Walking through winter

(First, this is not a poem, just a new format.)

Let's back up to a time where I learned to get along with snow, and even play nicely.

The first snow came at night.

And I woke up to this.

I went outside to my favorite local hike, and walked through this.

I rediscovered all the same hills I had climbed when it was summer and fall.

It felt like a completely different place with all kinds of new magic.

We took the return path downtown, only to discover they had put up lights and opened the Christmas market.

Winter in France.

 When I discovered hot, spiced wine for the first time.

Frozen from my hike with snow lightly falling

clothes drenched and hair tangled, 

a woman singing and dancing and playing an accordian in the background,

that was cool, and never had I had a more satisfying beverage.

Winter!!

Where I squeeled with delight at all the little wooden Christmas booths

selling hand-made goods, jewelry, pottery,

homemade jams and other foods,

toys and other knick knacks that you don't really need.

Vendors frying sausages and others grilling waffles,

the air was so thick with smells it's a memory in itself.

So much maaaaagic.

--

Let's move onto the Festival of Lights in Lyon.

Where I learned that even a winter coat might not be enough.

Walking through the streets to and from each spectacle.

A slightly-gaudy/awkward fountain that lit up and made sounds you might hear in the woods...

A very cool 3D show on a big old building.

 The face contorted in all sorts of goofy ways to equally goofy music.

Crossing the bridge to go back to our friends' place for the evening.

Waking up to a slightly gray, chilly day. Let's walk around anyway!

A view of Lyon from the top of the city.

The Bastille... 

Not much to say because I can't remember much about it,

but it was pretty.

--

Let's take a trip to a slightly smaller town - Ornans.

A tiny village nestled between cozy little hills with the characteristic river cutting through it.

We'll start our tour by crossing the tiny bridge toward the town's church.

We'll stop and enjoy the fantastic view of houses on water.

Found the path - let's climb the hill.

Time to sit down on a snow-covered bench and enjoy a mug of hot tea while taking in the view.

A close-up of the town "center"

And of course, you can go hardly anywhere without the Virgin Mary being there to greet you

(seriously, she's on the top of an extraordinary number of hills, homes, etc)

Love and miss you all,

Katie