28 January 2009

The Jewels of Lyon

Painted buildings with incredible and whimsical detail
Store and restaurant signs






Graffiti with soul











Rainbow colored rosettes













A welcoming bouquet of colors.

Lyon












During the Christmas break, we decided to play tourist in Lyon. We had been through and around and flirted with Lyon many times, but had never stopped to truly admire the city. We were well rewarded. Lyon proved to be a city of many different personalities. The city is known for its silk making. Originally, the royal court gave Lyon the right to make the silk fabric for the royal clothes and wall coverings like you can see at Versailles. We visited one of the last studios that makes silk on the old looms. They mostly make it for renovation work. They even have the old pattern cards for the jacquard designs that were lyonnais originals.


Mike and I even went exploring in the Sunday brocantes antique market...first making a detour through the huge flea market. Mike scored a great find...a beautiful huge copper bowl for me. I have been searching forever for one.




21 January 2009

Dreams Realized?


"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. "

Martin Luther King, Jr.