French Love

The French Love – a commentary

In comparison to Paris, otherwise known as the City of Love, Lyon is a smaller, calmer city but it still has the beautiful architecture, two gorgeous rivers – the Sahon and the Rhone – and the French lifestyle. Plus, as my French friend says, people in Paris are always stressed and working – ick! However I find that although there are not tons of PDA (public displays of affection) when it does happen it’s not regarded with a ‘get-a-room’ or ‘oh-my-gosh-there-are-children-present’ or ‘puh-leeze’ expression. And my theory is that because the most PDA’s that I’ve seen is between older people – I’m talking our mum’s and dad’s ages, 30s (your welcome mum), 40s, and 50s and so there doesn’t seem to be this negative stigma attached to kissing, touching or hugging like there is in Canada. (I’m assuming that PDA’s are usually seen between 2 younger thang’s and thus it’s considered a ‘young’ and ‘immature’ act) (ie. Not the time nor the place kind of thought) when two people are kissing, hugging, touching (etc) in public.

However here in Lyon I barely see lots of affection between young, young couples, rather all the affection is between older couples – maybe their married, maybe not but regardless of their marital status they haven’t forgotten that they’re in love. And they haven’t forgotten that they should show that other person they’re in love, and not be afraid to do so in a public place. Here is a city that you can easily find fresh cut flowers, chocolates, wine and lots of loving.

I can’t help looking around and thinking the people here are happy, they are enjoying life. You can see it on their faces, they aren’t obsessed or worried about their weight, or what they should or shouldn’t eat, or what they should or shouldn’t be doing. They don’t feel guilty indulging in a pastry, a bottle of wine for dinner or kissing in the street – and why would they? It’s the journey that counts.