A walking tour of Vieux Lyon - acknowledging 2000 years of history.

Thursday 29th August
A not so early start today. After a remarkably long sleep Lady P heads out to a famous and popular local  patisserie for croissants and pastries. We soon have our own petit dejeuner in our apartment. Moving slowly we walk up our local rue Saint Jean to the cathedral, which has only just been totally cleaned inside and out, resulting in a gleaming sandstone gothic building with magnificent stained glass windows.

Here in the square we meet Paul, our walking tour guide who leads us on a 2 hour tour of Lyon. We discover that Lyon was founded by Julius Caesar in 43 BC after he defeated the gauls. The old town eventually moved from the top of the hill to the banks of the Saone during the middle ages for better access to water from the river and  building continued through the Renanaisse period. Interestingly, Italian architects from Venice were responsible for much of the 15 C /16C buildings that make up the World Heritage listed Vieux Lyon area including our not so little 1st floor apartment. We also wander through the traboules – passageways through private residences from one street to another, secret short cuts if you like, which the resistance put to good effect, during the Nazi occupation of Lyon in 1943/44. More angels and demons moments! Back in our neighbourhood we buy a jamon, brie and figues baguette to share for lunch and after more friendly franglaise discussions with the ever so friendly local youngsters we buy a Bourgogne blanc Aligote. We have a pique-nique in our apartment, enjoying the unusual wine with hints of marsanne.

We are going to a highly recommended bouchon tonight and Flashman has been translating the menu. Prior preparation and all that he says. There is some concern when items on the menu translate to head, nose, ear, tail and intestines. Anyway forewarned is best. Food photos and more on Lyon gastronomy tomorrow.