Cuisine courage

I'm rounding out my time by myself, which has been a circuit between the three largest cities in France, with a trip to Lyon, about halfway between Marseille and Paris. Considered the gastronomic capital of France, it is quite a different feel from Marseille: more pig cuisine, more hipsters, less sun. In general, the French people I've spoken with would agree that it is "plus tranquille."

Speaking of cuisine, it is only fair that I give it some attention: I AM in France, after all. Marseille represents a cool mix of Provençal style with north African: I went from papetoun, a tower of goat cheese and tomato, doused in olive oil and basil with olive tapanade in the middle, to a tajine of chicken. Les pates au pistou is like pasta with pesto and alfredo sauce, another classic from Provence. And today, I tried a popular dish from Lyon, unfamiliar to me at the time. I grew suspicious when I dug in, and then did the background research: le boudin is black pudding, sometimes called blood pudding. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but it was not bad at all. I am what one might call a reformed vegetarian.

Other than that, I'm enjoying croissants for breakfast, and small amounts of strong coffee as often as I can. In fact, I'm planning to search for one now, before I head off to explore Lyon's Musée des Beaux-Arts!