Every December I try to travel to a place that has Christmas events. Last year it was Vienna and a few years ago it was Strasbourg.
I’ve been reading about the Fete des Lumieres in Lyon for years and have always wanted to go. I put a reminder in my calendar this year in September so I wouldn’t forget.
Fete des Lumieres/Festival of Lights is a yearly light festival on December 8 in Lyon that celebrates gratitude to Mary, mother of Jesus. It dates back to 1643 when Lyon was struck by the plague and promised that it would pay tribute to Mary if spared. Fete des Lumieres is now a four-day international event drawing people from all over world with attendance of over four million people.
In the last years the festival has gone all out in an attempt to make it the premiere light show event in the world. Tech and lighting artists are invited from all over the world to create works. Lyon is now on of the leading cities in the world in terms of light and light show technology.
I arrived on Friday morning and was invited to a press conference for Fete des Lumieres by the Lyon Tourist Board at the Hotel de Ville. I was kindly put with a small group of other journalists from Paris for a personally escorted press tour of the festival. After the press conference we were taken to Place Bellechasse, the main square of Lyon, where the kick off for the festivities would begin. The square was packed with people and we anxiously waited for the show to begin at 6PM. At 6PM sharp the square went dark and music began rumbling. A film based on Pierrot le Fou, the quirky clown was projected on the enormous Ferris Wheel while dramatic flames shot up in the air along side and statues in the square were lit up with colored fluorescent outlines.
One of my favorite installations was actually indoors. Inside an office building atrium was Grid by Christopher Bauder with music by Robert Henke. Stated as a light ballet, it started with a spotlight on a base player playing a classical solo perched high on the top floor of the atrium. A few moments later the lights shifted to a choir singing and after, a mesmerizing show of a grid of thin fluorescent tubes hanging on almost invisible strings starting shifting and moving in different directions and changing colors.
On another smaller square was an illumination of video mapping of Lyon and an old church came to life with multi-patterned light projections.
The Place de Terraux was the most crowded with thousands of people clamoring to see the gorgeous light show The Prince of Light projected on the buildings.
I couldn’t fit all my photos in today, so stay tuned for more of Fete des Lumieres tomorrow.
http://www.fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr/EN_2013
Click here to view some cool Fete des Lumieres videos.
The next 3 photos are from an installation in a pedestrian tunnel at the Perrache train station, depicting a recorded train trip.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale
I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos. I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.
Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.
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