spring break, partie une: lyon

cathedral fourvière

astronomical clock at st. jean-baptiste 

brioche aux pralines

the view from our picnic spot

cheese from the market

my first stop on my spring break adventure with my friend tate was lyon, food capital of france and france's second largest city.  we went by train, which is, in my opinion, the best way to travel through france.  upon arriving, we took the tram from the train station to the tram stop near our hotel, which happened to be right by this beautiful park.  we got our hotel, dropped our things, and then were off to vieux lyon (old lyon), especially to see the cathedral fourvière.  the cathedral was amazing, a was the cathedral down the hill, cathedral st. jean-baptiste.  then we were off to the famous brasserie georges for famous lyonnais sausage.  day 2 brought us to the local market at quai des celestins, which was amazing.  we enjoyed a lunch of baguette, st. marcellin cheese (a local speciality and new favorite) and beaujoulais (also a local specialty) along with traditional lyonnais sausage brioche and strawberries.  after enjoying our luxurious picnic on the côte du rhone (coast of the rhone river... like the wine), we walked through vieux lyon and enjoyed all the shops.  we also ate a tradition south of france pastry, the praline brioche which was to die for.  our last say in lyon found us back at the market for similar fare and then we were off to aix-en-provence.