Lyon Trip Re-Cap

Well. 3 weeks after getting back from Lyon, France I have finally had the time to process the trip and figure out what my favorite memories were. (And I've finally had the time after getting back into the swing of things back home to blog about it)

Believe it or not, this re-cap is the CONDENSED version! :)

Unfortunately some memories just don't have a picture. Obviously I can't capture the essence of how wonderful it was to have time away with my husband on film. Then there is the late night talk with my brother Trey out on the balcony. The late night talk with all 6 of us on the front porch during a thunder storm. And it's a good thing I'm a night owl because another pictureless highlight was the late night Girl talk. - It was SOOOO good to connect with my sister-in-laws. We never had the chance to be together just the 3 of us when there was no big stressful function or other large family gathering taking place.

As I was trying to pare down my 600+ photos to the highlights, I wondered how I would present my favorite memories. (By the way - I think I am doing good here getting them down to around 50) I decided to present them how I might think of them in my memory. Random. But with a common thread that connects one picture (thought) to the next. And for some reason, even though it is my memory, I decided 3rd person would be fun.

Hope it turns out ok. Enjoy! :)

Here is Dan and Britt.

They have been happily married for 10 years. They are on a much anticipated and needed vacation to Lyon, France. In this picture they are having a drink break at Place Bellecour on Wednesday, Sept 10.

While drinking their drinks, these chickens appeared at Place Bellecour. Immediately "West Side Story" came to mind and they wondered if the pecking order of 2 rival breeds was about to be determined by dance. And while they DID dance, it apparantly was some bachelor party or some other weird French right of passage.

After Place Bellecour Dan and Britt went for a walk and saw some really neat and really old architecture.

That reminds me of the really neat architecture in Vieux Lyon. Vieux Lyon (the old city) is where the Traboule (passageways) are.

Architecture. Traboule.Architecture. Traboule.

Here I must add to the key words of Architecture and Traboule.

I will add the infamous Rose Tower.

The above picture is Dan and Britt in the Rose Tower. :)

Below is Dan and Britt around the corner at the base of the Rose Tower.

Ooo-lah-lah.

And - oh yah - there were others at the Rose tower also.

Others reminds me of Dan's and Britt's reason they chose Lyon, France for their trip.

These 2 people. Britt's brother Trey and his wife Kari.

And what are they doing in the above picture you might ask?

Having Coffee and Pastry, of course.

(This was neither Britt's first - or last- pastry)

Ahhhhh..... Pastry.

Ahhhh..... Coffee.

The above shot of coffee mugs at the shop in Neuville (thanks, Kari) reminded me of the coffee mugs shot Britt took at Place des Terraux on her last day. (below)
And what is at Place de Terraux?

Lyon's City Hall. A very impressive building.

Speaking of impressive buildings, did I mention Britt loved all the really old architecture?

Like St. John's Cathedral by Place Bellecour.....

.... And the Basillica at the top of the hill above St. Johns.
Speaking of the Basillica, Dan and Britt, along with Trey and Kari went up there at dusk to view the city.

I think this might be one of the most romantic shots of Dan and Britt from the whole trip. Looking out over Lyon as night descends.

Night did descend. And this wasthe view looking back up at the Basillica Britt captured while they waited for the bus to take them home.

Speaking of bus - after a short plane ride, a bus brought these 3 people to the house on Thursday. Britt's other brother, Jesse - his wife, Julie - and their daughter, Renae.

Yay! (are you happy, Julie?) They came to visit for most of the week so all 6 siblings could be together.

Bus rides were an integral part of the trip.

Here the 3 sister-in-laws wait at a bus stop.

A view of Beard Island on the Saone River taken from the bus.

Britt informs me she fell in love with the look of this island. Apparently it has a nastolgic look ... and was a recognizable land mark that let her know she was almost back to Rochettailee. (pronounced kinda like rush-tie-yay)

Here is a sign pointing the way to Rochetailee. The bridge in the background crosses the Saone River.

This Bridge was a very short walk from the house were Dan and Britt stayed.
Trey and Kari were house sitting for the summer.

And here is that house. Trey and Kari gave up the master suite for Dan and Britt.

It was wonderful. See those French doors?

This was the view out those French Doors. It was great to hear the night sounds with the doors open. Police cars really do sound "funny" like in the movies. And the rush of the river was soothing.

If you looked further to the left down from the balcony, you could see the Saone River and the gate into the driveway.

Seeing that gate reminds me of the time that "us 3 kids" went for coffee up in Neuville. It is silly, but Britt, Trey, and Jesse still refer to themselves as "us 3 kids".

And since we are on the key words house and brothers,

Jesse, Julie, Dan, and Britt played Ticket to Ride - Europe one afternoon. (above picture)

Below is a nice picture of the 6 siblings at the house. :)

Britt tells me it was wonderful being all together. It had been 2 years since all 6 of them were together in the same room (or state-or even country for that matter) ! :(

Fortunately, the above 2 people are together all the time :)

Below, Dan is getting an Osteopathic treatment from Trey.

Britt said this was another favorite from the trip. Getting free osteopathic treatments.

Apparently she suffered with incontinence, and didn't even realize it. (Kari informed Britt that when around Trey in Doctor mode, one is made aware of all sorts of problems they may- or may NOT - be having! One must be VERY careful what comments they make when Trey is around) :)

Hey - that reminds me to tell you why Trey and Kari are in Lyon in the 1st place. Trey is studying to become an Osteopath.

(And in spite of the above comment, he really IS becoming quite good) :)

So, if Trey and Kari were just house-sitting, where do Trey and Kari normaly live while in France during the Osteopathic school year?

