Blogs from Rhône-Alpes, France, Europe - page 9

July 26 - 27 Our second day in Lyon we had signed up for a guided walk through passageways called traboule in the afternoon so took the morning to go to the St. Jean Baptiste Cathedral which is located in the historic district of Lyon. This Cathedral is known as the primary seat and home of the Church of France. It was built between the 12th and 15th C. in what is known as the oldest Christian city in France. It has a much different look from other Cathedrals that we have seen further north in France with their soaring heights and were informed its style is influenced from Italy. When you enter the Cathedral you notice the wonderful stained glass rose windows which we learned are from the 13th & 14th C. The Cathedral has ... read more

Conhecer Lyon foi uma boa surpresa, porque é uma cidade super linda. Aqui no Brasil, a gente tende a reduzir a França a Paris, o que é um erro muito grande. A França é bem descentralizada, e todas as regiões têm cidades muito bonitas e interessantes de se conhecer. Um traço que sempre me chamou a atenção na França foi a culinária. Acho a culinária francesa uma delícia, e é claro que ela inspira muitos chefs de cozinha no mundo inteiro. Fiquei extremamente feliz quando descobri que Lyon é capital gastronômica na França. Realmente, a comida lá é deliciosa. Acredito que uma das características da culinária francesa – e que a torna tão saborosa – é o uso intensivo de gordura animal (boi ou porco), manteiga e creme de leite. E aqui cabe um parêntese. Por ... read more

Monday 17 - Thursday 20 July Archamps, France Today is a very special day - it is my demi-birthday!! I am 6 months old today. As you will see, it was a pretty special day, but I have to tell you that I spent parts of this day in three (3) different countries (Holland, Switzerland & France), sat in my first high chair and played for the first time in a cot. How cool is that!!! I also played in a pool for a little while, but that was a bit frightening ... Travelling on trains and planes is now quite a familiar process for me. I don't have to do much, whilst mummy and daddy do all sorts of bag juggling and paper shuffling. Today was going to be a bit different, because it is ... read more

OK. I know there have been no quizzes for the blog and I don't know if I'm going soft or listening to all of you that have pleaded for an end to quiz time but today it's me that will attempt to answer all the big questions. Here goes. Can you have too much gelati? Even after a little too much fondue, perhaps a beer too many and even only a little walk the answer remains no. The flavours here are excellent, very crisp and very refreshing so really very little debate, no. Are hotel bar fridges specifically designed not to fit bottles purchased at the market? I moved a dozen cans and only just, just managed to fit 3 bottles in their place and even that meant placing them careful and diagonally and being very ... read more

Just as happy to take the chair lift up as we where to take it down last night. Up to 2500 m to Le Brevent. Again spectacular views over Mt Blanc and over the glacial mouths that emerge from the mountains nearby. The sky was abuzz with hang gliders and kites that soared around us most of the day. They hover, soar, dip, glide but look so serene and peaceful. Really quite amazing. All downhill today (from 2500 m that should not be a big surprise!) which can be tough on knees and as some sections require ladders and steel rope and lots have stones, stones, stones underfoot care is certainly demanded even when you think you've nearly finished. Last Refuge (Bellechat) and unbelievably no icy poles (not so unbelievable really), last significant landmark (Le Christ ... read more