Luggage

How did we fit the luggage for 4 people into a 7 seater car? Easily!

We even managed to close the hatch. Notice the wing doors- opening as sliding doors, something I had not seen before.

Feast for the eyes

We have fallen in love with Lyon. The food capital is a title richly deserved with sights like these.

Yes, also available in Paris! Trying to be good and sample as many things as we can!

This statue is near the Hotel de Ville- only partial view shown here.

Silk

We visited the Maison des Canuts [House of the Weavers] for a tour of the historic silk weaving industry in Lyon. Who is not seduced by the sheen of silk?

Many beautiful things to choose in the show room.

The jacquard loom was invented in 1804 and helped speed up the intensive weaving process. Even today, in an 8 hour working day, only 30cm of silk jacquard is produced. France has 10 master weavers.

On our way to the Maison we can across this amazing mural.

 

The confluence

The confluence is the area where the Rhone and Saone Rivers meet and is undergoing a construction phase, with a convention centre, new museum and office buildings underway. These 2 designs stood out!

And this is the meeting point here.

Traboules

Lyon was the centre for silk production and weaving in the 1700-1800's. Long covered passageways kept the silk dry as it was transported around town. Many of these traboules are now accessible by tourists and make an interesting excursion. This is the door to the long one in Vieux Lyon.

Many murals have been painted on the sides of buildings and crop up when least expected. 

Rubbing Lyon

Have taken some rubbings in Lyon. Our hotel room on the fourth floor has 3 windows, 2 with access to a very small balcony. The window looking towards Bellecour Square had a good design on the railing for a rubbing.
Yesterday the farmers had a protest and blocked off traffic around the square with their tractors and trucks and had a noisy march, waving flags and shooting off crackers or pop guns.

I was lucky to have these old printing wood blocks in the room as decoration, so they got the treatment too. Would have been used in the silk industry. 

Roman ruins

On the hill at Fourviere is the old Roman city of Lugdunam. Today the amphitheatres remain and a few patched columns.

 

Basilique Note-Dame

We have explored Le Vieux Lyon, the old city with it's narrow, winding cobbled streets and interesting corners. In Fourviere is the Basilique Notre-Dame. It is a landmark for Lyon and makes navigating easy.

Stunning mosaic work inside this church which was build in the late 1800's.

Looking up at the vaulted ceilings.

 

Bouchon's of Lyon

There are many Bouchon's- eateries, to be found around Lyon. We came across Le Petit Gluton ad had dinner there. It is in the Old Lyon area and is beside the longest traboule- passageway, generally covered, in this area.

The Lyonaise Salad had a piquant mustard dressing and very tasty fried bacon or ham.
The Grand Marnier Crepe ended the meal.

Even lots of walking is not getting rid of my excess baggage from this diet!

Surprising

What a beautiful, old fashioned grocery store with such fresh produce. Pity that it is a store I can't enter- unless I too am miniature size.

 

Across the Saone River

The volume of tourists in Paris is not matched in Lyon, making it very pleasant to walk around and discover beautiful sights. The peninsular where we are staying is embraced  by the Rhone River on one side and the Saone on the other. This is a view of the Saone.

Looking across to the Old Town.

This reminded me of Rapunzel's tower. This part is full of character where ever you look.

Trees are mainly bare still. 

Hotel room

Our hotel is near the central square, in the Belle Cour area and just a stroll from the metro station. There is even a McDonalds as you exit the metro. No we don't eat there!

Our room is a corner room, so 3 sets of French doors and windows and tiny balcony, just for appearance, not to sit on. Blue and white stripped wall paper, so chic.

Thanks for all the comments from my loyal blog followers. I am trying to give you as authentic an experience as I can through the eyes of a foreigner.

Rapid train to Lyon

Waited at Gare de Lyon for the platform number for our fast train to Lyon. We had first class seats on the last carriage at the other end!

On our way- a little wine, a little nap and we were in Lyon, 2 hours south of Paris.