How’s the language barrier in these parts BTW?
If there’s anywhere you want to go in Europe, just get a cheap flight. Italy, Spain, Germany, whatever. You can see a lot of cities in a few days. I’d recommend Barcelona,
In Belgium? You’ll be fine. You will struggle in France sometimes as even young people often don’t (pretend) speak proper English. If you come past Lyon, I’d throw that in the mix as well. Its a beautiful city with awesome food, wine and atmosphere. The smaller Paris I like to say. Most people only see the industrial parts of it when driving past and never get to see the actual city. I spend many weekends there and found in mind blowing.
Need to change to 1.5 weeks in France… asked for a few more days. Got it. Now to seriously look into a few things.
Hoping to do a combination of a couple of cities (maybe Rottordam?) with 4 nights in Paris before I depart… I’d like to hit up some nice country side/alpine area with some mountain biking if that will work. Does anyone know if there is a French equivalent to Moab/Queenstown that is an outdoors town that can hire MTBs and stuff?
Oooooffff.
i didn’t find rotterdam overly exciting tbh.
Yeah I second this. Lyon was great, and I reckon you’d get a real kick of out walking around Paul Bocouse food hall taking photos and sampling all the goods.
Noted. When were you there?
You know me. All I need is dogs at cafés and I’m good…
jesus.
Ahhh right, apparently it has changed a bit lately… you know what its like, hipsters and their cafés getting into a particular area and making it good.
Has anyone couchsurfed? I know it could be good or bad… but because I will be by myself in a couple of cities It would be ace to have a backup plan or have somone show me / tell me about the local side of a city.
At this stage it looks like I will be staying in France only. The stars haven’t aligned for me to catch up with my good friend in Belgium.
So at this point, after working in Cherbourg I will head back to Paris and catch a train down to either Lyon or Chamonix then catch a bus between the two. Then perhaps spend a few days in Paris before I fly back home.
Anyone had experience with Ouibus?
Dbl up
“lose” him in the airport/train station.
In 5 weeks I head over to Europe for holidays and am intending on gong to Lyon, we have family there. But the up side for you is my insatiable FOMO. This drvies me to investigate more options than I could possible need so that I can choose what to do without wondering if there might be something better on offer around the corner. So here is my list of potential things to do in Lyon:
Lyon Tourism - http://www.en.lyon-france.com/en
- Traboules Secret Passages - Hundreds of hidden passageways weave through the old quarters of Lyon
a. http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/traboules-secret-passages
b. Traboules by Lyon Tourism for iPhone app. It costs $1.49
c. For the Vieux-Lyon traboules: Meeting place - Tourist Office, Place Bellecour, in the 2nd district. For navigating the traboules the Croix-Rousse, follow the arrows accompanied by the lion’s head. In Vieux-Lyon, these passageways are marked by a bronze shield. - Vieux Lyon – Old Town – Renaissance qtr
- Parc de la Tête d’Or – Large urban park. Zoo and botanical gardens
- Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon – Frances largest fine art musem after the Lourve
- Ancient Theatre of Fourvière – Roman ampitheatre
- Lyon Cathedral – Lyons gothic construction cathedral
- Institut Lumière – Film makers museum – Lumiere brothers
- Lyons Murals - ~100 large paintings on walls around the city
- Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse – Food markets
- Cooking Class – Plum Teaching Kitchen €110 - €180 pp
a. http://www.plumlyon.com/ - Boat Tour – Up the river Saone with lunch €50
a. http://www.lyoncityboat.com/lunch-dinner-cruises/short-lunch - Electric bike tour of Lyon
a. http://www.lyonbiketour.com/?lg=en - Segway - City sightseeing tour - €50 pp
a. Segway - Les Incontournables de Lyon 2h 2022
b. http://www.comhic.com/tour.html?lang=fr - Canyoning near Lyon
a. Lyon - Canyoneering near Lyon - Canyoning | Equilibre Vertical
i. 70 – 110 Euro
b. Nice - Planet Canyon - Canyoning près de Nice, ou ailleurs...
i. 40 – 80 Euro
Consider:
A Lyon City Card - $95 for 2 people for 2 days ($24 pp/d)
o Lyon City Pass: Public Transport & More Than 40 Attractions | GetYourGuide
o All public transport, museums and some tours
An all day travel public transport card is €5.60
A Lyon Greeter – a free 2 hr walk with a passionate Lyon local – DO THIS
o Book ahead – at least 1 week
o http://www.lyoncitygreeter.com/en/meet-a-lyon-city-greeter/
can you compromise with boss man and suggest a couple of solo days?
Besides him being my ‘boss’ - out of everyone at my work I seem to understand him the most but stress to him that I do want the opportunity to do my own thing, to go out and take photos - chat to locals - track down the best coffee and local beers/wine/cheese and see things that aren’t the norm.
Hahaha, holy shit. I thought I was OTT with lists. This is great.
I have already got notes on those Traboules in Lyon, cant wait to explore those!
The things from your list though that I absolutely love is the cooking class and the Lyon Greeter. Thank you so much - this is perfect.