In an apartment in Oullins. (oo-lah)

Below, Britt enjoys her first French pastry while visiting Trey and Kari's apartment.

French pastries definitely made the highlights list for Britt.

Below she enjoys a Nutella Crepe.

The crepe shop was located just outside of Parc de la Tete d'Or (Golden Head park)

The beautiful gated main entrance to Parc de la Tete d'Or

Britt and Trey pretending to like each other while enjoying the zoo portion of the Park.


No faking was needed here. Britt and Dan obviously enjoyed each others company while walking the paths at the Park.

After walking, they enjoyed resting in over-sized wooden chairs.
Hmmm. Chairs.

Look at all these chairs.

The first day JJR arrived, all 7 went to eat lunch at the infamous (well - one would think so if you read Kari's blog) Madame Fenet's.

After Madame Fenet's, a trip to the Sainte Foy district was next on the agenda.

See the green cross? Pharmacies were everywhere in Lyon.

Dan and Britt's self-protrait while in Vieux Lyon (I think). The afternoon trek went from Sainte Foy to Vieux Lyon to catch the Furnicular (vertical bus) to see the Roman amphitheaters.

Julie, Jesse, and Renae - just as they got to the top of the hill to view the amphitheaters.


Britt stated she was 1/2 relieved and 1/2 embarrased to see her brothers still hadn't matured.

After Trey and Jesse got their giggles out, they settled down to take this nice family photo at the Roman Amphitheater.

ROMAN Amphitheater leads us to the ROMAN Aquaducts.

You just don't see this sort of thing in America, folks!

Dan and Britt at the aquaducts. In the background you can see part of Lyon.

Walking back down from the aquaducts. It was a very steep and hilly walk.

Ahhh.

Dan and Britt walking hand-in-hand.

Here they are walking hand-in-hand across the Rhone River in Lyon.
That walk led them to the part of town where they had supper with Trey and Kari at a Turkish Kabob place.

While eating the Turkish Kabob supper, Britt drank a can of Coke from a wine glass.

This is not to be confused with Britt drinking wine from a can ;)

The above shot was taken while Britt ate her last pastry - on a bench - at Place Bellecour.

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And this of course brings us full circle back to our first photo -

of Dan and Britt at Place Bellecour - enoying drinks.

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Hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane. Now you have a glimpse into how jam-pack-full our trip was. (and as to how dizzying my thought process can be)

Great time with my best friend husband. Great Family time. Great pastries and coffee. Great city. Great Country. Great pastries and coffee. Great bonding time at the house. Great pastries and coffee. Great History. Great architecture.... and did I mention great pastries and coffee?!?

Great trip.

:)

Last Day in Lyon

Sorry it has taken me awhile to finish posting on the Lyon trip.

This post is about our (as the title suggests) last day in Lyon - Monday, September 15th.

Hopefully later today, I will post the FINAL posting on Lyon trip with overall highlights and favorite memories. And if you are thinking "enough about Lyon!" - well, I am sorry. But this is my journal and my blog and I want to get it all down before I forget! ;) Don't lose TOTAL interest in the blog. I DO have more neat pics of the kids coming soon, too :)

I digress.... (which is normal....)

Dan FINALLY got Renae to himself for some bonding time. (I'm not sure where Uncle Trey was, but he must not of realized Dan was moving in on his "uncle" territory) ;)

Shortly after the above pic was taken, we got rid of.... er, I mean Jesse, Julie, and Renae had to catch a plane home. :( (It really was sad....)

So to distract us from the sadness of leaving family, we went into the city!
Recognize this place? Place Bellecour.

We stopped at a pastry shop to get lunch (and pastry of course!)

What is Britt drinking? Mini pop?

No. Wine in a can! Gotta love the French!

And by the way, the pastry dessert I am eating was Almong flavored with Almond paste filling for those of you (Kevin) who might care. It was very tasty!

Here is the pastry shop we bought lunch from.

Kari and Trey indulged as well :)

Going for a last walk along the Rhone River.

Dan was by now pictured out and the sun was in his eyes. So much for the romantic river pic. Oh well. Looking back at these pics I realize that shirt is not flattering of my mid-section anyway :)

Walked through this well-known "strip mall".

(Trey and Kari probably are cringing at that description, but that is what it reminded me of...)

The Lyon city hall.

Much more impressive in-person. The gold just gleams in the sun and the architectural details very impressive.

Cool fountain. Didn't get the history on it. But I am sure it was neat I got to see it for some important reason! ;)

Our last Coffee shop :(

Can you spy Dan, Kari, and Trey at our table?

Back in Rochetaille neighborhood, Trey and Kari took their pack mules (Dan and Britt) to Intermarche to get a "few" things....

Kari with the heavy paper products and Trey with his sack of light goods (chips, croutons, marshmallows, feathers....)

Anyway, I really wish we would have gotten a picture of Dan and his 80 pound sack of potatoes, watermellon, and bricks - and me carrying the grill bricketts and liquid laundry soap!

Seriously, we really DID help carry groceries home. And we were glad to help. We saved them at least 1 trip to the store. There's no "hopping in the car" for a "quick trip" to the Wal Mart for these two. REAL life in Lyon :)

At least Trey and Kari took good care of their pack mules.

Homemade pizza was delicious. Even the imaginary black olives on the first one! ;)

(Trey was SURE they were on there b/c he was sure that pan was the pizza he did. At least he was sure until he took the 2nd pizza out of the oven .... with black olives) :)

And then....

our long-awaited trip was over.

Just like that.

Au-revouir, Lyon!

(sorry if I mispelled that - I am back in Mommy mode and only have a few minutes left of nap time - so no time to look it up!)