Lyon, France

UPDATE (December 7 - December 9) 

Another day trip from Switzerland took me to Lyon, France for the annual Fete de Lumieres.

The tradition began in 1643, when city dwellers displayed candles in tribute to Mary, mother of Jesus, to show their gratitude for surviving a plague. 

Four centuries later, the festival now consists of 35+ installations spread across the city. I walked for hours in the bitter cold, steaming cup of “vin chaud” in my hands, and saw barely a fraction of it.

With little more than beams of light, designers brought the infrastructure to life.

Statues transformed.

Bridges rowed.

Buildings spoke.

Sculptures danced.​

From atop the giant ferris wheel, I could see it all. 

The city was tucked beneath a blanket of darkness save for sleepless clusters of light.