Far From Florida

Having transcribed Alex’s final words on Lyon (for now), I decided that it was probably time for me to say a bit on the city that, in some ways, did indeed become our home for a month. As mentioned, we’re currently in Carcassonne, where we spent today and yesterday exploring the massive medieval castle/city and lounging about our surprisingly stunning hotel room. Despite knowing that tomorrow morning we’ll be waking up to catch a train to Paris (or, really, to Montpellier and then Paris), I keep forgetting that we won’t be going back to Lyon or the apartment. A month is both the perfect amount of time for a trip like this, and the worst; it’s just long enough to start missing home without being miserable, but it’s also just long enough for one to start developing routines and habits, start getting comfortable with the place their in. The main barista at Cafe Cousu had just started to recognize us and smile, already knowing our orders. I just started seeing some of our neighbors for the first time, watching bits and pieces of their lives from the open windows that seem to dominate the city. I had finally mastered the clothesline in the bathroom, succeeded at making delicious crepes, and discovered what the red drink I’d seen so many French people (mostly women) drinking at restaurants (a Monaco, which is some kind of delicious berry-flavored beer). I miss the States - but I also miss Lyon. 

Alex suggested that a poem be written bidding farewell to our fair city… I imagine if one of us ever comes up with it, it will show up here. I’m not sure exactly how it would begin, but I’m fairly certain I know how it would end: with love,

Teal