Lovely Lyon

Lovely Lyon. Lyon, France. December 2016. 

This is my first time in Lyon and I have fallen in amour....Granted it is love at first sight so we are still in the honeymoon phase.

Lyon is a lovely city known for its vibrant culinary culture. It has been regularly pegged as the gastronomic capital of the world and home to the "Pope of French Cuisine" Paul Bocuse, Daniel Boulud and many many others. Lyon has (at a minimum) 1,500 restaurants with 13 of them awarded Michelin Stars. I read that Lyon has the highest number of restaurants per inhabitant in France, which is truly incredible. The spectrum of restaurants is impressive as well, ranging from century old brasseries and bouchons to more experimental nouvelle cuisine.

Lyon is the third largest city in France, but you don't feel rushed or lost in a sea of people when you are here. There is space to breathe, walk, eat, and take in UNESCO sites sprinkled throughout the city. Architectural powerhouses Calatrava and Renzo Piano have created buildings in/near Lyon, however my favorite in this context is still the beaux arts style found in the old town; this particular façade is in Place Saint Jean.

Freshly Minted

Freshly Minted. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. July 2016.

I used to race through the Main Hall of Union Station to catch the Amtrak, however since the recently completed renovation I have taken a bit more time walking through to enjoy the transit hub. For the first time in 50 years, the Main Hall is clear of any obstructions. The renovations were prompted four years ago when an earthquake shook D.C. and damaged parts of the Station. Stakeholders used the opportunity to rethink the atrium of the hall e.g. remove the monstrosity of a cafe that used to sit in the middle of this beautiful space. Now visitors can appreciate the beautiful Beaux Arts hall the way that brilliant architect/urban planner Daniel Burnham created and designed it.