Nanda & Nathan The Travellers: May 2015

May 29-31, 2015 ---- Lyon is only a 2-hour train ride from Geneva. Because it was extremely expensive to stay in Switzerland, Nathan and I decided to spend three nights in Lyon instead, and I was glad we did it.

Accommodation: We stayed at an apartment hotel call "Appart'City" located about 10 minutes from Lyon Part Dieu station. It might be a little far from all attractions, but it wasn't difficult to get to the old town area since there were bus, tram and metro stops close by. The apartment was equipped with all we needed. We had a tiny kitchen where we cooked most of our meals. The bed was comfortable, and the bathroom had a bath tub. We also got a nice view of the city. The downside was it got really hot during the daytime, and there was no air-conditioning.

Transportation: Lyon is a very accessible city. There are buses, trams, and metro lines that go everywhere. You can also rent a public bike or a city car to get around. We got Lyon City Cards which already included all public transportation, and we relied on buses and metros most of the time while traveling around.

Food and Restaurants: French food is probably one of the best cuisines in Europe. There are a lot of nice restaurants, food stands, and food markets throughout the city. Nathan and I were traveling on budget, so we mostly cooked our own meals and got supplies from Carrefour supermarket. We ate out twice, one time at the famous market called "Les Halles de Lyon" where I highly recommend any visitor to go, and the other time at a local farmers' market in La Croix-Rousse Quarter. Besides a food allergy I had there, I loved everything I tasted in Lyon.

Attractions: If you are a museum lover, get the "Lyon City Card"! You can buy the card online or at "Relay" shops located in the train stations. There are a lot of museums and tourist sites worth visiting in Lyon. I recommend you just stroll around Old Lyon, visit the Fine Arts, Gadagne, and Gallo-Roman museums, and try some local food at a market. Keep an eye on what is going on in the city and enjoy some free exhibitions. At the time we were in the city, there was a free exhibit about roses at the city hall.

Our Trip Itinerary: We spent 2 full days in Lyon, mainly visiting museums, churches and some squares. Then I was sick from a food allergy on our second day, so we had to skip some sightseeing till I got better.

Day 1

Morning: visit The Basilica of Saint-Martin d'Ainay and Museum of Textiles and Decorative Arts
Lunch: get some food and bakery at Les Halles de Lyon
Afternoon: stroll in Old Lyon and visit Lyon Cathedral, Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Museum of Roman Gallo-Roman Civilization, Rhône & Saône Rivers, and Bellecour Square
Dinner: cooked for ourselves

Day 2

Morning: stroll in La Croix-Rousse Quater and visit The Silk Workers' House and Living Silk Trimmings Workshop (Unfortunately, both places were closed on Sunday)
Lunch: at the farmers' market in La Croix-Rousse Quater
Afternoon: visit The Hôtel de Ville, Terreaux Square, Museum of Fine Arts, (Sathonay Square and Montée de la Grande Côte Street)
Dinner: cooked for ourselves

Our trip to Lyon was enjoyable and memorable. Unfortunately I was very sick during my visit at the Museum of Fine Arts and had to skip further sightseeing. The city is really like Italy but with French speakers, and everyone was so kind and friendly that I felt like I could live there permanently. It was our first time in France, and I was glad to have this experience in Lyon.