Thursday, September 5, 2019

Day 5: Thu 5 Sep – Lyon to Nantes by train (7 hours), 19km; total ride: 75km

Fine and sunny, 12 to 22 deg

As our train doesn’t leave till 1500h we had time to pack up and then have a leisurely ride into the city. Just for “fun” we decided to go via the highest point in the whole place, Croix-Rousse (Red Cross). A km or two from our B&B the climb started, and it was an excellent early morning workout. We were saved by a red light at some roadworks, so we had to walk for a while. Our technology wasn’t working but we estimated that it was at least a 25%er. It wasn’t that bad really. What possessed us to do this was that we wanted to (again) see some more painted buildings. Alas it was not to be, couldn’t find any evidence of this so-called remarkable place. In fact, the whole area was a bit shabby and rundown. However, we ended up coming across a wonderful local market with a beaut range of fresh food, flowers, and general stuff. Only the Europeans can do markets like that.

We’d heard there was another Roman amphitheatre somewhere in Red Cross, but it wasn’t signposted or advertised. After some sniffing around we managed to find it. Although it was fenced off a high point overlooking it gave us a great vantage point for a photo. It's amazing that a Roman amphitheatre could be so "ordinary" that it isn't marked or a tourist attraction.

Red Cross done we sat back and enjoyed the ride downhill through parts of the Old City we hadn’t been in before, like Bellecour Place with its impressive open space. We meandered between the two rivers till we couldn’t go any further as we were back at the Confluence with that massive stealth-ship like structure, The Confluence Museum. The changing light on its shiny exterior makes for a great photographic subject.
It was then time for lunch and to pick up some provisions for our train trip. After killing some time at the station, the very clean and comfortable train left exactly on time at 1532h. Not a super-fast machine but no slouch either as we clocked it at 160 km/h.

Arrived spot on time at 2204h and with the help of Mr Google we were in our apartment in no time. The Tour le Loire starts tomorrow.

Fresh food market

Fresh flower market

Amphitheatre

Colourful buildings near the Confluence

Bellecour Place

Confluence Museum

The steeds ready for business

Our train

On the train to Nantes

Nice to see the green hills of France

Ominous clouds, glad we're on the train

Near Tours

Bridge near Tours, from the train


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