Off to a late start due to Sue sleeping in. We caught a Hop On Hop Off bus to tour around the older parts of Lyon, particularly 'Vieux Lyon' where our hotel is.
Art work painted on buildings showing famous people from Lyon and their activities.
This one is a library.
An old fort created by some king or other!
The refurbished opera theatre with a modern roof.
This sculpture, designed by the guy who created the statue of Liberty, shows four horses pulling a chariot symbolising the two rivers -- the Rhon and the Saone, which merge at Lyon -- rushing towards the sea.
We stopped off at the Notre Dame Basilica at the top of the main hill above the old city.
More Byzatine than Byzantium. Lots of mosaics and gold, mostly about Mary.
We took a guided walking tour of Fourverie and the old city. After learning more about the Basilica and the various mosaics, we headed down to the Gallo-Roman ruins near the top of the hill (to be investigated further tomorrow).
Down, down, down the many steps we went.
We were shown some of the tunnels (traboules) through the old city that were used by the merchants to keep their stock dry while transporting them around. They were particularly helpful in later centuries when Lyon was the centre of silk weaving.
The Italian influence is apparent in these medieval buildings owned by wealthy families at that time.
We had a lovely Indian meal at the end of the day. Don managed the mango lassi eventually!
-- Posted the next night
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