Lyon - April 2011

Finally I was able to return to France. The last time I was here was 1993 and the time before that I was 14 in school going on a school trip. Plus this was a trip to southern France where hints of a southern clime is in the air. Needless to say I was excited...very excited. We left England on Easter Sunday and were in Paris in an hour. We booked a hotel next to the Gare de Lyon with its huge station clock so that we would be ready for the train in the morning. The TGV was so exciting reminding me of the bullet trains in Japan. Soon we were in Lyon and had lunch and a visit to the beautiful Cathedral on the hill in dazzling sunlight. The first full day we drove about 40 kms to the ancient hilltop town of Perouges. This town has survived intact from the middle ages, it was essentially abandoned and fell into disrepair but was not torn down. Before the wreckers had a chance to move in the town was rescued and is now fully restored and full of restaurants and artisans. The second day we explored Lyon and spent a lot of time in the Parc de la Tete d'Or. The beautiful wrought iron gates open on to a beautiful park full of trees and flowers and a zoo. The last day was another tour of the city but concentrating on the Musee des Beaux Arts which was full of some wonderful paintings across the ages. Next day saw us return to Paris and we walked all along the Seine passing Notre Dame, under the Eiffel Tower, up to the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs Elysees to the Louvre. Flew home the next day.