Things for which I am thankful – Travelogue 3 – unlimited by numbers, gratitudes…
After three days in Mohern, we continued on our way to a village a few miles outside the city of Lyon (B on the map) and itself, on the banks of the River Saône where we would spend four days exploring. First off, I have to say – WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CITY IS LYON!!! We drove through the city on the evening we arrived despite warnings from the hosts about traffic, but actually, being caught in rush hour offers the chance to look around which as the driver, I am not always afforded. On this excursion, we also drove up and over one of the ridges of the city away from the river and saw that whilst not as delighful as the (no doubt expensive) riverside areas, the city is still pleasant enough.
Rochetailee-sur-Saône is crowned by a Chateau which is now a motor museum but I picture it here to give a flavour of the architecture…
The first whole day, we drove a short way down the Saône to board a ferry/bus that took us as far as the old city quarter…
Lyon considers itself the gastronomic capital of France (though I am sure other cities would dispute this) and one of its most famous chefs is Paul Bocuse whose restaurant was close to us. He is responsible for developing the Nouvelle Cuisine in which a selection of small “refined” dishes replaced the heavy sauces and large dishes which had dominated French cooking.
Sometimes, it is only when you review your photos that you spot things you had not realised were there – here, the shadows of vegetation mingle with the fabric pattern of Barbara’s trousers…
I couldn’t resist shooting this little video of a strip club which seemed curiously out of place in the Old Quarter but wait till you see the name of the pottery shop next door…
Another lovely shop sold vintage items – appropriately, for the Old Quarter which included, light fittings, photographic rolls of film and all sorts. Take a peek at their website here.
On our last day in Lyon, a Saturday, we drove to Les Confluences Museum – a very futuristic piece of Deconstructivist architecture near to the confluence of the Saône and the Rhône rivers. Notice the difference between the French and English use of confluence – in French, it is plural because there are two rivers whereas in English it is singular because the confluence is a thing in its own right. (no wonder English replaced the French as the international language) Sorry to any Francophiles but English is so much easier to learn (though not to speak or write perfectly) sufficiently to be understood. Sorry France – the world has spoken…
Finally, we set off back towards Rotterdam and the ferry back to England, but we broke it into two six hour drives, stopping for two days in the Champagne region near Rheims. The motorways were free flowing with little traffic and the French drivers (99%) were well behaved as regards the speed limits. We continued to see many wind-farms – at times, we could see 100 or more in all directions in an area similar to the Downs near Misky (but much more extensive). This is just the kind of area where English nimbys (Not In My Back-yard) would protest loudly at the mere mention of windmills… Europe has embraced the need for energy security and freeing itself from Russian gas and oil…
I had never seen Walnuts growing but they were gently falling each day at the Airbnb we were staying at. You can see how the shelled nut is cocooned inside a soft casing…
A bit blurry but a picture of the red warning lights on the massive sea wind farm off the Hook of Holland which gives an impression of the profusion…
And so back to England – normal gratitudes will resume next weekend…
Wishing you all you best week!