Lyon

Lyon, the third largest city in France, is a unique study in contrasts, with old Roman ruins, beautiful historic neighbourhoods and wildly modern buildings and infrastructure.  It may have lost its long time, world beating gastronomic reputation to Copenhagen, Saint Sebastian, Spain, or somewhere in South America but it is still a "foody" paradise.  Small local bistros called "bouchons", still serve typical Lyonnaise fare at reasonable prices (for France) and they are packed at noon and for dinner.  Each one has a daily "formule", or daily special, which, from our experience is tremendous.  They even have a unique standard measure for wine..........the 46 cl. bottle, called a "pot Lyonnaise".  Back in the day, when Lyon was a major textile city, the silk workers were each entitled to a half litre (50 cl.) of wine per day, at work.  Their stingy bosses, created a bottle that was the same size as a 50 cl. bottle, but with an extra thick bottom which held.........you guessed it, only 46cl.  So.......one litre of wine would serve 2 workers with a little something left over for the boss.  To this day, the pot Lyonnaise is still a standard wine order in the local bouchons.

The impact that one man, Paul Bocuse, has had on this city cannot be overstated.  Immediately adjacent to our hotel, on the largest public square in the city, is located the Paul Bocuse institute, a culinary school and gastronomy centre.  Local restaurants proudly display their Paul Bocuse awards and, his 6 local restaurants are the most sought after tables in town.  We also passed several displays around the city where Bocuse is celebrated as a local hero.  Not bad for a guy who "way back when" could not get a job in a kitchen!

More exploring today then TGV to Paris tomorrow......

The pics are:

1- Our hotel in Lyon with the Institute Paul Bocuse next door

2- A small sample of renovated old riverside neighbourhoods

3- And there is also a lot of this kind of architecture

4- Outside our noon time bouchon.....wonderful Lyonnaise meal

5- A pot Lyonnaise........you would think those silk workers would have noticed the extra thick bottom?????