I've been to France a couple times on business, Lyon last trip (2 weeks).
Here's my thoughts re: Lyon.
I thought the architecture was fantastic (I stayed in a hotel that looked like a giant Crayon last trip [img]smile.gif[/img] ). I could see a cathedral from my window (here's a pic on my website :
http://www.kuhnhome.org/Travels/lyon2fra.jpg) and it looked very impressive... until I talked to a Frenchman about it. He said something along the lines of "it's the most gaudy thing ever built" [img]smile.gif[/img]
Every night we would wander down to the old city and pick a resteraunt at random. To be honest we didn't have great luck when we were on our own. The food at the resteraunts we chose was acceptable but nothing great. However, when we went out with a French associate he took us to a place that looked much the same as every resteraunt we'd been to... but the food was outstanding. The wines he chose were equally impeccable.
My single favorite thing : Cheese trays at every dinner! And the cheeses available were very tasty.
Close second : Dinner was an event, I don't think I've ever gotten through dinner in France in less than 3 hours [img]smile.gif[/img] . For an "eat on the run" American it's a welcome change. We would sit at outdoor tables when possible, and spend a lot of time just watching people. The great thing was that we didn't have waiters clearing our table and coughing obtrusively trying to get us to move so they could seat the next group.
Least favorite thing : Flavored beer - Now I know why the French don't drink a lot of beer... YUK! [img]smile.gif[/img] .
The prerequisite "travel story" - A group of us were drinking and enjoying the view during a reception at the bar in the hotel, we were having a great time when they finally told us it was time to go... and as I recall it was only 2:00am! (the nerve
). Colin (a co-worker from Ireland) and I were having SUCH a good time that we decided to take a cab down to the old city and see what was up. He'd been around Lyon before so he took the lead. Where he led me was to a door on a street in the old city, after entering we climbed a flight of stairs and entered what I assumed was a bar, but it was unlike any bar I'd been in before. There was a band playing and a long polished bar, that much was familiar. BUT, instead of tables and chairs there were couches and low tables. Now I'm a flexible guy (especially after 6 or 7 hours of drinking), so I shrugged, got a couple beers and took a seat. I took a drink and decided that the couch was VERY comfortable... Colin started dancing with one girl and I took a pass on another (wife would not have appreciated). Next thing I remember was waking up a while later. I was more "tired" than I thought, so I'd taken a little snooze. Colin was dancing with a different girl, closely! I at that point started to wonder what kind of bar we were in. As I looked around I started to get a suspecion that this wasn't the kind of bar my strict Catholic parents would approve of. In fact I think maybe it wasn't a bar at ALL [img]smile.gif[/img] ) Anyway... I didn't think about it too long because I promptly fell back asleep. Next think I know Colin was telling me it was time to go... 5:30 or so. We went to settle up our bill...
$120.00
...
for 2 beers.
I think maybe since I got such a good nights sleep they charged us for board AND room. [img]smile.gif[/img]