Samedi le 8 novembre - LYON!

Breakfast was a treat for the girls as it was included in our hotel package and was a buffet. All the chocolate croissants and plain croissants you could see. Along with other patisseries, cereals, juice, yogurt, cheese, toast (all be it French style and very small). Nev had the best coffee yet as he could make it himself and add more water. Coffee here is served in tiny cups and is extremely strong – normally no milk in it either.
After the girls had their fill and filled their handbags with emergency supplies for later we set off.
Another metro system to master – nowhere near as large as Paris, as you would expect but much cleaner and no graffiti anywhere. The trains themselves were actually wider and you could sit right at the front or back and see out. Also not nearly as chaotically busy!

We found the information centre and collected our “Lyon City Card Pass” this enabled us to free transport all throughout the city on trains, buses, trams and funiculaires. It also allowed free entry into 21 museums, a free river cruise, free entry into the Guignol theatre and numerous other things – this was also included in our hotel package. Which was stay 1 night and the next 50% off along with breakfasts and these passes. Not a bad deal as it turned out!
Lyon is famed for its Traboules - covered passageways, or secret passageways. In all there are 315 passages that link 230 streets and have a combined length of 50km. Most were constructed by ‘canuts’ (silk weavers) to facilitate in the transporting of silk especially in inclement weather. The traboules can go down several floors across roads through buildings and emerge 2 streets below, or they can be far simpler. Others are miraboules, these only have 1 entrance and lead you into a beautiful courtyard or an interesting stairwell.
We went to a few and tried a few doors but some were locked. We certainly tried to go to the best ones but after a few we thought we better carry on with our day. The main old part of Lyon is beautiful – narrow streets with a lot of charm. Food stalls outside selling hot roasted chestnuts and hot wine! Cobbled streets and busy. Vibrant and interesting!

As we wound our way through the streets we came upon the miniature museum – so in we went. WOW- what an amazing place, the miniature scenes were incredibly detailed and were used in movies. We would our way up the stairs to another floor and rooms, this continued for about 5 floors. I was blown away, the best displays were the “behind the curtain” restricted area! This was gory – but our kids came anyway – body parts, zombies and even Arnie the Terminator head! Very fascinating – you even saw the man’s workshop and all his tools etc. Guess who was there C3PO! Unfortunately we had to rush this as we didn’t want to be late but could have spent a lot longer.

After this we headed to the funiculaire to head up the hill to see another church!! Again a very different architecture and really interesting inside as all the big murals were mosaics – very clever!
As we walked along the river bank the food market was packing up – I was disgusted! The rubbish was everywhere – they just left all the packaging, rotten fruit and veges and even some good stuff! There were quite a few people who were searching through and picking out good stuff. I was revolted- further on the lovely café by the river cruise had a large pile of rubbish outside and wasn’t pleasant to look at. Admittedly by the time we came back from our cruise it was all gone – the cleaners had been through picked it all up and hosed it clean.
We then were off to our River Cruise on the Saone – couldn’t compete with Paris’ but interesting all the same. I couldn’t believe the graffiti everywhere – it really spoiled the view and definitely put another light on France.
Most of the bridges in Lyon are new because the Germans blew up all the bridges except for 2 to hold the Allies back from getting to Germany.
Straight after this we headed to the Guignol Theatre – This is a famous puppet created in 1769 in Lyon. The theatre was fantastic – a whole other culture – the puppeteers were incredibly skilled. The stage was set so that they can walk fully upright behind the stage and have their hands above them. Salonging them to come form the back etc. Afterwards we were allowed backstage to see the workings – amazing and they had so mant different sets and puppets for all the variety of shows they perform. Really good entertainment!

Headed back towards the subway and found a clearance handbag sale – of extremely good quality top brands! Amazingly I succumbed and bought a bag – French design and leather!
To the main shopping centre in the hope of finding some winter boots and coats – frantically raced around as nothing open tomorrow! Nev decked himself out – now looks very French in his 1 outfit! Hermione got a nice woollen coat but Seph couldn’t find anything – for those of you who know Seph well, this was not good – she is the fashion police in our house and this wasn’t how it is meant to be! Normally she is the easiest one to find clothes for that fit. However she took it well and we will keep looking until it is just right!
Tea – A grill on the way back to our hotel – Nev got an interesting entrée – a plate of assortments of Ham – it looked raw, and ion the plate was a sachet of butter! Not sure what you are meant to do with it! The rest was very average and not worth mentioning.