Anyone been to Lyon?

[nino_savatte]

I'm thinking of going to Lyon quite soon. Has anyone been and if so, what are the impressions? The most important concern is the fact that I am vegetarian and France is notoriously difficult for veggies; and I hear Lyon is even more difficult.

[Bernie Gunther]

The wife lived there for a while, I can ask her.

[nino_savatte]

The wife lived there for a while, I can ask her.

Thanks Bernie. :)

[Bernie Gunther]

OK here's what she said. Dunno how helpful this will be. She wasn't a veggie at the time she lived there, so she's not 100% sure but basically what she said was that the food there is the best in France, probably in the world and there are any number of nominally veggie dishes, also easily available snacks like tomato tarts from the local bakeries. The main issue is that you can't be 100% totally sure there isn't e.g. a bit of bacon fat in them to add flavour.

[nino_savatte]

OK here's what she said. Dunno how helpful this will be. She wasn't a veggie at the time she lived there, so she's not 100% sure but basically what she said was that the food there is the best in France, probably in the world and there are any number of nominally veggie dishes, also easily available snacks like tomato tarts from the local bakeries. The main issue is that you can't be 100% totally sure there isn't e.g. a bit of bacon fat in them to add flavour.

Ah, bacon fat. Okay I shall have to be careful. Perhaps if I stick to pizzerias and the like I'll be okay.

[Zinedine*]

French Pizzas are the best in the world (even better than in Italy) you will be in for a treat!

Lyon is a nice city, by the way. But, I only stayed a couple of days

[nino_savatte]

I'm really looking forward to it! :) Is there anything that I really should see while I'm there?

[lang rabbie]

Despite the official Lyon tourist site (http://www.en.lyon-france.com/) telling me
Your request cannot succeed !
if you ask it for vegetarian or organic restaurants, there are some places...

Le Patisson :
17 rue Port du Temple.
69002 Lyon
Restaurant végétarien et biologique
Tél: 04 72 41 81 71
http://www.lepatisson.com/

and (if it still exists) further out of town

Le Chemin des Oliviers
34 rue Saint Jean, 69005 Lyon
Restaurant végétarien, biologique.
Tél: 04 72 56 03 57

And apparently you can get veggie dishes at the temple of gastronomy (if your bank balance can stand it!!!)

RESTAURANT PAUL BOCUSE "LE SUD"
11, Place Antonin-Poncet
69002 Lyon
Tél :04 72 77 80 00

Qqes plats du Sud 100% végé. (entrées : caviar d'aubergines, Salade du marché; Plats chauds : Pizza aux légumes, tajines de légumes, lasagnes de légumes).
http://www.bocuse.fr/sud/default.htm

[Ron Merlin]

Lyon is gorgeous. I lived there 1990-91 teaching English. The food is definitely the best, but veggie restaus are not my strong point.

Other things, however: go to the Old Town - Vieux Lyon - and have a wander. Some great café-bars there. The Croix Rousse area is similarly gorgeous. Don't bother with the hideous cathedral (Fourvière) unless that's your thing. Oh, and for 'certain substances' try what's known locally as the Place Du Pont (actually Place Gabriel Péri in La Guillotière in the 7th arrondissement) and wait for an Arab gentleman whispering 'quelque chose?' to pass by ;)

Have a wicked time! Wish I could afford the fare! :D

[lang rabbie]

The Saône river meets the Rhône here cutting off the more moderm city centre in a loop. Vieux Lyon (to the west of the Saône) is picturesque - feels more like Italy than a French city. Views from the Odeon (the Roman theatre) at the top of the hill are impressive, although I'm not sure the archaeological site is worth the admission.

The more modern commercial districts to the east of the Rhône are pretty uninteresting

You could get taken on an electric tricycle tour - much classier than cycle rickshaws

http://www.cyclopolitain.com/images/home/visu_cyclo.jpg

http://www.cyclopolitain.com

[nino_savatte]

Thanks guys, I'm really looking forward to this trip. So much so, that I'm finding it hard to sleep. :)

[davesgcr]

Its got a nice metro and a newish tram too - take the funicular up the hill for a good view and walk back down. Lots of nice alleys and bars too.

[Sorry.]

Friend of mine lived in Lyon for a while. God she was pretty...

[ambles off to daydream...]

[nino_savatte]

I just got back and what a lovely place! I loved it so much I want to go back...and live there. There's piped music (not muzak) in the Metro stations and the city is sooooo clean.