Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is located in the southeast-central are of France. It merged the previous Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes Regions. It includes the following cities/towns: Lyon, Grenoble, Saint-Étienne, Clermont-Ferrand, Chambéry, and Annecy.

Annecy

On our earlier trips to Italy, we justed to pick up a car, and drive from France to Italy, often passing through Annecy. The Thious River runs through the town which sits on the shores of Lake Geneva. The old town has cobble-stone streets and winding canals, all lined with shops and restaurants. It is a beautiful town to spend some time.

Lyon

The town is named the world capital of Gastronomy which is a reflection of the high regard for food in Lydon. Our vist to the city was not under the best of conditions. There was an air strike in Canada. The only way we were able to get from Canada to France was to fly Vancouver to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Paris. Yes a flight right around the world! We did, and landed in Paris, picked up our car and then drive top Lyon.

We were pretty exhausted when we arrived. Crashed in our hotel and woke later in the evening for a walk around the town. If we ate, neither one of use can remember it! But we do remember how beautiful the town is. The old town was just across the river from out hotel and it was charming. The historical landmarks are listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Sights to see include La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon and Parc de la Tête d'Or, the latter being a grand park spread out in area over 117 hectare (needless to say, on this visit we did not take in the park).