{"id":4995,"date":"2025-01-09T12:11:08","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T12:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/salc-students\/?p=4995"},"modified":"2025-01-09T12:11:36","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T12:11:36","slug":"nina-a-visit-to-the-saturday-markets-in-lyon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/salc-students\/2025\/01\/09\/nina-a-visit-to-the-saturday-markets-in-lyon\/","title":{"rendered":"Nina: A Visit to the Saturday Markets in Lyon"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” next_background_color=”#000000″ global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=”322″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ menu_id=”7″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” background_layout=”dark” module_class=”main-navigation” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#1d1d1d”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner locked=”off”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”3.0.106″ title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”above” text_color=”dark” text_background=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_layout=”light” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Have you seen the opening scene of <\/span>Beauty and the Beast<\/span><\/i>? It\u2019s the moment when Belle walks through her hometown, greeting the morning crowd on her way to the library. Showered by the morning freshness, she makes her way through the market, saying good morning to the baker, the food merchants, and the housewives sitting by the street, chatting about this \u201cbizarre\u201d and unusual girl. In the background, Belle opens the scene with a light and joyful tune, which crescendos into a more intense symphony as the townspeople gradually join in.<\/span><\/p>\n

This opening scene has lingered in the back of my mind ever since. Growing up amidst the urban jungle, I always longed to visit farmers\u2019 markets that open during the weekends. Before coming to Lyon, I had always associated the vibrant chatter of markets with the countryside, where people habitually plan their weekend mornings for a trip to the local market.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I often pass by the Saturday market near my university, I decided to visit for a special grocery shopping trip.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When I arrived around 9 a.m., the area was already bustling with stalls connected side by side, forming a colorful labyrinth where one could easily get lost among the various offerings: flowers, cheese, baked goods, household items, fruits, vegetables, and more.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cApples, some carrots, one broccoli, maybe a bouquet of yellow tulips\u2026\u201d I murmured to myself, reviewing my shopping list before stepping into the buzzing labyrinth. Despite my efforts to stick to my list, I felt inundated by the variety of options and couldn\u2019t make a choice before being distracted by another stall. The apples at the next stall always seemed fresher, the flowers more fragrant, and the seller more inviting. Lured by such temptations, I slowly toured the entire market, only to find myself back at the entrance empty-handed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, I went in again to make my purchases. However, many stalls either only accepted cash or required a minimum spend for card payments. Eventually, I managed to check off only a few items on my list.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, I appreciated the time spent walking around each stall, listening to people in line chatting with their familiar merchants about their past week, children, and dinner parties. Conversations continued even after customers paid for their purchases. Many lingered around the stalls, joining discussions with the next buyers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I am not exactly sure how to explain my fascination with weekend markets. Aside from being an economic activity for local merchants, they represent a tradition upheld by both customers and sellers, despite the rapid growth of supermarkets and automated checkouts. Here, you can find crooked carrots that don\u2019t measure up to the perfectly polished ones in the supermarket. This weekly grocery shopping is not just an ordinary purchase; it is a social experience that fosters a sense of intimacy among neighbors and communities. Here, you don\u2019t struggle to cancel an item on a machine or wait for an assistant to arrive. When a familiar customer stops by, the merchant confirms their usual order and starts preparing it after a simple nod of acknowledgment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A visit to the weekend market feels like stepping into a real-life scene from my childhood memories. While it may seem like an ordinary slice of daily life, to me, it adds a human touch to a city that often feels too automated, fast-paced, and detached. I hope this tradition continues, as it allows us to connect with those around us and with the community we live in.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.0.106″ in_same_term=”off” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”on” button_icon_placement=”right” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”light” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Related<\/h1>\n

Related posts:<\/h3>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>

Do you want to be a Student Representative?<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/div>

Planning a career in the small business sector<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/div>

Outstanding staff awards<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.0.106″ area=”sidebar-1″ orientation=”left” show_border=”off” background_layout=”light” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” _builder_version=”3.0.90″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” module_class=”footer-section” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” global_module=”1465″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” global_parent=”1465″ locked=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.0.89″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us Title” global_parent=”1465″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Contact Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us” global_parent=”1465″ text_text_color=”#aaaaaa” parent_locked=”off” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_class=”contact-us” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

+44 (0) 161 306 6000<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” global_parent=”1465″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Find Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” global_parent=”1465″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_id=”address” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”1465″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Connect With Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Social Media” global_parent=”1465″ parent_locked=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n