Leaving Lyon... and the adventure.
It has been 70 days since I began this incredible adventure and the time has come for me to head back to my homeland. And what a journey I've been on!
My last week has been spent in Lyon, France being hosted by Lucie and Clément who I met at the very beginning of this Camino. I never had the intention to return to my starting point however once I became such good friends with them along the way, I had to see them again. They are such amazing people with whom I am certain that I will have more adventures. I cannot thank them enough for their generosity and friendship. I truly love these people and will miss them very much.
Clément has very good knowledge of the history of Lyon and our first tour of the city last Friday evening confirmed this - he was a wealth of information. The city itself is very beautiful however in the evening, there is something even more intriguing about it - especially in the old part with the narrow, pedestrian only streets. The wine bar, tapas and conversation were a perfect finish to the day.
After lunch at Clément's, Saturday saw us put in about 15 km of walking as we explored many areas of the city. We culminated with an incredible culinary experience at Sapna, one of many restaurants on Lucie's list to investigate. We were not disappointed. On Sunday, we paid a visit to Pérouges, a very interesting medieval village about an hour from Lyon.
With both my hosts working during the rest of the week, I had the opportunity to explore on my own and with the beautiful weather continuing, I visited a couple of parks on foot trying to stave off the inevitable weight gain from the offerings of the 'Gastronomic Capital of the World.' One of the highlights of the week was a lunch of culinary delights prepared by Lucie in her restaurant. I was thoroughly impressed with the taste and presentation of her creations. This trio's final evening was spent on a stroll along the river waterfront.
This week topped off an incredible journey which I will never forget. The few thousand pictures I have will remind me of the beauty of France and Spain but mostly, of the fantastic people I have been privileged to meet and share adventures with. I have confirmed many aspects of my life, learned more lessons, identified several options for my future and most importantly, lived.
Until my next big adventure, Pilgrim Pete will be laying low... and planning. Stay safe fellow pilgrims. Buen Camino.
