Steps today: 23 507 / 15½km. I have to say I am therefore MORE surprised by how much we did yesterday since we had a full day in the city today with no travelling… I think I underestimated the amount of walking (and pacing) we did at the airports! It all adds up!
We are early birds and don’t usually need an alarm in the morning, but on the first morning of a trip, we set it to make sure we don’t sleep the day away recovering from the previous usually sleepless night. We set it for 8AM, but were up by 7:45 – hitting the road by about 8:30.
We had omelets for breakfast (delicious and buttery) which was more than we intended, but it was either that or continental and while I don’t need or want a feast in the morning, I do appreciate an egg – especially in Europe! They are extra delicious.
We walked off the buttery deliciousness after breakfast, and visited the Cathédrale St Jean to see the astronomical clock that was hidden behind construction last time we were here. Looked nice and clean….
After this, it was up the hill (via funicular) to the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, high up on a hill and visible from all over the city.
In 2015, I remember being impressed by the mosaics, and Frank said he didn’t even remember them! Well, can't have that! I am always impressed by mosaics; these were beautiful! He liked them well enough, but not as must as I did… explains why he forgot all about them. This time, he did take more pictures of the mosaics for me with the camera (better results than with the phone) but ignored the ceiling!! My phone messes with colours, but still: WOW
We admired Lyon from the lookout – but it was hazy so we didn’t see the promised views of Montblanc, besides, the view is identical as before so we didn’t linger.
From there, we walk down the hill (longest staircase ever)
and then back up another hill to the Croix Rousse District. It was NOT pleasant since the sun was out by then and I was turning into a sweaty mess!
We stopped for a drink to relax in a brasserie, and I finally tried ‘Get 21’. I’ve seen it on menus all over but had no clue what it was! I describe it as peppermint on steroids. The colour is what drew me in to try it, although its is not quite right in the pictures, you get the idea. I wonder if this is the same as Crème de Menthe?
Once we cooled off, we took the metro to Brasserie Georges for lunch, a great place very inconveniently located that we discovered on our 2015 visit. In business since 1836 (yes, over 180 years!) perhaps back then in was in the center of the action?? It was better than we remembered; a great meal!
I love menu screw-ups like this! Snailsles. HA HA HA HA (but they were delish!)
After lunch, we walked all the way to the tippy end of the city: to the confluence of the Rivers Rhône and Saône. There was also a fascinating new building nearby housing the “Confluence Museum” which my guidebook did not mention at all – but it’s a really old book. I think it’s time to invest in a new guide. Mine was published in 2003 and had guided me through 10 visits to France already… an upgrade is due!
We then took the tram back to the area where we had lunch and continued walking around the city from that point and soaked up more of the sights.
The weather was SO ANNOYING! Blue skies, yes, I am very grateful but it was melting hot in the sun and super freezing in the shade. We stopped for a nice outdoor drink around 4:30, but by the end since we were in a shady spot I had my gloves on!
(Crème de Pêches with extra Pêches… one of my favourite drinks!)
As you know, I have a no-resto-repeat rule when on vacation. The rule has been broken on occasion over the years (perhaps I should downgrade it to a guideline) and dinner tonight looked like it would mean a return to the place next to our hotel for more of the delicious crêpes we had the previous evening. I was not opposed, but would appreciate TRYING to find a new place so we compromised on the idea of having crêpes for dinner again, but just at a different place.
It had not easy to find, we wandered many ‘restaurant rows’ but were unsuccessful and by the time it dawned on me that this was my farewell to Lyon walk, we were already out of the Old Town and working our way back to the hotel.
We did end up back to the same resto, but I noticed they had a sign in the window this time advertising their fondues and so we indulged. I said this was a totally legit excuse to break the rule!
And so that’s it! Goodbye Lyon, it was great! We had a lovely return visit – lots of fun… coming back again someday is not a given, but you never know!! 2 years ago, we had no plans to be back so soon, yet here were are!
Time for bed now, the train departs at 8:30 tomorrow morning.
Goodnight!
