Lyon Travel Tips

I have gathered quite a bit of material about Lyon and St. Etinenne, the two places that the US plays. I will be posting it as time allows. I know people may be disappointed that we aren't going to play in Paris unless we get out of the Group of Death, but have no fear, Lyon is here. Lyon is a lovely city with more restaurants per square mile than any other city on earth. The old town is a UNESCO site, a rare honor for a city based on the historic value of its buildings.
Gerland Stadium was built in 1920 and was rehabbed for the 1998 World Cup. It seats 42,000 and looks to be a charming place for a game. Line B of Lyon's Subway Line (Blue Line) terminates at Gerland Stadium. This is the same line that serves the main train station. The subways stops running 1t 12:30 AM which should allow enough time to get back to your hotel. The game against Brazil and Cameroun end at 11 PM. The wild celebration in the stadium after we beat Brazil should wind up around 11:30

http://www.metropla.net/eu/lyo/lyon.htm

Lyon is something special. The equivalent of the cooking Olympics are held there every 2 years, under the auspices of the legendary Paul Bocuse, the father of nouvelle cuisine. When I first visited Lyon in 1978, I struck up a conversation with two New Yorkers at the train station, the spectacular city all around us. I hadn't even heard of Paul Bocuse at that point, but they were pretty nice about it, and damn proud that they had eaten at his restaurant, rated by many to be the finest in the world.
Hopefully we can get others posting here who are familiar with southern France. We are going to get out of the Group of Death and American fans will be there to help it happen.
USA!!!!!!!

 

Tickets are cheap, about 15 dollars for Category III(behind the goals). I emailed them about TSV tickets (team specific venue packages) such as the ones offered at the World Cup.

 

Lyon has a fantastic youth hostel, but it seems the family rooms are only available for families. I am tyring to confirm this. Dorm beds are 20 dollars a night, including breakfast. The place is open 24 hours a day. You take a funicular railway to the top of a mountain and walk 500 yards from there.
Here is very hasty translation of a review from the famous "Gare Routier" travel guide, the Lonlely Planet of the French-speaking world. I know it is not a great translation but here goes. (Translation folows) Of course there are other hotels than the 200 dollar one they mention!

Recommandé par: - le guide du routard (Edition 98/99/2000-2001) "...Pour jouir de la vue la plus extraordinaire qui soit sur la capitale des Gaules, vous n'avez que deux solutions. Choisissez, comme Jacques et Bernadette lors du G7, l'hotel "la villa Florentine" 4 étoiles luxe, ou foncez à l'AJ et vous économiserez au minimum mille francs. Inaugurée l'été 98, dans un bâtiment rénové, cette auberge domine la ville).../...et même un jardin sur plusieurs niveaux, littéralement accroché à la colline. .../... Tout le confort moderne, un accueil vraiment sympa... - Le petit paumé "On l’appelle "" la petite Villa "", le panorama qu’elle offre sur Lyon est splendide, admirable, imprenable. Ici, on vient des quatre coins du globe pour voir ce que recèle la Cité des Gaules. Et on peut dire qu’elle donne une bien belle image de la ville de Lyon aux routards étrangers, notre auberge de jeunesse. "

Recommended by the 1998-2001 Editions of “Gare Routier”. You have two solutions for accommodation in the “City of the Galls”. You can choose the Hotel Villa Florentine in the 7th District, 4 stars, cannot be cheaper than 200 dollars per night. Or you can stay in the little villa. Since 1998, you can stay in a renovated villa on a mountain near Old Lyon. The hostel on the mountain has all modern comforts, with a spectacular view and a garden on the grounds. You feel like you can see the 4 corners of the world with the City of the Galls beneath you. You will surely have a good impression of Lyon with our youth hostel as your home.

 

I emailed the Lyon hostel and they wrote back. I wrote in French and they mercifully replied in English.

1. The hostel in Lyon is fantastic, near Vieux Lyon subway stop (old Lyon). You take a funicular tram up the mountain where the hostel is.

2. The hostel is in old villa with great views of the city. It looks directly down into the medival quarter, a UNESCO site. Vieux Lyon station connects with the blue line, line B, which terminates at Gerland Stadium, the site of our upset over Brazil. Maybe 25 minutes by subway, inclduing the transfer.

3. Unfortunately, you need to have a hostel card (easly gotten from Hosteling International over the net), and, they charge more for foreigners!!! No!!!

4. Bunks beds in 4 or 6 bed dorms are 15 dollars for those under 26 and 18 for those over 26.

5. The hostel is open 24 hours, no curfew, and has a bar, cafe, internet, coin laundry, library, you name it.

 

I had forgotten about Avignon! There are several outstanding day trips aout of Lyon: Carcassonne, Arles, the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, and the Alps. You could also see the replica caves of Lascaux, but that may require and overnight. My Cook's Continental Timetable is at work and I am at home. More to follow!