Lyon

In Lyon we met Marion, a friend from our Bishops days, who lives and studies in Lyon. When we arrived she told us that Nico, another mate from Bishops, was on French T.V. that night on a game show and had won! So the following night we sat down at prime time (6pm) to watch him again. Unfortunately he wasn’t so lucky the second night, but I was really fun to watch (although we couldn’t understand a word!). In the pic below he is in the pink shirt on the right. Go Nico!

The Old Town of Lyon is much like all the other old town’s in Europe, however the one in Lyon had this bakery, and by bakery I mean one with all different kinds of incredible praline (a specialty from Lyon) which sold out in half a day, and a huge line of people waiting to buy their daily bread. 

On top of the hill which overlooks Lyon is a cathedral (a trend in Europe, no?) which we did a quick climbed up to. On a clear day Marion said you can see more of the mountains which surround Lyon, but even so, it was a very nice view from the top! 

 

We also stopped down a cool little restaurant street for Crème Brulée and Crepes. And then a few days later with Marion for some traditional lunchtime food from Lyon (can’t remember the name, but basically an open roll). I had it with cheese, honey and walnuts, Kim had vegetables and Marion had cream cheese and  salmon. YUM! 

Dotted around Lyon are some really cool murals that you don’t even notice unless you are really looking at them. They are whole wall paintings, some are of people standing on balconies which look incredibly realistic, another is a bookshelf, and also a bookshop. Many people who go to Lyon don’t even know they exist because they are so realistic and not even hidden away in back alleys. We walked past a few and it was only when Marion pointed them out that we noticed. 

There are two canal’s which run through Lyon, so on a day of perfect weather, we grabbed a couple of bikes and rode along them. There are residential boats moored, bars and restaurants, and even one tiny beach! At one end of the city there is a gigantic park which has a free zoo within it (giraffes and all!) and a cycling track where a competition was being held the day we were there. 

 

After riding past the Ayres Rock bar on the canal, we decided that we had to go that night for a sneaky drink. The lining up system outside the boat was very ‘different’, everyone lines about 7 abreast, and the bouncer points randomly and you walk on in. Doesn’t matter how long you have lined up for, just matters what you are wearing! I always have to laugh when places declare they are ‘Australian’, the decoration and ridiculous generalisation's are hilarious. The ‘blokes’ and ‘sheila’s’ signs, T.V.’s playing continuous surfing footage, and the surfboards hanging from the ceilings are contrasts to the sophistication of the French lifestyle. But the French seem to love it anyway.

 

On our final day in Lyon, we took a boat cruise down one of the canals and saw the city from a different perspective. The history and culture in Europe always surprises me, with stories from another era and way of life. Plus it was a perfect day to work on my watch tan!