Oh Lyon, you are nothing like I remembered…
During the music festival I was asked by one of my new French friends if this was my first visit to Lyon. “No,” I told her, “While living in Grenoble, I used to come up here about once a month with one of my host families.” Then I added, “But back then I was a self-absorbed sixteen year old and never really did anything.”
“That’s too bad,” she sympathized, ” Lyon is such a great city- so what have you seen this time around?”
I smiled and paused.
“Uhhh…..Le Smoking Dog?”
Clearly there is more to this town than a British pub, but I really did spend probably more than my fair share taking in the lazy drinking culture (not that this is a bad thing). Besides, everyone needs a little time to reconnect- and that’s just what this slice of my trip did for me.
A moment of high significance. Morgan Pelforth resurfaces….
I did get to explore a little bit, and Lyon really has so much more than I every remembered. This city is gorgeous, and every day it is an absolute pleasure to step outside and wander around.
You get your share of exercise walking up and down the hill to explore Vieux Lyon and its environs. I love how on a clear day you can see straight to Mont Blanc.
I guess it shouldn’t be surprising to see that this place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
La Fontaine Bartholdi. My buddy Marc had said that during certain weather you could see steam coming from the nostrils of the horses. I didn’t believe him until I wandered down and saw it for myself. You can also see the claw/hoof action going on.
On my last day I wandered down to Place Bellecour to check out a particular statue. I ran into a statue of Louis XIV, and it kind of reminded me of the generous renderings of him throughout Versailles. Don’t tell the French, but I don’t think he looked this gallant in real life
This is the modest statue that I was looking for! Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Le Petit Prince. Saint-Ex was born in Lyon, and traces of him are everywhere.
Wandering around all of France, you see plenty of reminders from the Great Wars. Vive la Résistance!
Ghosts of the past. On this particular street of bars I was shown this door and plaque, listing the number and names of Jewish people who were found inside and deported to concentration camps during World War II.
I didn’t get a chance to run by the river, but there is plenty of open space to explore. Next time, I’ll run here.
Lyon is kind of known as the gastronomic capital of…I dunno, the world? As for me, I do love Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factor, and maybe that’s why I am in love with Lyon and its walls of chocolate
Saucisson sold at the chocolate shop.
I probably spent too much time in the bar, because there is still a lot of big ticket items that I didn’t visit, like the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.
I guess I’ll need to go back.