Inspiring Women Summer 2019

IN CONVERSATION WITH BECKY…
Tell us about a typical day for you. Often in
the course of my interpreting assignments,
during lunch breaks or casual activities,
foreign delegates ask me questions about
Lyon or for advice on what to visit in the area.
I have even found myself informing French
Lyon, France
down a corridor and come out on a different
street. The locals often use them as shortcuts.
What is the best-kept secret in your city? Lyon
is something of a secret itself, often
overlooked by French and foreign tourists. The
French think of it as the place they get stuck in
traffic on the freeway to the Mediterranean,
and foreigners only go to Paris, Mont Saint
Michel, and perhaps a Loire Valley castle or
two if they are especially adventurous!
What is the one thing you see someone do
that makes you know that they are a tourist?
Taking pictures of everything! You have to
wonder if some people actually see the place
they’re visiting because their eyes are always
glued to their mobile phone screens.
visitors! I find American visitors, even
professional ones, rather ignorant about
France (and Europe in general). I have to
admit I enjoy the look on their faces when I tell
them that tuition at French universities is
around €350 and that we get five weeks
annual paid vacation.
What are your top places to visit where you
live? The historic part of Lyon is a listed
UNESCO World Heritage site (1000 acres!), so
just walking around and admiring the different
eras of architecture, starting from the Romans,
will keep you busy for a while. The thing I like
to do most with visitors is explore the traboules,
which are passageways running through the
oldest buildings. It’s fun to push a street door
open, venture up the corridor and perhaps
discover a fabulous Renaissance courtyard in
the heart of the building. Then you continue
Modern Lyon
If you could travel to one place you’ve never
been, where would it be? India since I’m
interested in the people, architecture, food
and colorful everything.
What is your “other” favorite city in the world?
London, but with a lot of money.
What is your favorite mode of transport?
Walking. I like having the time to see details.
You Tube video of Lyon
Lyon traboules
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