Lyon
LYON, FRANCE 5-14 December, 2000
In June, 2000, I was surfing the internet for decent ticket prices from here to Lyon, France. I found a really good deal ($540 U.S.) round trip from Washington's Reagan National Airport to Lyon Satolas airport through New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. I decided to make this 5-14 December trip because I couldn't attend Luc and Isabelle's 10 June 2000 wedding. When you think about it, the guests of honour at the wedding have almost no time with each individual guest. So, it made more sense to pop in after things settled down and get to spend meaningful time with them. I don't normally travel when it's cold and certainly not during (American) football season.
I started writing to Luc Marcellin in November, 1984 when I was in Mrs. Boyd's second-year French class. I ordered pen pal addresses from several countries, among which was Réunion Island (in the Indian Ocean). It turns out, Luc and his family were there only temporarily. Luc's daddy Marcel was a middle school principal sent to that French overseas department by the government for 4 years. In 1988, they moved back to France with their main residence near Lyon and summer cottage in Charmes sur L'Herbasse in the countryside near Romans. I met Luc for the first time on 13 July 1989 when I came up from my studies in Nice for the long Bastille Day bicentennial weekend. After my studies were over, I stayed another 2 weeks in Charmes and again the following year after my studies were over in Madrid. In July, 1992, Luc came to the United States for the first time. He was taken to my family's time share in Duck, North Carolina on the Outer Banks. As of December, 2000, Luc and I sent almost 300 letters and e-mails.
The plan, as it was written on the tickets, was to take the 8.25am train from Richmond to Alexandria, Virginia then take the blue or yellow line to Reagan National Airport, wait 4 hours for American Eagle flight 5125 (2.45- 4.00pm) bound for Kennedy Airport in New York before Air France flight 21/Delta 28 was scheduled to leave at 6.00pm and arrive in Lyon at 7.40am the following morning. I allowed for the long wait on purpose. It's always best to be prepared for the unexpected. As some people know, I travel lightly. I call my method of traveling light "throw, stow, and go". I don't like having to deal with baggage claim and I don't trust airline baggage handlers.
Tuesday, 5 December 2000
Wednesday, 6 December 2000
Thursday, 7 December 2000
Friday, 8 December 2000
Saturday, 9 December 2000
Sunday, 10 December 2000
Monday, 11 December 2000
Tuesday/Wednesday, 12-13 December 2000
Thursday, 14 December 2000
It was certainly and interesting and educational trip. It was great to see Luc again and to meet Isabelle and Florian for the first time. The highlight of the whole trip was the weekend with Marcel, Marie-France Marcellin, and Miraut in the Alpes de Grand Serre. Because nobody spoke English very well, I had an excellent opportunity to work on my French. I ate very, very well on this trip. Luc and Isabelle cook great. Marie-France Marcellin cooks almost as well as my Mama (she would probably cook to a draw if they had fatback over there). Calvin, Ruth, and them made sure I never went hungry on the flights over and back. I will never forget this trip for a long time to come.
