It must be hard living in Paris’ shadow, a fate shared by every French city.
Residents of Lyon must scratch their heads wondering why more people don’t pay their home a visit. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you don’t get that title without having a few pretty buildings and bridges.
Before the whole French revolution thing, France hosted quite the lavish lifestyles for the rich and royal. The nation may be more equal nowadays, but the luxuries of years past are still evident in Lyon’s appearance. Walking through the city center, not even the wintry grey air could dampen the elegance of all the fine, ornate apartments.
Aside from the usual culture and history tour, though, this trip also treated me to an entirely different pleasure.
I was hosted by a member of Couchsurfing, a global hospitality network that connects travelers with hosts who offer free accommodation.
This system does much more than make travel cheap, though. It creates friendships you would never have imagined having. On top of receiving a comfortable bed to sleep in, I experienced Lyon through the eyes of a lifelong local. We cooked classic Lyonnaise cuisine, and went out to party with his friends.
This was not my first time staying with a host, but my experience followed the typical Couchsurfing style. I spent less time than a usual tourist would sightseeing and snapping photos. Rather, most of my evenings were spent inside my host’s home, doing ordinary things like watching TV shows we both love and comparing our cultural backgrounds.
To some people, this sounds like a waste of time. I, on the other hand, consider this a more intimate and enriching travel experience that leaves me feeling more attached to the places I visit.
As I anticipated moving on to the urban jungle of Paris, it struck me how Lyon stands out for its tranquility while still offering the thrills which make France famous. Lyon is France’s gastronomy capital, holds great art museums, and has a touch of Roman history. Heck, it even has a miniature Eiffel Tower. All the while, Lyon’s tourist scene is considerably smaller than Paris’, giving the city a genuine character more pleasing than a box of macaroons.
”Au revoir” for now!
