Lyon, version printemps

Last week we took a day trip to Lyon, to register Mikus as an American citizen. Luckily for us the weather was warm and sunny, allowing us to further explore the city after the official business was over. (Some previous adventures in Lyon here and here)

We started with lunch on rue de la Républic and continued with a !! Starbucks !! coffee and quick tour through H&M. (I will admit I spent about 20 minutes waiting for my frappuccino, but that this didn’t diminish my ecstatic enjoyment of afore-mentioned decaffeinated delight served in a giant..no, wait… grande! to-go cup. Then on to Place Bellecour, one of the largest in France. (Lauris wasn’t impressed. You have to remember, he’s been to the Piazza Vittorio Veneto, supposedly the largest in Europe) In the very center there is a giant statue of Louis XIV on horseback. The pedestal is decorated by two bronzes, representing the Rhône and the Saône, each facing in the direction of its respective river. I found it interesting that an earlier statue had been destroyed during the French Revolution, but that this statue had been spared in 1848 by a change of inscription. Oh, and the square was home to a guillotine about 200 years ago. 

Lady Saône

We didn’t linger much longer, as ripples of the horrific events in Toulouse were felt even in Lyon, where the funeral of one of the soldiers was held on the precise day we were there. We noticed a chill in the air along with the very visible presence of police in riot gear. The tragedy cast a distinct pall over the city’s celebration of spring.



Chamber of Commerce building

The Chamber of Commerce building sits in a beautiful little square that we paused in on our way north. There happened to be an expo of some sorts wrapping up, and so in addition to the beautiful flowering magnolias we enjoyed a quick peek at the interior main hall.

Then another stop at Starbucks (there are two in Presqu’île, of course we had to stop twice… not to mention I had yet to have my favorite drink, a mocha: today grande, decaffeinated and in a to-go cup!) and soon we were rolling yet again, an additional American citizen sitting in the backseat.

Place de la Républic