Day 38 - Lyon, France

Today, we explored the French city of Lyon. We started out walking to the Basilica and stumbled on a boat cruise. Okay, can’t turn that down.

Lyon, the capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Its center reflects 2,000 years of history from the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, medieval and Renaissance architecture in Vieux (Old) Lyon, to the modern Confluence district on Presqu'île peninsula. Traboules, covered passageways between buildings, connect Vieux Lyon (basilica) and La Croix-Rousse hill.

The two hills frame the city, Wiki:

Fourvière: Also known as the "praying hill", this hill is to the west of Lyon and is crowned by the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière. The basilica is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's 86 meters long and 35 meters wide, with a unique architecture that combines Byzantine, Gothic, and Romanesque styles. The basilica attracts over 2.5 million visitors each year.

I thought there was a funicular to take me to the top, the map said there was a funicular, I followed the stupid map, and ended up walking all the way to the basilica. Martha made it up the hill to the steps of the alledged funicular and said ‘funicular that!’ Maybe it was only a half mile, but it was a half mile straight up hill, with hundreds of steps, up hill!!!!

Ok, the basilica was totally worth the climb. I might’ve said one or two f bombs on my way up, but I definitely asked forgiveness once I got in the church. I lit five candles, paid for by tap and pay, lol.

Photo dump of the basilica.

The other hill in Lyon is Croix-Rousse, which is to the north of the city and is known as the "working hill". This hill was once the city's silk-weaving district. I’m sure somewhere in the hundred pics I took today I have something of this hill; but I don’t know which ones. That was first thing this morning lol.

Man of the rock is a statue of a generous benefactor to the city and children of Lyon dating back centuries. He resides near the Saone River.

Martha and I have been trying to determine the difference between a Cathedral and a Basilica. I finally looked it up.

Cathedral The home church of a diocese's bishop or archbishop, and named after the bishop's chair, the cathedra in Latin. Cathedrals are also parishes with their own communities and parishioners, and are often considered to outrank other churches in the same diocese.

Basilica A church building designated by the Vatican for its historical, spiritual, and architectural significance. Basilicas can also be the cathedral of a diocese, but not all basilicas are. The term basilica comes from ancient Rome, where basilicas were public forums used for assembly or as courts of law. When Rome became Christian, many of these forums were converted into churches, and the basilican architectural style often includes a rectangular floor plan, colonnades, and a semi-circular apse. 

So basilicas can be cathedrals but cathedrals cannot be basilicas unless designated by someone somewhere in Rome.

The hall of justice took 24 years for the outside and 12 more for the inside. There are 24 columns because justice never sleeps. There’s also a statue outside of a man carrying his guilt.

This house covered in vines was on our river cruise this morning. I mean!!!

Orange cube - nicknamed Orange Cheese is an office building.

Green cube is its mate and designed by the same architect. We cannot make this stuff up. They call it the Pencil Sharpener, as there is another very tall thin structure somewhere called the Pencil.

Confluence Museum building, looks like Star Trek ship.

The Rhône and Soane converge

We asked our waiter at dinner last night what we should see in Lyon. He told us about the miniature museum. We’re like what? He said it’s cool. So, after recovering from my climb to God (or at least His Basilica) we were walking along a street and Martha noticed C3PO standing next to Herbie the Love Bug and the Flying Car from Harry Potter. So we had to check that out….

Wiki: In the heart of Vieux-Lyon, the Cinema and Miniature Museum houses a unique collection of cinema exhibits that appeared in feature-length films such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Alien, Jurassic Park or Terminator 2. Visitors are amazed by the miniature creations of Dan Ohlmann and other artists, which are packed with detail and full of poetry.

Another photo dump:

We Olympiced again, Spain vs Columbia in women’s soccer. I guess we should’ve stuck it out as the game went to PKs, with Spain winning.

After all of that, we needed dinner. We might’ve stopped for wine on the way to dinner, but I mean, who’s counting. Are we becoming French as it was 9:00pm by now? We ate at Pasta! It was good and we should’ve shared as it way too much food especially that late at night. The wait staff’s shirts!!!

Good night from Lyon.