Have you ever wondered what it’s like to go to the movie theatre in another country? It’s not something I’ve ever given much thought to. But I hope you’re at least curious to read on. While I avoid finishing up my blog posts on Amsterdam and London, let me tell you about our first experience … Continue reading Going to the Movies in France
Lyon transforms from a laid-back metropolitan to a bustling city dazzling with lights around every corner for four days in December. Lyon's famed festival, Fête des Lumières, or Festival of Lights, illuminates the city with magic and wonder through various light displays. After organizers canceled the event in 2020 due to COVID, it was back … Continue reading Fête des Lumières in Lyon
The long-awaited opening of terraces arrived in France on Wednesday, May 19. Restaurants and bars that are lucky enough to have an outdoor space reopened precisely 203 days after closing for the second lockdown in October. Previously a ghost town, our neighborhood is starting to feel alive again. In the days leading up to the … Continue reading Enjoying the Terraces in France
Happy Easter and Joyeuse Pâques! My Easter update this year looks eerily similar to the one I posted last year. This time last year, France announced the extension of the first lockdown to May 11. Today, the entire country officially enters the third lockdown until May 2. It's hard to comprehend what is happening in France, … Continue reading Easter Update 2021
The pandemic is raging on in France. News outlets remind us of the grim situation. Confirmed cases are higher than they should be, a third lockdown is looming, and vaccinations are delayed. The death count is high, and the number of beds available in hospitals is decreasing. Each day, we are required to be in … Continue reading Living With a Curfew in France
The message widely shared by the France government is "ski resorts are closed." While the actual ski lifts are not running, the resorts are still open. Nevertheless, take away the ski lifts, the bars for a relaxing apres-ski drink after a long day on the mountain, the restaurants for warm soup and fondue, and what do … Continue reading Snowshoeing in the French Alps
They say when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. But what happens when you drink too much of it? Is too much of a good thing actually a bad thing? All that acidity is sure to damage your teeth, and there's a lot of sugar in lemonade. We've been making a lot of lemonade lately in Lyon, … Continue reading How Much Lemonade Can Be Made From Lemons?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Shanes! We are wrapping up our week in the Maldivian sun and will return to France to ring in the New Year. We hope everyone got to spend time with family, whether in person or virtually. Here’s to hoping 2021 will bring more time with friends and … Continue reading Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Our Christmas vacation has officially commenced! We decided not to go home this year but knew we wanted to get out of Lyon. Initially, our plan was a white Christmas ski vacation, but France and a few other countries kept resorts closed until after the new year. Our next option was to go back to … Continue reading Dreaming of a White Christmas Vacation
Last week, I wrote that Christmas had been canceled. So, we decided to venture out and see if we could find the Christmas spirit in Lyon. Here's what we found. On Saturday, Jordan and I went to go pick up a package. As you know, it's relatively difficult for us to receive packages in Lyon. The package … Continue reading Christmas Spirit in Lyon
