Hello!
After a scenic journey, I arrived in Lyon Port-Dieu Station. It was huge and very busy, and there was construction work going on, none of which helped me in finding my way around. Luckily I chose the right exit, and with Google Maps guiding me set off through Lyon.
The area surrounding the station is modern, with shiny buildings that worked well with the setting sun. creating some photogenic effects.
I began to get closer to the city centre. The streets became very green and elegant.
I've been travelling in and out of France and Spain for several years now, and sometimes there are moments when I feel an instant bond to a place, something strong and subconscious. Maybe it's some kind of instinct. I felt it when I first arrived in Perpignan and saw the red sunset behind the Pyrenees.
Now I felt it again, standing by the Rhône in Lyon. The sun had nearly set, there were colourful lights reflected in the river, big swarms of birds were swooping across the sky. It just pulled at me. I knew at that moment that I could live in Lyon very happily, if only for the river at twilight. It was powerful.
Having crossed the Rhône, I headed along it on the other side, to get to where I would be staying. This area of Lyon felt like a mishmash of past and present, ancient and new, ephemeral and timeless.
I arrived at my hotel, left my bags and headed back out to see Catherine, a tutor from the University of Manchester. We would be discussing how my year abroad was going so far. To meet her in front of the Cathédral Saint Jean-Baptiste I had to cross the second of Lyon's rivers, the Saône.
Night had fallen by now. The dark hillside rose above me, dotted with lights and hints of old buildings. It was glorious. There were lots of people, especially students (hardly surprising as Lyon has three major universities) and there was a really nice vibe in the air, of hope and excitement.
I spotted a lot of people on Segways, then learnt that Segway tours seem to be a thing in Lyon. The guide will be at the front and will call back to the others in line about the city sights. I prefer a tour bus or train myself!
I found Catherine and we wandered through the old town looking for somewhere to eat. Lyon is famous for its food, but a lot of the menu items were things I don't really eat, such as big hunks of meat, half-cooked meat or foie gras.
Fortunately we spotted a bouchon, a traditional Lyon restaurant, that did fish as a main course and had other options that worked for me. It was a cosy little place, with a friendly and bubbly host.
Catherine and I chatted about my classes, this blog and blogging generally, and other aspects of my placement. It was useful and I was glad I'd taken the opportunity to have a pastoral visit.
Here is the food promised in the title of this blog post - it was divine.
My starter: onion soup with cheese and pieces of bread. This was amazing
Catherine's starter: I think this was poached eggs
My main: cod with potatoes - a standard French dish just done really well
Catherine's main: a quenelle, a dish made from fish or meat, egg and breadcrumbs
My dessert: the poshest chocolate moelleux I've ever had!
Catherine's dessert: crème fraiche with croutons
I made my way back to my hotel, feeling very happy with my first day in Lyon and looking forward to doing some more exploring in the morning.
Thanks for reading,
Liz x
