Off to Lyon

[9 April]

Originally we had planned to leave the apartment and walk down to the main train station where we could catch a city bus to the St. Pierre des Corps station and our train to Lyon. Instead, we opted to Uber to the St. Pierre, which is probably what we should've done when we arrived on 29 March!

Anyway, we arrived at the station in plenty of time and cooled our heels waiting for the train. 

When our train popped up on the departures board along with the platform number, we made our way out of the station and up to the voie. It was a bit chilly and windy on the platform, but the the train folks saw fit to include an enclosed warm waiting area right next to the tracks. Quite civilized.

Our train arrived just a few minutes late. We got aboard, found a pair of seats and settled in for the next six hours or so.

The train looked tired with well-worn seats but they were by-and-large comfortable. The upside is, aside from the service dog (and its owner), we were the only ones in our car for much of the trip. Even then, people would come and go since this was what my dad would've called a "milk run," with some 20 stops between Tours and Lyon.

It was a gorgeous day and we got to see so much of the French countryside without having to drive (me) or navigate (Susan). We had seen fit to bring water and a sandwich on board since the train had no cafe car. In fact, it was only 4 cars long!

After cruising for many miles along the Cher and Loire rivers, crossing the latter a number of times, we arrived in Lyon just about on time. Aside from a couple of stop-and-starts getting into the station proper we were soon off the train and in search of transportation to our apartment. 

It seemed to us as if everyone in Lyon was either getting off or on a train. It was chaos with a capital C. We had hoped to use Uber but were at a loss to find the pickup point so we went with a taxi, a long queue of which were readily available just outside the station. 

After maneuvering through a maze of street construction, weaving bicyclists and folks on electric scooters we were dropped off close to our apartment,

In a matter of minutes we were inside the building, found our keys in the lockbox and, using the handy elevator, got to our floor and inside the apartment.

See the apartment listing right here.

view from our window, the Rhone River in the background

Susan and I both commented on how our last apartment was just a block or so from the Loire and this one almost the same distance from the Rhône. Wonderful!

After settling in we popped across the street to U Express for some basic groceries. Dropping our groceries off at home we walked a block or so down our street in search of a place to grab dinner. We stopped at Kaïa, which bills itself as a "festive restaurant on the Lyon peninsula." It was not only festive but the food was wonderful and the staff pleasant, genial and accommodating.  All-in-all a lovely experience.

smashed potatoes

tenders de poulet

Susan had the veggie focaccia

All washed down with a couple of glasses of St. Veran white.

After a leisurely meal  it was back "home" and eventually to bed.