Last Day in Lyon

 Today is our last day in Lyon. We started off today by going to see the mural that we couldn't get to yesterday because of protests and buses being cancelled. So glad we did this, the most amazing one yet. The Murs Des Canuts, the biggest mural in Europe. This has actually been done over 3 times to make it more relevant, to even aging the people in the mural by 15 years which was the time difference between the last 2 updates.

From here we took the metro to the park and zoo. Both of these are free to the public and the park is huge. Visited the botanical gardens and then the zoo. We had picked up sandwiches for lunch in the park, so glad we did as we never did see the restaurants even though we knew there were some in the park, it was just so big. Today was the hottest day we have had since we arrived in France, 28 degrees, and it was hot in the park. Thank goodness there were quite a few trees. Many many families out with blankets set up under trees for picnics.

Back to the apartment to escape the heat for a while then decided an ice cream was in order. Off we go to what we were told was the best ice cream place, wow, the people. It was crazy out there, whoever wasn't at the park was in old town today. The line up for ice cream would have been at least 1 hour, so we passed. It was absolutely crazy out there. We stopped at the mechanical clock as it was almost 5PM. On the hour a little trumpeter come out and plays a little tune. Then the mechanical bell ringing goes on. On the way home, we went to pick up some things to eat on our 8 hour bus ride tomorrow, we are not sure what breaks we will have so will make sandwiches. It is going to be a long day.

After supper out for one last funicular ride up to the basilica. I think this is the 3^rd time up. Today on our metro we had the steepest metro we have ever been on, but the funicular is even steeper. Mass happening tonight, listened to the music for a while then off for one last view of the city, this view never gets old. When we walked by here today there were hundreds of people in line to get on the funicular, tonight we walked right on.

Walk around old town one last time then time to pack. Off to Bordeaux tomorrow, time for a new city and new adventures. Hope we like it as much as we have liked Lyon.

Steps today 26,500 or 17km

Total km walked for Nice 347

Total km walked for Avignon 308

Total km walked for Lyon 80

Total km walked for France so far 735

Leaving our place, the water and reflection were beautiful

At the metro

At the Murs des Canuts

$3 Canadian for gas

Walking down the street, it looks so real

Very steep Metro

At the park.

The greenhouse were so hot we did not spend much time in them.

Mostly greens, no flowers

The Mexican exhibit

350 species of Peonies, not too many out yet

Starting to plant the annuals

Carnivore plants in one greenhouse

They had a nice rose garden with many species

The Zoo was just ok but it was free

Bat eared fox

People enjoying the boat ride as it is 28 degrees

The staircase we had to deal with. Happy to be on the second floor.

Going to find ice cream

The funicular

Lots of people today eating outdoor this afternoon

Even buskers are out

Hugh lineup, we skip

Ended up with expensive regular soft ice cream.

I was going to have pistachio soft ice cream but they were out

It's 5 o'clock

Another long lineup at an Ice Cream place

We crossed the river for groceries for lunch tomorrow

Love the layers of building in old town

Priest going to church for evening service

Going up to the Basilica

The places are pack