Lyon

We arrived in Lyon on the 1st September after spending two nights in St Omer with the McG parents - got wined and dined and stored food like hamsters to last us through the uncertain weeks to come before the joy of student loans and car sales would allow us to sample the delights of the Lyon markets.

After catching the TGV from Lille - Lyon we arrived with our homes on our backs and checked into the Formula 1 hotel in Oullins, just south of the city.



The next two days were a bit of a blur as we tried to make ourselves familiar with the city - one of the first things we realised was ITS HUGE! Although its very much a city, there is amazing architecture, history, beautiful parks and open spaces that make it feel airy and happy!



The 3rd of September was pretty exciting as we got the keys to the studio that would be home for the next year. The halls are in 'Fort St Irenee' (constructed in 1840), on the top of the hill overlooking the city and the Soane, within the fort there is the remains of a Roman aquaduct (you don't get that in Bangor!!!). From the window of our little studio you can see the mountain ranges to the west of the city and on a clear day, Mt Blanc and the Alps to the east - not a bad view!

The following few weeks merged into a cahotic jumble of getting used to the city and the french systems which usually involve at least two interviews in different offices, paperwork that must be stamped and re-stamped before submitting and waiting for a letter that also needs to be signed with proof of identity and address.......... you get the idea....

J's lectures started and the city seemed smaller and less scary with every day - especially when you work out the trams and metro systems, we even managed to find IKEA, which was nice! Its amazing how a mulitpack of clippits and a bright green bath mat make somewhere feel more 'homely'!

Thats the tale until the 17th September when Kt's adventures began........