France - Day 5 - Travel to Lyon

Can you say happy dance?  Even at this early hour I am so thrilled to be France bound.  As we come up into the Barcelona Sants station, I feel as though I am in a very large shopping mall.  The walls and floors are gleaming clean and the entire place is sparsely populated.

Locating a spot to sit near the boards and a quick bite to eat is the next order of business and once accomplished, the wait begins to watch for our train.

Our train arrives, the mad rush is on and we are soon boarded, once again in the quiet car and within moments our views of the countryside resume.  Ahhhh.

Poppies!!

A stop along the way - love the blue station.

This leg has a bit more room to stretch out.  Mister moves over into his own area and gives me our section.  Sooooo nice.

As we leave this station behind, the FRENCH countryside soon comes into view.  I made it!!!  After all these years I am finally in France.  My heart is thrilled.

Castle!

A castle in the distance.

Mister is taking a break but my eyes are just darting everywhere.

Greens just seem greener.  I can't catch everything but I'm giving it a grand try.

Hello Lyon.  We are apartment bound and when we arrive, our host is not there.  The restaurant next door helps to call him and within 5 minutes, he comes running.  Literally.  We had a small miscommunication, but all is well and we are able to drop bags, wash faces, and begin our Lyon adventure.

Our little corner of the world opens out onto the Saone River.  Oh my.  This is so refreshing.  I am revived and ready to explore this city.  Lyon has been on my list from the beginning and I think it is the spot I am most excited for.  Yes, even more so than Paris.

Across the river is the St. Jean Cathedral, marking the center of town.  To the right of it is the Court of Justice.  On the hill, high above, is the Notre-Dame Basilica and on the right is La Tour Metallique, which was originally an observation tower but today it's only function is as a television tower.

Oh I do love this river.  Is there a flat for sale that I can afford?  I could easily look at this each day of my life.

Across the river we go - we are funicular bound and on the way pass the Bibliotheque with this wonderful tower attached.  We are both smiling as the door is not very large in comparison to the building.

Next is the St. Jean Cathedral and it's quiet courtyard.  As we continue around the grounds, it is so fun to spot a Cardinal out visiting with the locals.  I honestly have to say that one of the things I love about traveling is all the open and easy access to churches and leaders.  It is just so different from here in the states.

The cathedral is beautiful and I'm ready to check it out.  One would think that churches would become tiresome, but they never seem to for me.  Each one is just so different from the others and I love the individual detail they share.

Look at the differences in the stained glass windows.  How fun.

This particular cathedral has a unique clock inside.  It an astronomical clock, 9 meters tall, and has an astrolabe that indicates the date and position of the moon, sun, and earth, as well as the stars.  In the central tower, the octagon supports automated figures of angels, a dove, the Virgin Mary, and a Swiss Guard.  In another niche, a statue rotates at midnight daily - Sunday it is the Resurrected Savior, Monday show his death on the cross, Tuesday is St. John, the Baptist, Wednesday shows St. Stephen (the patron saint of this ancient basilica), Thursday brings a child with a chalice and host, Friday spotlights a child with the symbols of the crucifixion, and Saturday presents the Virgin Mary.

Around the corner from the Cathedral are the ruins of an 11th century church.  The part that is encased is a part of the original baptistery.

One glimpse up the hill nets us our first "close enough" view to actually see the the golden statue of the Virgin Mary.  It gleams in the light and the entire basilica appears beautifully enticing from here.  Each tower beckons and I'm sure will provide awe-inspiring moments of peace and calm.

We are now going to take a right and walk down into Vieux Lyon - which is Old Lyon.  At one time this city became rich from it's trade fairs and banking.  It was also the capital of Europe's silk industry from the 16th - 19th centuries.  Let's go visit Rue St. Jean and leave our view of the basilica behind.

Oooooh.  I do love crepes and to get one here seems perfect.  Lemon and sugar please.

As I wait to enjoy our little repast, Mister takes the camera and looks back to where we came from.  We will wander further into this narrow street and I hope to find some hidden gems along the way.

Okay, let's go.

In one window, this marzipan looks so enticing.  Too bad I don't really care for it.

A little further down are pastel buildings indicating we have arrived in the old silk district.  Now, for some fun.  I have read about the serpentine "traboules" (passageways) that originally linked the town's three main streets and provided shelter from the elements when unfinished silk goods were being moved from one stage of production to the next.  I am now in search of the doors that will lead us into them.

Just a few doors down, I score and discover one such entry.  In we go.

Inside we find pastel courtyards, lovely loggias, and delicate arches.

Each one of these delightful doors provides new delights and exits us onto another street.  I am in heaven.

We have reached the end of rue St. Jean and are now in the banking center of medieval Lyon.  It's time to determine our next adventure.

Just walking about nets us great moments and peeks into history.  Imagine walking this staircase each day.  It almost appears as though the car parked at the base is debating this very idea.

There are flower shops that make me want to own one and I even spot a little bit of fabric in another window.  Nope, I don't go in.

I didn't go in but we decide to go to the History of Fabric Museum and set off walking towards the Presqu'ile.  When we reach the address, I'm aiming for, it's for another item on my list --- not entirely different as it deals with fabric, but certainly not a museum.  Well, we are here, let's see what is inside.  It is such a great stop that it deserves a post all of it's own.  You can read all about our fun with this link:  Silk Printing in Lyon.

Nearby is Place des Terreaux - a wonderful square in which the City Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts, and this wonderful fountain reside.

Marianne (The Lady of the Republic) is the star of the fountain as she rides on a chariot powered by four horses.  It is all symbolic of leading the two great rivers to the sea and keeping this area dry land. 

However, the plaza is usually wet, as it has 69 fountains placed throughout it in a grid.  They are not operating today and the plaza is full of people, tables, and chairs as everyone enjoys the beautiful day.

In Place de Celestins, we find this wonderful building - the Theatre de Celestins.  I seriously could spend MUCH more time in this city.  It would be grand to attend something here and see the inside.

After a short rest in the room, it's time for dinner -- I'm crabby and Mister knows that means food.  He has looked up a couple of spots and we are off to enjoy a quiet dinner together.

French dinners occur late in the evening (usually beginning anywhere from 7-9 p.m.) and they last for several hours.

Each course arrives on a timed schedule and you just don't rush the restaurant.  It is meant to take time.  Unlike America, they are not at all interested in turning these tables over several times each evening.  The spot is yours --- enjoy.

Where were we for all this?  Ahhhh, I've got the info for you.  Oh, and a little extra --- it was all soooo good.

We mentioned to our server that all that was left on our agenda for today is to watch the lights along the river.  Her comment to us was, "I have lived here for many years and still love to do that as well.  C'est magnifique."  I don't need anymore encouragement than that.  It's time.

As we walk towards the river, EVERY direction I look, something is lit up.

And we have arrived.  It is absolutely beautiful and these pictures don't do enough justice to it for sure, but it is a peek at what we were able to enjoy.

Look at the Basilica on the Hill

What an absolutely gorgeous view, no matter which way we look.  Standing on the bridge provides wonder to the eyes.  I have to say that this is perhaps the most romantic city night for me.

Well, that's it for us.  We still have a list for Lyon and only until 1:00 tomorrow afternoon before we have to leave.  All of that means it is time for some sleep.