1st. Georgie got roped in helping finish off a couple of windows before St Nichola on Sunday. There was a collection of old records and record players, a model of an old barge complete with plans and a Swiss mountain scene with a crib. The aim was to make everything look festive! Had to do this now as I am off to Lyon to visit Mel on Sunday.
none of them photographed very well.
2nd December. Georgie and I visited the book swap and boater’s information coffee morning, the Wednesday market along the Quay National, the ASTER with her Wednesday morning work team; visited the Old Lock and then hosted Pete and Glennie and Steve for dinner, Helen was stricken with the lurgy and couldn’t make it.
6th. Took the train to Lyon where I was met by Mel and the boys, Matthew and Sammy on their scooters, and walked back with them to the apartment. They live in a modern block overlooking the Saone with good views both night and day.
Having dumped my bags we set off to climb the Fourviére hill which is situated more or less directly behind the apartment here in the Old Town. It was a steep climb up a series of steps. As it was a fine day and a Sunday there were a lot of people about. We did not go into the Basilica de Notre Dame de Fourviére but enjoyed the views and an ice cream!
View from below of the Basilica de Notre Dame de Fourviére
7th. The children were back to school today so Mel and I set off to climb another hill! The Pents de la Croix Rousse which started with exploring the narrow passageways that run between street under houses and through courtyards and was followed by a stroll along the Saone.
Up at the top of the hill we found a good coffee shop and a small craft market. There is usually much more of a market when it is not a Monday! We descended via the narrow streets to the Place Terreau where we met James for lunch.
We walked back to the apartment via the shopping district, the Rhône and Place Bellecour with its big wheel.
Back home the children did their homework and Matthew played Jingle Bells for me!
8th. Mel and James had work to do this morning so I took myself off back up the hill Fourviére again but this time by the funicular! My primary objective was to visit the Gallo-Roman site. Lyon was an important Roman town called Lugaunum and there are two theaters on the hill. The smaller one has an impressive marble floor to the stage with marbles imported from all around the Mediterranean. I also wanted to look inside the Basilica. It was impressively and beautifully decorated with most wall and ceiling spaces painted. There was a Mass taking place which had just started and another was set to follow hot on its heels. As you cannot take photos while a Mass is in progress that will have to wait for another visit.
Back to the apartment in time to go to lunch with Mel and James and very good it was too. Later Mel walked me to the station and I set off back to St Jean. It had been a magical few days with good friendship, good discussions, good food, lots to see and the lovely children to top it off.
Sunday 28th December and time to look back on a lovely few days with Jon, Nikki and Charlotte. It started on the 22nd with my train trip into Dijon to see the surgeon about cutting a small carcinoma out of my calf. I got there early, he saw me straight away and I was able to get the train back to St Jean in good time to meet them when they arrived. We had a pasta dinner and an early night. The next day we went into Grand Frais, an enormous market/shop on the way to Dole with a great fish counter. There we bought snails, oysters, prawns, giant crab legs and cray fish and a load of other Christmas (well French christmas) goodies. We drove on into Dole, explored the town and had a lovely lunch. On Christmas eve we drove into Dijon and explored the town, which was looking and sounding very festive, before having a lovely lunch.
Christmas day was spent eating, drinking and walking it off between courses! One walk took us down to the Marina to show Charlotte the boat.
capetocarpe 