Lyon, France

Lyon, France is often overlooked as a vacation destination, but is definitely worth a stop. Perhaps just a short stop though.  And try to come during the summer instead of October to see the city in its best weather.

It is a 5 hour train ride north of Nice, France. That might sound like a long time for a rather short distance (it did to me anyway), but the train is slow and stops a lot along the coast on the way to Marseille. After that, the speed picks up and you arrive in Lyon, France in no time at all. I happened to luck out and snagged a first class ticket for the same price as a 2nd class ticket. You don’t get any free food or drinks, but there are only 3 seats across instead of 4 and they were super comfy.

I headed straight to the hostel last night after my train trip since it was already starting to get dark, and it was also quiet chilly (40s) compared to Nice (70s).

When I woke up this morning it was still cold with a forecasted high of 48. It was also raining. Ugh. Why did I leave Nice and the beautiful weather? But, I didn’t let that stop me. I grabbed my umbrella and headed out.

Knowing that I probably wouldn’t last a full day in this weather without a heavy jacket, hat, or gloves (Nisheet is bringing them to Paris for me), I decided to check off the most important attractions on my list right away. First up was Notre-Dame de Fourviere. It is located on a hill above Vieux Lyon, and you can’t help but to notice it as you walk through the city.

To get there, you could do the wise thing and take a bus or funicular,  but I decided to walk up one trillion steps. On the bright side, it warmed me right up!

Once at the top of the hill, Notre-Dame is right there. I was told by some girls in the hostel last night that it was just like the one in Paris but without the crowds. Well… there definitely weren’t any crowds which was great, but it also wasn’t quite like the one in Paris. It was stunning nonetheless and provided a quiet retreat for contemplation.

Some of the best views of Lyon, France are behind the church, so don’t forget to check them out if you come here.

Since I was already atop the hill, I figured I might as well check out the old Roman amphitheater nearby. It was stunning! In America, they would have had the whole thing fenced off, but this is France, so anyone was free to climb all over the ruins. There was a large and a small amphitheater, and though not completely intact any more, they were both wonderful to explore.

By the time I walked down the hill and back into Vieux Lyon, it was early afternoon and I was chilly. So what better way to warm up than to step inside a cozy bouchon for lunch. These are tiny little restaurants that serve traditional Lyonnaise food such as tripe and sausages. I am a little disappointed in myself for not being more adventurous in my food choices and trying things like tripe (eeep!), but I still had an amazing 3 course meal for an astonishing low price of 17 euros.

To start, I had a warm goat cheese salad. I’m not kidding when I say that this might have just been the best thing I have ever eaten in my life!! I know I know…it’s a salad but the lettuce was super fresh with shredded carrots, tomato wedges, almonds, and the most delicious dressing ever. It was then topped off with a toasted baguette slice and baked goat cheese. So simple yet so scrumptious.

My next course was beef burgundy on pasta. It was probably the most American thing on the menu, but it really hit the spot. It was served pipping hot, and the meat melted like butter in my mouth.

For dessert I had an apple tart drizzled with a raspberry sauce. It was the perfect final touch to this delectable meal.

After eating my gigantic lunch, I needed a walk. Vieux Lyon has lots of cute little shops which kept me entertained for a while, and then I checked out Place Bellecour and Place des Jacobins which were both lovely squares. I imagine they are quite popular and buzzing with people when the weather is nice, but today they were all but deserted which…in a way…was a neat thing to see.