Lyon

Before I tell you about my day, galavanting around France’s second largest city, let me mention what was happening just a few hours north, in the largest ville.  If you haven’t read about it yet, I encourage you to do so on your favorite news site.  France is in mourning for the tragedy that occurred.  Please be praying for this nation and that all will come to the knowledge of their need for a Savior.

But, I will not let an act of targeted terrorism stop me from being excited about my day and sharing it with you all!

Today, me and four other ladies left behind five strong husbands and 13 children in pursuit of a day of kid-free peace.  It was a sort of last-minute, thrown together, let’s go, thing…and it was a great way to spend a cloudy, chilly day before school gets too involved this semester.

Lyon is less than two hours away by car, so off we went.  The first stop was finding parking, which was easy enough.  Then we hiked up a million-ish stairs to the top of the hill overlooking the city.  At the top of this hill was a gorgeous cathedral and some Roman stadiums that are about 2000 years old.  Yeah, old.  The Roman city that was there before Lyon was called Lugdunum, founded in 43 BC. So incredible!

From the hill, the day begin fairly foggy

Shannon and I were excited to see the cathedral (Shannon is an OB/GYN headed to Vanga, DRC)

The mosaics and details cannot be described…this is the only picture I took, because I wanted to SEE everything…

We took a train down the hill to lunch and traditional Lyonaise food, which was delicious, and headed back out to the center of the old part of the city.  We explored another cathedral and several little shops and allies, before heading across the river.

Salade Lyonnaise – delicious with a vinegar dressing and lots of bacon and a poached egg on top!

Four of the five ladies standing in the Roman amphitheater – we spent a long time playing with the impressive acoustics

Ancient Roman column, no big deal

There were over a hundred Roman stones like this one stored off to the side – perhaps they were signs announcing the different events at the two amphitheaters?

When I sat on it, it rolled a bit…oops.

This smaller amphitheater was designed especially for music and speeches. See a tiny Shannon at the top with white gloves?

The miniatures and cinema museum looks interesting for our next visit, and I took this quick selfie out front, not realize that the [original] iRobot was looking right at the phone…creepy!

Oh the cathedrals!

Shannon and I on the pedestrian bridge crossing the river – that cathedral on the hill had been our first stop of the day

Here, we toured several different plazas and streets.  Everywhere were medieval cathedrals and statues and cobblestones.  Finally, it was time of turn around and head home.

The plazas were impressive

Probably one of the most majestic buildings I’ve seen yet…can you see the chandeliers were on in the ballroom on the second floor? (This is a hotel!)

The day was exciting and a wonderful day off, with lots of French reading and listening and some speaking, so it was great.  I can’t wait to return here with the family and explore more!

Lovely!