We’re in the little town of Annecy, France, tucked in near the base of the French Alps. We’re just south of Geneva, Switzerland, and just north of some famous Alpine ski resorts like Chamonix and Albertville. No skiing for us, though. We’re just in this neck of the woods to wander around and gawk at the beautiful surroundings like a couple of wide-eyed tourists. Continue reading “Exploring Annecy”
We made it to Annecy!
Hey, we made it to Annecy! The bus we took, which was somehow affiliated with the company that runs the trains in France, dropped us off at the Annecy train station. Annecy is a small town with a population of about 50,000. Continue reading “We made it to Annecy!”
Day Trip to Annecy – Getting There
Today we’re taking a day trip to Annecy. As you may recall from last time, we’re at the train station, waiting for our track number to show up on the big board. Track numbers appear exactly twenty minutes before the train leaves, so one has to be paying attention. Continue reading “Day Trip to Annecy – Getting There”
Day Trip to Annecy
Today we’re going to make an excursion out of Lyon to the little town of Annecy. (Pronounced “an-see”). It takes about an hour and a half to get there by train, which is how we’re going. It’s about sixty miles due east of Lyon, towards the Swiss border. In fact, Annecy is only twenty miles from Geneva, Switzerland. Continue reading “Day Trip to Annecy”
Tartine aux Sardines!
I just sat down to have dinner at a little restaurant in the Presque-Ile district of Lyon. The place I’m at is packed into a neighborhood with about thirty or forty restaurants – or maybe quite a few more – so it was hard to decide where to eat. At least I knew I wouldn’t go hungry. (Not that has been a concern of late). Continue reading “Tartine aux Sardines!”
Les Bouchons de Lyon
I’m in Lyon – the foodie capital of France – heading out to dinner. Oh boy! I’m going to stay close to the hotel tonight and go over to the “restaurant row” area that we had seen earlier. I’ll have dinner at whatever place catches my eye – perhaps at one of “les bouchons de Lyon.” Continue reading “Les Bouchons de Lyon”
Jean Moulin
Continuing from last time, the date was June 21st, 1943. Dark clouds were gathering over Lyon. The head of the French Resistance, Jean Moulin, code-named “Max”, was on his way to a secret meeting with other key people in the Resistance movement.
Klaus Barbie, the Gestapo, and the Milice had been hunting for him with all they had. The longer Moulin operated, the higher the level of risk became. In fact, the reason for the meeting was to name his replacement, in case the Nazi’s did get to him. Continue reading “Jean Moulin”
Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation – Heroes Like Nancy Wake
It’s a rainy afternoon in Lyon, France. I’m in the Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation, learning first-hand about French Resistance Activity during World War II. The Resistance started out as a bunch of scattered, independent groups of fighters. But they got organized and became a real pain in the neck for the Nazi’s. They were undermined constantly by fighters for the Resistance such as Nancy Wake. Continue reading “Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation – Heroes Like Nancy Wake”
Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation – The Resistance Gets Organized
I’m in the Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation in Lyon, learning about what life was like in an occupied city, and about the efforts of the French Resistance forces. Inside the museum, one photograph in particular really got my attention. It was a photo of Lyon’s famous Théâtre des Célestins. Continue reading “Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation – The Resistance Gets Organized”
Centre de l’Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation – The French Underground
I’m in the Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation in Lyon to learn about life here during WWII and the French Underground. It’s a rainy, gloomy day outside, and it’s pretty gloomy in here, too, but it’s also very interesting. Continue reading “Centre de l’Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation – The French Underground”
