View from terrace of the Basilica
|
After seeing the inside of the Basilica, we went on the adjoining terrace for a
great view of the city. The Soane was just below us and the more distant Rhone
was marked by a belt of trees. Unfortunately, just as
we were leaving the Basilica area, the weather took a sudden bad turn. The wind
and dark clouds moved in and it started raining, marking the only real rainy day
of the entire trip. Nevertheless, the buses continued with the city tour.
Lyon
is noted for its more than 150 "painted walls" done in trompe d'oeil ("fool the
eye") style. We had already passed several smaller ones as the bus drove through
the city. Now we made stops at two of the largest ones, so well done that they
truly "fool the eye."
Trompe d'oeil mural |
Another trompe d'oeil mural |
We drove up the hill into the Croix Rousse
district, once home to Lyon's silk industry. Coming back down, we passed the
Opera House (1896/1992), Place Bellecour (one of Europe's largest squares), and
Place de Terreaux, where the Hotel de Ville stands. In the middle of the square
is a bronze fountain (19th century) by Bartholdi, who created the Statue of
Liberty.
Lyon Opera House |
Bartholdi fountain in Place de Terreaux |
In spite of the continuing rain, we all got off the bus for a
40-minute walking tour of the oldest part of the city, Vieux Lyon. We spent most
of that time going through the "traboules," ancient passageways that thread
their way through the old buildings. They provided a covered way to carry silk
safely through the town. Even the traboules were pretty wet today, though, and
we were glad to get back on the bus.
In the traboules of Vieux Lyon |
Rainy courtyard among traboules |
Old tower above traboules |
M.S. Ravel from across the Rhone in Lyon
|
We got back to the Ravel at noon and
had lunch at 1:00. The afternoon was free time. We relaxed and read in our
cabin. About 3:00 the rain stopped and there was even a little sun. Jane decided
to stay on the ship, but I was glad for the chance to see more of Lyon. A bit
too optimistically, I went out without an umbrella or a jacket. I had walked
across the Pont Gallieni, past Place Carnot, and several blocks down Rue Victor
Hugo (the main pedestrian shopping street) when the clouds blew in and it
started raining again. I ran much of the way back to the ship and was very wet
when I got there about 4:10.
At 5:00 there was a very interesting lecture
billed as about the World War II resistance movement, but it was really a
history of what had happened to France in the war. There was a port lecture at
6:45.
As a special treat, the ship cruised up and down the Rhone while
we had a wonderful "French dinner." For the first course we had escargot. I had
only had them once before and had found them tough, chewy, and unpleasant.
Tonight, though, they were tender and delicious. We had duck leg for the main
course, followed by an assortment of four cheeses, then a choice of desserts. At
9:00 a magician performed in the lounge. He was about the worst we had ever
seen.
