On the road again...
A long drive to Lyon provided a good chance to listen to podcasts to learn more about France while watching the scenery go by.
We appreciated Gregoire's expert guidance, and David, our driver, got us safely and comfortably to each destination. We were in good hands.
The truck stops we encountered were quite upscale compared to ours. We thought that providing outdoor laundry facilities was a nice touch. This truck stop had
a large gift shop and multiple eateries where we enjoyed lunch. The selection of flavored potato chips in the gift shop was truly amazing.
Lyon
We arrived late in the afternoon, dropped our bags at the hotel, and made a mad dash for the tourist information office to buy our Lyon City Card. Then it was another mad dash to the boat dock for the last daily sailing of a cruise along the Saône River. Looking to the west, we could see the beautiful Notre-Dame Basilica sitting atop Forvière Hill.
The Presqu’île (almost island) sits between the Saône and Rhône Rivers and was chock full of bustling restaurants at dinnertime. The amuse-bouche served to everyone at Les Infideles was a single stuffed pasta shell surrounded by various tidbits of absolute deliciousness.
A fun ride on a funicular took us to the top of Forvière Hill to begin our explorations for the day. Inside the Notre-Dame Basilica, we listened to beautiful music at Sunday morning Mass and even sang along to the alleluiahs.
Outside, we appreciated panoramic views of the city and beyond.
We spent some time in this museum of Gallo-Roman Civilization, then stepped outside to see the two ancient Roman Theaters.
In this city famous for its cuisine, great chefs are celebrities, none more than the late Paul Bocuse. We enjoyed a delightful dinner at his restaurant, Brasserie le Sud. Everything was delicious, but the most exquisite thing that night was Erin's dessert which she still raves about to this day. It was a bowl of fresh raspberries!
Exploring Lyon's old town, we found our way through its longest covered passageway, shopped at silk shops, watched silkworms in action, had a hilarious conversation with a shopkeeper bemoaning his fellow citizens' propensity to go on strike, and enjoyed lunch while watching the comings and goings of participants in a Rennaissance Fair. Like other bouchons (small eateries that specialize in Lyonnaise cuisine), L'Auberge des Canuts served a traditional Salade Lyonnaise which was as delicious as it was beautiful.
Erin and Linda took the subway to the Resistance and Deportation History Center to learn more about Lyon's role in the French Resistance as well as Jewish deportation in World War II. Getting out of the vast train/bus station complex proved challenging. Every attempt to leave sent us in the wrong direction and back into another part of the building. After much trial and error, we found an exit leading to a road that was marked as unsuitable for pedestrians, but we carefully looked both ways then sprinted to freedom. Should exiting a building qualify as a success story? Of course not. But if it feels like success, it is success!