Lyon — Creaking Wildfire
The plan was to visit Place Bellecour, take in the gorgeous views of the surrounding architecture and the Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica up on the hill, and just ride. Ms. Wildfire and I were ready.
We soaked in the views along the banks of the Rhône, crossed the Guillotière Bridge, and kept going. Along the way, Parc de Parilly was lovely to pass through. Locals were out running, cycling, playing racquet sports. The kind of scene that just makes you smile. We rode through Lyon's 7th arrondissement and into the city centre. Crowded, yes, but absolutely worth it.
Lyon has a way of making you feel like you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
On the way back, closer to the hotel, Ms. Wildfire started making a creaking noise. A proper, rhythmic, impossible-to-ignore creak. It is no fun riding when your bike is clearly trying to tell you something.
I had planned to cycle to Annecy the next day. It is supposed to be one of the most beautiful, bike-friendly places around and I had been really looking forward to it. But with Ms. Wildfire creaking away, I made the call to join my colleagues on their trip instead. Sensible decision.
Picture this. It is early morning. I have ten minutes before we leave. Half-asleep, I go ahead and book the bus. Very productive. Except I booked the 6:45 am bus instead of the 7:45 am one. We arrived at the station at 7:30. The 6:45 was long gone. I had to make another booking on the spot. Twenty-seven euros, just like that. Lesson learned: do not book anything while still half-asleep. Dafaq!
Despite my spectacular morning, Annecy was brilliant. The water is genuinely crystal clear, like absurdly so. Swans everywhere. And there was this one-of-a-kind bird nest that I just had to stop and photograph. The town centre was absolutely packed, which honestly did not surprise me. I have a feeling the further you get from the centre, the quieter and more magical it becomes. Something to explore on the next visit, with a fully-functioning bike.
It is summer. We are in France. Obviously, it had to be a goat cheese salad and a glass of wine. The colleagues went for pizza. Everything looked absolutely delicious .😋
Lyon is great for cycling. The paths are well-marked, there are cyclists everywhere, and that makes the whole experience feel easy and enjoyable. If you get the chance, grab a Velo city bike and just go. You will not regret it.
And one more thing. Do not leave Lyon without buying the cheese. Seriously.
Have you cycled around Annecy? I would genuinely love to hear about it!
salgoescycling.blogspot.com — Ms. Wildfire & Sal, somewhere in Europe
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