We made it! Finally!
After our admitedly lovely day in Mulhouse, we had a really horrible train ride to Lyon. Because of the strike there were twice as many people crammed on to the train. We obviously did not get to sit down. We posted up in the bar car (like the nice information man at the train station suggested) and I proceded to get motion sickness. Youpi! I felt very unwell the whole train ride, which felt like it took forever. But we did, finally, arrive in Lyon to friends waiting for us at the station. Merci, mes amis.
And, thankfully, the first thing those lovely people did was feed us. We had delicious bouchon lyonnais and went to bed full of food, wine, and beer.
The next morning (ok, technically we slept until 1:30. I don't think I've done that since college?) we set out to visit the city.
Lyon is one of the biggest cities in France. It's as beautiful as Paris, yet with a more laid back atmosphere (which to Carl, was preferable).
We took the finicular (this trolly that brings you up the hill) to the top of the city. There is a huge basilica up there, which is beautiful enough, but you also get an amazing view of the city.
Totally worth it. The finicular costs the same as the metro, and I think you get something like an hour to travel from when you use your ticket the first time, so you could make it up there without paying twice.
There is a lovely path that goes back down the city from the basilica- But don't go down it yet!
There is a Roman amphitheater that is totally worth your time. We walked over and had a moment of introspection, realizing that we were sitting on the same carved stone seats as others did a thousand years ago. Heavy stuff, man. They also use the ampitheater in Lyon, unlike some other places. They have outdoor concerts in the summer. Can you imagine?
We watched a band set up on stage for a little, took in the surrounding artifacts an scenery, then turned around to head back over to the walking path through the park.
I went to Lyon six years ago (?!) and that was the part I remembered from our couple of days there. Walking down through the bare branches and cold air... It was so much nicer in June! Green grass, green leaves, flowers, birds. No one huddled up for warmth, collars turned up, faced burried in scarves.
I realized this was my first time traveling in Europe in summer.
What a mistake.
