Just some of the delicacies on offer at one of the many Lyonnaise Bouchons. For the rest of France a Bouchon is a bottle stopper but here in Lyon it is a small friendly bistro that cooks up traditional Lyonnaise fare using local produce. Today vieux Lyon with its winding cobbled streets, riverside cafes and artisan patisseries is littered with bouchons but that was not always so. They began to spring up in the late 80s when lots of the the grand families had to let their head cooks go. Les Meres (the mothers) moved in to the city and set up their own restaurant businesses. They are simple gingham table clothed affairs with a no frills attitude. The 3 course set menu is written on a blackboard and accompanied by a pot of local wine (Beaujolais or Cote du Rhone). We were not brave enough for the veal’s head or the pigs trotters - (which we were assured are delicious) but, with did try local boiled sausages studded with pistachios and liver and onions. Mike thinks that if he had Liver and onions like that as a child he might actually have enjoyed it!
(The fourth little pig)
Other than its gastronomic delights Lyon has a lot to offer. It is a bustling modern city situated on and around two major Rivers, the Saone and the Rhone. The majestic Notre Dame Cathedral overlooks the city like a guardian angle and the 100s km of riverside walks make for a very enjoyable stroll. You can find extravagant barges moored along the banks of the Rhone one of which had its deck completely covered in grass with a huge tree growing the in centre and the next a swimming pool!
We were taken slightly by surprise when walking through the rose garden in the Parc de la Tete d’or (France’s largest urban park) to be confronted by giraffes!!! It turns out that there is a free Zoo in the park where all of the inhabitants have been rescued. From Flamingos to water buffalo the mini replica of an african plain was a delight.
All in all Lyon is beautiful and bustling dynamic city with something to offer to everyone.
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