After I finished yesterday's post, we sat on the couch (while still in le Puy en Velay) to reminisce about our day's travels, when we heard singing coming from the street. It was melodic and sounded like a soft Gregorian chant. We looked out of our 4th story window and Jan captured a few photos.
A large procession followed holding candles.
This was a Catholic eucharistic procession of Corpus Christi. It was an interesting finish to another experience-filled travel day!
The next morning our host brought up a tray of goodies for breakfast. We had an interesting discussion. His wife is running for an office in town representing the Green Party. We discussed our different 'democracies'. He also told us about the big trip he made to America when he was 18 to learn more about our agricultural practices. He flew into Chicago then bussed to LA then to the central valley.
We said our goodbyes and thanked him for his historical building's apartment opportunity. Jan took a picture of the building's 'door'.
The name on the listing is 'Le Velo Rouge', the Red Bike. We loaded the car and hesitatingly set-up the Navigation Aid ... uh-oh, we thought. Sure enough, it sent us into an immediate adventure!
Trying to get through a medieval town's center. Jan had to get out and direct, and I folded in the side mirrors. Just barely made it.
The weather was nice as we made our way on very nice highways to Lyon. We had quite the adventure trying to find the rental car return area at the Gare Part Dieu train station. But, after almost an hour we succeeded. It turned out we travelled 866 kilometers or 538 miles on our cross-France-on-very-interesting-routes road trip! A big sigh of relief when we started walking across the street from the train station to our very modern apartment.
You know us, we just need a short rest, then we're off to explore our surroundings! Off to the St-Jean neighborhood and their old town, called Vieux-Lyon. First ... lunch.
Jan's dish- rissotto with ham and an iced tea. Joe's dish- spicy sausage with mushrooms and potatoes with a Desperado beer.
Lyon- in 43 BC the Roman Senate ordered the creation of a settlement for Roman refugees from an earlier war (sound familiar to Europe's dilemma today?). The foundation was built on Fourviere hill, above today's old town. You'll see more about this area several days hence on our river boat excursion.
Today- I think all of the urban area's 1.6 million were in town to greet us! Here's a few pics. Enjoy.
Can you believe we found another cathedral to visit?
This is the Cathedrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, constructed from 1175-1481.
Behind the church is an archeological Roman site.
This the view looking up from the front door at the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere up on the hill.
In our wanderings we came across this interesting house, Maison du Crible, dating from the 16th century, designed by an Italian.
Lyon has two major rivers running through it, the Rhone and the Saone. We've been on the left of the Saone in Vieux-Lyon, and now we're heading(walking!) East to get back to our hotel. But first we had to go and see what all the commotion was about, a political rally!
Viva la France! Here's some more pics as we slowly made our way (Bataan Death March! in 80-deg!) back ... East, across the rivers.
Every day it surprises us how much we explore and discover! The quest is always there. Maybe that's why we are so tired at the end of each travel day. Do it now, archive your experiences, share with others, and fill your memory banks. More of Lyon tomorrow. See you there. Take care.
Commenting for Jim and Carol and Ruth Ann and David - they all talked about your car picture driving through the narrow streets at family zoom tonight! Good idea to pull in the side mirrors for a few extra inches of clearance! The teamwork required to get through there is just preparing you for the teamwork needed to pull and park your trailer. :)
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