Lyon

Lyon is so beautiful. It is really just a lot like Paris but without all the touristy crap. It is truly a large, metropolitan French city that has a huge marché, a gorgeous basilique, and tons of little squares to go run around and put fountains in.

So, let's start from the beginning. Kate and I got off the train in Lyon and were completely overwhelmed with the size of the city and couldn't seem to find a suitable map other than the one in her huge French tourist guide book (I really wish I had brought mine). We go to the nearest tram stop thinking that the easiest way to hit all of our destinations is going to be by tram just like in Grenoble. After a minute or two, we realize that their are FOUR modes of transportation, a tram line, metro, bus, and some French word thing that I couldn't translate. Given all of the confusion, we just started walking. Did I mention that Lyon was a big place? It occasionally gets in fist fights with Marseille for France's second Paris. So, needless to say, it's a big place.

I don't even want to know how long or far we walked. My most educated guess would be 8-10 miles, not kidding or exaggerating at all.

However, it was totally worth it. We hit all of our destination spots including the GORGEOUS Basilique Forviére that was built in the 19th Century, Lyon's Notre-Dame, some ANCIENT ROMAN THEATRE RUINS, some famous squares and statues, and some of the oldest buildings in France. It really was a fabulous day, and I have to say that my favorite part was seeing the ancient Roman ruins. I have obviously never been to Rome or seen any Roman ruins, so to see it first-hand was really special in a I-can't-believe-I'm-here, I-can't-believe-this-is-still-here, and I-can't-believe-who-must-have-been-here kind of way. It is really neat; everyone should have a goal to see ancient runins. It puts a perspective on history, how the history books may actually be telling the truth, and how far we've come, but how much we've lost along the way.

It's now the morning after going to Lyon, and I'm still pooped. Best exercise plan ever, seeing Europe!!

Au revoir!

Following are some of my favorite spots, the Ancient Roman Theatre, the Fountain Bartholdi (which was sculpted by the man who designed/made the Statue of Liberty, Frédéric Bartholdi), and the Basilique Forviére.