After a 13 hour long flight to Paris (and a short delay), and a 2 hour train ride, we have finally made it to our destination – Lyon, France! The city that will be hosting over 4.5 million people next week for the famed annual Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights).

The sky was dreary as the team walked from Part Dieu train station to our accommodation, and there was even a slight drizzle, but that didn’t at all dampen our enthusiasm for being here! It felt truly amazing that all that the main team has been working so hard towards the past few months – the past year, even – will be coming to life and fruition in just under a week!

There was lots to be done in the meantime, but there still, was always time for lunch. The food at Le Garibaldi Pizzeria was a delight to have for the cold afternoon – warm pizzas and delicious lasganas to give us the strength for the rest of the day! It was also Khor’s birthday, and he was surprised with a cake by the team. Bon anniversaire!

Later in the evening, we headed to our workspace at Galerie des Terreaux to commence setting up. Our festival liaison, Didier (who has been most gracious and helpful to us!), explained that the space was a retail area that had been ‘abandoned’, and was now used as storage spaces for various purposes. It’s quite a condusive space for creativity to take place – and we even have a bit of an audience looking in from outside!

The team has gotten straight to work with the windmills made from recycled plastic bottles and illuminated with blue LED lights. We have also added a personal touch to each windmill – a ‘message on a leaf’ that we’ll be getting the lovely people of Lyon to write on! The entire windmill is then transformed into a beautiful flower.

There’s lots more to complete, but we have a good momentum going, and we’ll be continuing this each day leading up to the Festival opening on the 8th!

Much later, we took a walk around the vicinity to soak up the atmosphere and our surroundings. Walking around Lyon city at night is truly a wonderous experience. The city is well-lit to the point of magical: warm lighting that bathes the streets, adorned with Japanese lanterns and butterfly lights – we even passed by a carousel and a ferris wheel! It’s exhilarating to finally be here!

“If you think the city is beautiful now,” Didier said with a grin, “Wait till next week. You’ll be speechless then.”

We’re looking forward to it!

-Michelle

for The Living! Project