Our Neighborhood

The first picture in the list is of the Academie de Billard, the second is ancient ruins of the Amphitheatre des Trois Gaules, some random street art, then some views from our apartment of the Vieux Lyon. All of the photos are right in our neighborhood, less than a five-minute walk within the immediate vicinity. We're surrounded by history, scenic views, cool bars, shops, etc. Also in our neighborhood is an Association Athletique, aka the "Club House". I think the last time I heard that phrase was in books I read in middle school, but it exists in France! The last two photos show our apartment building from the other side of the river, on the Quai of Vieux Lyon. It's the pink rectangular building on the top tier. Did I mention that the apartment building is also historic? It's called the building of 365 windows (in English), one for every day of the year.

more on its history later

On a side note, the Rhone, one of the two major rivers cutting through Lyon, which is also somewhat industrial, is a sort of light blue teal color every day AND has swans in it. Pretty much everything is picturesque.

Friday 28/08

Courtney and I actually didn’t have many administrative tasks today (hooray), just one photocopying errand and some mailing. So, we walked into the city center to check out the English language bookstore (not too bad), mail aforesaid letter, and go food shopping (yum!). We also took a moment to relax in the Place Bellecour—we had a couple grand crèmes while we enjoyed the shade and people watching. We also took these photos today.

There was an avalanche, which pancaked a car, in southern Lyon on the border of a town called La Mulatiere. Because it was on the border, neither town is willing to pay to fix the wall and road, which means that a big portion of the road is shut down. Tom and I took a walk by that part and up some of the mountainside where there is an abandoned 19th (?) century mansion. Every twist of the road was extremely picturesque; I could've taken 500 pictures on this not-very-long walk. France is so beautiful, even outside of the big sites!

Nouvel Appartement

We arrived exhausted in Lyon August 18 and since then have been super busy filling out papers, making our presence here legit, and generally getting set up. Yesterday we had a meeting to secure an apartment in the Croix-Rousse, the 1st arrondisement, of Lyon. The apartment is Awesome with a capital A because it's the center of the city and is elevated so it has a view of the Vieux Lyon, the Cathedrale Fourviere, and their mini "Eiffel Tower." We actually secure it by signing papers on the day that we can move in, September 6. I'll post photos of the incredible view then! Above is the view from the apartment where we're staying, us on the TGV totally exhausted, and a famous view of Charles de Gaulle airport.

- Courtney