Exploring...Lyon: The Ruins

A bit of history...

the arch is still intact from at least 1000 years ago!

In Lyon there are two main hills, Fourviere and Croix-Rousse. The pretty castle that was in the earlier posts is at the top of Fourviere. On the same hill there is also a ancient Roman amphitheater which has been well preserved; I haven't seen that yet. At the foot of the hill is a newer basilica, with the Roman ruins from the original basilica sitting in the shadow of it. The sight was cool and kind of eerie when I took it in. 

On the other hill, there are also other ancient ruins of an older amphitheater and the old silk making quarter - where "canuts" french silk makers used to live and work. So yesterday, the girls and I (we made some new friends) went to the top of Croix-Rousse to check out the sights and see a bit of history. 

Ruins at Croix-Rousse; apparently the ones at Fourviere are way better

I also saw the ruins in Fourviere - La Amitheatre Romain

The silk museum was cool but what I really would like to do is go back and visit again to see the workshop functioning. It was closed when we went this time, but I really want to see how its handmade. Maybe if you're all well behaved I'll bring you a nice scarf from here! LOL

spools of thread 

embroidered silk

We happened to be really lucky and also stumbled upon a huge market up there, which only arrives TWICE in the entire year. Such a fluke that it happened to be there the day we decided to go up. I bought some more artwork and these amazing vintage postcards with pictures of Paris and Lyon from the 1900s. They still have the writing preserved on them, from one person writing to another! Soo interesting and different. 

All in all a very interesting day! It's nice to be able to see history right in front of you in a tangible way instead of just reading about it. And all the exhibits and sights here are free admission. Nothing is really walled off, no velvet ropes you can go right up to everything, touch it, look at it. It makes for sooo much more of an experience!

more to come! 
love al