Vide Grenier on the first weekend of Summer 2013

Vide grenier literally means emptying the attic: a.k.a. garage sale. I went for a stroll in the city of Besançon upon my arrival and tumbled upon a vide grenier in the city center. There are much to buy if one is trying to embellish the maison and can stand having used things of unknown origin in the decor - otherwise it might not be to everyone's cup of tea, especially in taboo-rich asian homes. That having said, vide grenier and brocante are good places to sniff out interesting conversational pieces for the house...I for one ended up buying a breakfast service for 8 persons (Limoges porcelain) in beautiful scalloped designed for an amazing 20 euros!

 The Place Victor Hugo in Besançon City Centre.

 Instant heirloom furnitures for a steal...

 Leather malle (trunk) lined with moire silk for just 35 euros!  would have bought it if not for the constraints of travelling through airports...

Smaller ones from 10 - 15 euros...

The Brasserie du Commerce in Besançon City

Sunday is not an easy day in France to find lunch outside of the home kitchen and if one finds oneself in the Province (meaning NOT Paris), things can complicate. I arrived on a weekend in Besançon in the Franche-Comté Region and due to hunger, we went strolling in the city looking for early lunch without much luck but a few bistros were opened for breakfast - and we came across this one in Rue des Granges. It looks like a classic parisian bistro and the setting reminds me of the belle époque with its high decorated ceiling, art-deco settings and tall wall mirrors (the brasserie was established in 1873). We didn't have the opportunity to try the lunch but were content with a hot cup of chocolate as the cold and windy weather did not really feel much like summer here...

Music at the Gare de Lyon, Paris

On my connecting train ride (on the TGV) to Besançon from Paris CDG, I stopped by the Gare de Lyon. While waiting in the Hall 2 for my train, I noticed that there is a piano on the waiting hall and members of the public are invited to play it, a challenge which was taken up by a train passenger (picture below). This is a nice geste and I wonder if it is part of the Fête de la Musique's programme (every year on the 21st June, France celebrates la Fête de la Musique).

 The dome of the Gare de Lyon, an esthetique that can be retraced back to 19th century even in Renoir and Monet's  impressionist paintings.

The musical passenger of the TGV...the blue sign on the piano reads "A vous de jouer" meaning up to you to play.