But Look at the View!

Mon-Fri, February 9-15, 2026 -- Villefranch-sur-Mer, France

Morning view from the balcony

The second week is in the bank! It seems like I should be learning a lot, but I'm not sure I'm feeling that good about the project. On the one hand, I've already been exposed to most of what I'm being taught in my class and therefore the pace seems quite slow.  For example, I might be one of the few in the class that's not particularly stressed out during our labs sessions (with the headphones and microphones.) What we're doing in class doesn't seem super hard, but when I'm actually trying to have a conversation, I can't seem to spit anything out. Oh well. I guess I'm bound to learn something, but the idea that I'll be able to speak with any sort of fluency seems like a complete pipe dream. 

Class time

Lunch time!

Waiting at the coffee machine

Meg, on the other hand seems to be sufficiently challenged in her intermediate class. She, perhaps has the opposite problem, at least during their lab sessions. (Meg's Note: I'm definitely feeling like week two is ramping up the challenge. Victor, my teacher, assures me that this coming week we'll be reviewing what all we were shown this week. I do hope that's the case. And, as ever, I'm still struggling to get words out when I'm attempting to speak French.  Sigh.)

Morning news in the Grand Salon

There are a number of extra curricular activities that the school organizes, which we've been trying to take full advantage. Last Friday, there was a small "soiree" for the students and their significants. Speaking of which, there is apparently an unusually large number of couples for this month.  I think I've counted seven in all. On Wednesday there was a movie night where we watched "L'Arnacoeur." It was a very funny romantic comedy.  I, of course, couldn't keep up listening to the dialogue, so I concentrated on speed reading the French subtitles.  Still a big challenge though I certainly got the gist.  

Meg and Stephan at the Soiree

English was allowed at the Soiree

Movie time

The biggest news for the week was our trip to Lyon this weekend to see our dear, dear friends, Etienne and Anne Pyffer, who we first met with the kids in Namibia in 2016 while traveling around the world. They too, were in  the middle of an around the world tour with their three kids, Louis, Arno, and Mathilde. We met up with them that year in Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand, and at our place at the very end of their trip. The next summer we visited them in Switzerland. We planned a couple of months ago to meet them in Lyon (about half way between their house and Nice) for Valentine weekend. It was an absolutely lovely weekend. We each took the train to Lyon,  and met late on Friday night. As a bonus, Matilde, now 16, was with them.

Anne, Mathilde, and Etienne!

The Hoornaerts and Pyffers in 2016

Although their English is way, way better than our French, we did alternate between the two for most of the weekend. Etienne, as always, is incredibly funny, so we were all were laughing the entire time, no matter the language. In particular, Etienne had volunteered to find a place to stay. He is part of some kind of time share arrangement and has tons of points that he has not been able use. So, he was super happy when he found he could use some of his points for this place. The location was absolutely incredible, on the top floor, right in the center of an ornate building over looking the famous plaza -- Place des Terreaux - with the  huge Bartholdi Fountain. The building is directly across for the grand Hotel de Ville, and adjacent to the Lyon Fine Art Museum (Musee des Beaux Arts de Lyon). The view was amazing from the small windows peaking out from the circular window between two giant cupid figures on the outer facade. What a find!

Our apartment

Anne waving from the window!

One the other hand, the apartment is very well lived in. When Meg and I first walked in, 15 minutes before the Pfyffer's arrived, I was certain that this was a friend's apartment that we were borrowing for the weekend. Clearly, the person that lives there full time just left for the weekend as there were open containers of food in the refrigerator, clothes in the washer and drying in the kitchen, and every closet was jammed packed with belongings to the point that none of the doors would close. We laughed to no end because the tiny closet with the toilet was so small that it was physically impossible to sit facing forward and actually close the door! Our weekend refrain was... but just look at the view!

Well lived in kitchen

Les toilets

Tight fit!

But Look at the View!

Hotel de Ville

On Friday night, Meg and I did a very poor job of speaking French.  However, we did a much better job for the rest of the weekend frequently going back and forth. The Pfyffer's were super kind as we struggled to convey some thought in French, and they of course spoke much more slowly and clearly when trying to communicate with us. All in all, they were excellent teachers, answering our many questions about how to say or pronounce this or that. By the time we left they were certain that we advanced many levels in French!

At the cafe

Breakfast

Although the weather was cold, a little rainy, and at times windy, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  Lyon is a grand, impressive city with ornate buildings, fountains, and plazas.  Best of all, the entire city center was almost completely devoid of cars making it incredibly nice to walk around.  On Saturday, after a quick stop at a cafe and breakfast at the apartment, we visited the impressive Basilica Notre Dame de Fourviere,  took a ride on the giant ferris wheel in town. 

Basilica Notre Dame de Fourviere

Going for a spin

For lunch, Meg and I had our first "Croque Monsieur" a very common ham cheese sandwich, which was absolutely fantastic.  Not your normal American fare. With fantastic food and the lack of exercise I could well be packing on a few pounds.  Not necessarily a bad thing as I might be happy to have a couple extra pounds once I start the PCT. (Meg's Note: Not sure what I'm going to do with my excess heft...but I'm opting to worry about it when I get back home!)

Downtown Lyon

View over the Rhone

My first Croque Monsier

Since 1907

Sunday was spent browsing a few more stores and visiting the Museum of Illusions -- quite fun.  The weekend ended way too quick but what fun to spend time with Ettiene, Anne and Mathilde.  We plan on traveling to Switzerland for a few days at the beginning of April, so will have one more chance to enjoy their company before heading back home.

Multiple Megs

Even more Megs!

Until next time