Heartbreak

Pages From Jan's Travel Journal: Friday, December 28 2019

Craig and I awoke early and went to Desmond’s for breakfast. We were all excited to be going to Lyon for a few days. After a quick bite, we carried our small cases downstairs to await the driver. Instead of the train, Des had reserved space for us through a ride-share app. We were soon met by a very nice man and were on our way. Our driver spoke no English, but with Desmond sitting up front there was never a communication problem. 

I enjoyed the scenery as we passed through towns and countryside. The closer we got to Lyon, the more beautiful it became. We stopped for a bathroom break about three hours into the drive. The little roadside rest area had only a squat latrine, which is often referred to as a Turkish toilet. I was dismayed, as it had no handrail or anything to hold onto; not even a nearby wall to lean on! If I were young and spry, it would have been no problem. I made the best of it and managed not to fall over. 

On our way again, the scenery became craggy and rugged. The mountains were visible through the mist. Just before reaching our destination we stopped at a modern rest area which had large, clean restrooms. Upon reaching Lyon, our courteous driver let us out at Place Bellecour, where we could visit the tourism office and purchase a packet of tickets for the metro. It would have been wonderful to see the square during the Christmas market, as I had heard it was a good one.

The Ferris wheel at Place Bellecour, Lyon.

Even on a grey day, Lyon is lovely.

After that, it was a fairly short walk to our AirBnB. It was located near the top of a steep, narrow cobbled road and the apartment itself was up three long flights of stairs. It was roomy and had lots of personality, though it was a bit chilly. 

We enjoyed this cute little apartment in Lyon.

Our cozy bedroom in Lyon, France

We stowed our bags and then set out to find something to eat. After our six-hour drive we were definitely ready for lunch. The only place open nearby was a kebab shop and that was fine with us. We devoured the veal kebab sandwiches and crispy fries in the cozy restaurant and then set out to explore. 

A warm and filling lunch

A pretty street on Lyon, France

We had decided on a double-decker bus tour and had a little time to kill before boarding, so we walked around for a bit. We purchased some delectable pastries at an artisanal patisserie. I chose a Mont Blanc, which was a concoction of chestnut cream, meringue, and pastry cream. I had just thrown the wrapper away when my phone rang. My heart jolted when I saw that the call was from my mother’s hospice nurse. I knew it was bad news. 

Craig and Desmond knew how bad it was by my reaction. Our only comfort was that our sweet Ruby had passed away swiftly and peacefully. We immediately made our way back to the apartment, sobbing and trying to support each other. The rest of that day was a blur. We called our daughters and one of my sisters, who said she would inform the rest of the family. I vaguely remember Desmond handing me a hot drink and Craig making phone calls to the airline. Desmond went out later and picked up food for the three of us, but I have no memory of what we ate. 

To lose a loved one so suddenly when we were thousands of miles away was particularly heartbreaking. Stunned, bleary-eyed, and inconsolable, we cried ourselves to sleep.