Dad!

Kari and Jonathan invited us for dinner on Sunday evening. We got to see a new neighborhood and thus a new side of France. The following two photos were taken during an evening stroll...

Kari is just finishing snapping one of her famous photos at this moment. She is also standing in front of a great example of Lyonnais graffiti.

A very cute residential street--notice the "cat crossing" sign. :)

I have drooled over photos of Kari's cooking creations for months, and she cooked for us (African food)! Yea! I forgot the name of the dish (help, Kari!), but it was a really yummy, spicy peanut sauce over rice with red onions, shredded coconut, diced apples, golden raisins, and bananas as toppings. Mmmmmmmm!!!

Update: Kari posted the recipe on the recipes page of her blog! It's called mafé, and you can see the secrets to its creation here.


Dinner with the celebreties of the JK Masson blog!

And you know what the best part of this long weekend is? It's followed by a longer, five-day weekend next weekend! Only in France...