Lyon!

Now time to speed off to Lyon on the TGV, to meet Laura and Bruce, fresh from their cruise and visit to Barcelona.  Tom had the foresight and skill to get our un-changeable tickets chenged from Tuesday to Monday because of an impending train strike.  Turns out that the ticketing company was only too happy to reschedule us.

laura had the foresight and skill to choose the hotel next to the Place Celestin, a 5 minute walk to the main city square, 15 minutes from the old town, and a brief subway ride to everywhere else.  Perfect.

Tom and I arrived in the afternoon, and after settling in found a bouchon, a traditional Lyonnais restaurant.  Lots of stuff on the menu, like tablier de sapeur.  It turns out most of them were tripe in various forms.  He opted for herring and then hot sausage.  I tried the salade lyonnaise, excellent but enough for a table of 4, followed by gateau de foie de volaille -- chicken liver cakes.  They were tasy enough but their bath of Prego marinara was off-putting.  We trusted the advise of the diners next to us and chose the praline tarte, another local specialty.  It is a thin tart with a hot-pink topping, tasting entirely and totally of sweet.  So -- been there, done that, don't need to do it again.

 The Basilica Notre Dame de Fourviere, known locally as the Upside Down Elephant.

 The enormous Place Bellecour which feels more like Red Square about to host a military parade. 

 The very high water drown the river-side parks. 

 Theatre Celestin

 A view of the old town from our side of the river.  Below, Cathedral St. Jean below the basilica.